Quick & Easy Pioneer Woman Strawberry Poke Cake Recipe

Strawberry poke cake transforms ordinary dessert into a spectacular culinary adventure that awakens sweet memories and delights taste buds.

This moist, vibrant creation promises a soft, tender base infused with fruity essence and crowned with luxurious cream.

Bakers adore how simple ingredients combine to create something truly magical.

The technique involves strategic hole-poking that allows flavor to seep deeply through each delectable layer.

Gelatin adds a brilliant, glossy dimension that makes this cake stand out from standard sheet desserts.

Her signature approach ensures every slice bursts with strawberry intensity and creamy richness.

Each forkful delivers a harmonious blend of textures that dance across your palate: crisp, smooth, and utterly irresistible.

Finishing Your Strawberry Cake Experience

Strawberry poke cake emerges as sweet culinary magic from simple ingredients and classic techniques.

Kitchen magic happens when humble components blend into extraordinary dessert experiences.

Pioneer Woman’s recipe invites delightful exploration of texture and flavor combinations.

Creamy whipped topping meets gelatin-infused cake layers in perfect harmony.

Strawberry essence weaves through each delectable bite, creating sensory memories.

Gather friends, slice generously, and share pure deliciousness – you’ll spark joy with this crowd-pleasing masterpiece that begs social media celebration, calls for immediate likes, and demands enthusiastic comment threads celebrating strawberry bliss.

Why Strawberry Poke Cake Feels Like Summer

• Burst with Fruity Freshness: Dive into a delightful strawberry explosion that transforms a classic cake into a vibrant, berry-packed dessert. The strawberry gelatin seeps through every poke, creating an incredible flavor infusion that makes each bite sing with sweet, tangy goodness.
• Super Simple Baking Magic: Conquer this recipe with basic baking skills and minimal fuss. The straightforward mixing method and easy poking technique make this cake a beginner-friendly dessert that looks and tastes like it came from a professional bakery.
• Crowd-Pleasing Texture Party: Experience a multi-layered texture adventure with a soft, tender cake base, juicy gelatin-soaked center, and billowy whipped cream topping. Each forkful delivers a perfect balance of moistness, creaminess, and light airiness that will have everyone asking for seconds.
• Make-Ahead Dessert Superstar: Prep this cake ahead of time and let it chill in the refrigerator, making it an ideal dessert for potlucks, family gatherings, or lazy weekend treats. The two-hour chilling time means you can relax while the cake sets and develops its irresistible flavor profile.

Ingredients for a Bright, Sweet Poke Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: Key structural ingredient for light and tender cake texture.
• Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps with cake's golden brown color.
• Butter: Adds rich flavor and creates tender cake crumb.
• Eggs: Binds ingredients and provides structure to the cake.
• Buttermilk: Adds moisture and creates tender cake texture with tangy flavor.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall cake flavor with warm, sweet notes.
• Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Salt: Essential leavening agents for cake's rise and balanced flavor.

• Strawberry Gelatin: Creates vibrant color and strawberry flavor throughout the cake.
• Boiling Water: Helps dissolve gelatin powder completely.
• Cold Water: Helps cool and set the gelatin mixture.
• Fresh Strawberries: Adds fresh fruity garnish and natural sweetness.

• Heavy Whipping Cream: Creates light, fluffy topping with rich texture.
• Sugar: Sweetens the whipped cream.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds subtle flavor complexity to the cream.

How to Make Strawberry Poke Cake

Step 1: Prepare Oven and Baking Dish

Adjust oven rack to lower third position. Set temperature to 350°F. Generously coat a 9×13 inch baking pan with butter, ensuring complete coverage.

Step 2: Create Dry Ingredient Blend

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Salt

Whisk ingredients until fully integrated.

Step 3: Prepare Liquid Components

In a separate bowl, gently mix buttermilk and vanilla extract until smooth.

Step 4: Develop Cake Base

Using an electric mixer, cream sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Gradually incorporate eggs, one at a time. Alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk mixture, blending until batter becomes silky. Transfer batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly.

Step 5: Bake Cake

Place pan in preheated oven. Bake for 30 minutes, checking doneness with a toothpick. Remove when toothpick comes out clean. Allow cake to cool for 30 minutes.

Step 6: Create Holes and Gelatin Layer

• Boiling water
• Cold water

Pour gelatin mixture over cake, ensuring even distribution.

Step 7: Chill and Finish

• Heavy cream
• Sugar
• Vanilla extract

Whip until soft peaks form. Spread cream over chilled cake. Top with sweetened fresh strawberries before serving.

Pro Tips for Poke Cake Success

• Chill for Ultimate Flavor: Refrigerate the cake for at least 2 hours to let the strawberry sauce completely soak into the cake, creating a more intense and refreshing taste.
• Maximize Strawberry Sweetness: Macerate the berries by sprinkling sugar over them and letting them rest, which draws out natural juices and intensifies their flavor before topping the cake.
• Whip Cream to Perfection: Use cold heavy cream and a chilled mixing bowl to create the most stable and fluffy whipped cream topping that holds its shape beautifully.
• Strategic Hole Poking: Use the handle of a wooden spoon or a chopstick to create deep, even holes throughout the cake, ensuring maximum strawberry sauce absorption.
• Make Ahead Magic: Prepare the entire cake a day in advance to allow flavors to meld and develop, resulting in an even more delicious dessert that saves you time on serving day.

How to Store Strawberry Cake Well

• Refrigeration Shield: Wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent moisture loss and protect from absorbing other refrigerator odors. This method keeps the cake's texture and flavor intact for maximum enjoyment.
• Cream Protection: Store the cake in an airtight container to prevent the whipped cream topping from deflating or developing an unpleasant skin. Placing a layer of parchment paper between the cake's surface and the container lid helps maintain the cream's fluffy texture.
• Quick Consumption Strategy: Devour the Strawberry Poke Cake within 2-3 days for the best taste and texture. After this time, the cake's moisture and cream topping may start to break down, compromising the delightful eating experience.

Sweet Variations to Play With

• Berry Bliss Variation: Replace strawberry gelatin with raspberry gelatin and top with fresh raspberries for a tangy twist.
• Tropical Dream Variation: Swap strawberry gelatin for mango or passion fruit gelatin, and garnish with fresh tropical fruit slices to create a vibrant island-inspired dessert.
• Chocolate Lovers' Version: Add cocoa powder to the cake batter and use chocolate pudding mix instead of gelatin, then top with chocolate shavings for an indulgent chocolate poke cake experience.
• Citrus Splash Variation: Incorporate lemon zest into the cake batter and use orange gelatin, then finish with a light citrus cream topping for a refreshing summer dessert.

Pioneer Woman Strawberry Poke Cake Recipe

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• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Pioneer Woman Strawberry Poke Cake delivers sweet summer charm with its luscious layers of moist white cake, creamy strawberry filling, and billowy whipped topping. Strawberry lovers will savor each rich, fruity bite of this classic dessert that promises pure indulgence.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 pounds strawberries
• 3 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 ¼ cups buttermilk

Gelatin and Flavoring:

• 1 (3-ounce) box strawberry gelatin
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Additional Components:

• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon fine salt
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 cups heavy cream, cold
• 1 tablespoon sugar

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Instructions

1. Prepare the baking environment by adjusting the oven rack to the lower third position and heating to 350°F (175°C). Generously coat a 9-by-13-inch (23-by-33-centimeter) baking pan with unsalted butter to prevent sticking.
2. Create the dry ingredient mixture by combining all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk thoroughly to ensure even distribution of leavening agents.
3. In a separate bowl, blend buttermilk and pure vanilla extract, creating a smooth liquid mixture that will enhance the cake’s moisture and flavor profile.
4. Using an electric mixer, cream granulated sugar and softened butter until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and pale in color. Incorporate eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition to create a uniform batter.
5. Gradually fold the dry ingredient mixture and buttermilk mixture into the butter mixture, alternating between the two. Gently mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix, which could result in a dense cake.
6. Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly with a spatula to ensure consistent baking and a smooth top surface.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should come out clean with minimal crumbs.
8. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for approximately 30 minutes, creating a stable surface for the next steps.
9. Using a fork, carefully create multiple holes across the entire surface of the cake, allowing the gelatin mixture to penetrate deeply.
10. Dissolve strawberry gelatin powder completely in 1 cup (240 milliliters) of boiling water, then add 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) of cold water to achieve the right consistency.
11. Slowly pour the gelatin mixture over the cake, ensuring it seeps into the holes and covers the entire surface evenly.
12. Refrigerate the cake for 2 hours, allowing the gelatin to set and infuse the cake with strawberry flavor.
13. Prepare the whipped cream topping by combining heavy whipping cream, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Whip until stiff peaks form, creating a light and airy texture.
14. Spread the whipped cream over the chilled cake, creating a smooth and elegant finish.
15. Garnish with freshly sweetened strawberries just before serving to add a vibrant and fruity element to the dessert.

Notes

• Refrigerate the cake for at least 2 hours to enhance its creamy texture and allow flavors to meld together perfectly.
• Macerate strawberries by sprinkling sugar over them and letting them rest at room temperature, creating a natural syrup that intensifies their sweetness and softens their texture.
• Fresh strawberries work best when they’re ripe and in season, delivering maximum flavor and juiciness to the dessert.
• Carefully wrap the cake in plastic wrap before chilling to prevent it from absorbing other refrigerator odors.
• Use a sharp knife dipped in hot water for clean, smooth slices when serving the chilled cake.
• Leftover cake can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, maintaining its delicious taste and creamy consistency.
• Room temperature ingredients ensure smoother mixing and a more even cake texture, so remove cream cheese and eggs from the fridge 30 minutes before starting.
• Avoid overmixing the batter to prevent air bubbles that can cause cracking during baking.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 466 kcal
• Sugar: 38 g
• Sodium: 140 mg
• Fat: 27 g
• Saturated Fat: 16 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 57 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 85 mg