This strawberry lemonade poke cake is the perfect summer dessert. It’s fun, it’s flavorful, and it’s easy to make ahead of time. Everyone will love this beautiful cake!
Strawberry Lemonade Poke Cake Recipe
Everyone loves a nice glass of strawberry lemonade in the summertime. Now you can get that same amazing flavor in the form of a cake!
This strawberry lemonade poke cake is a lot of fun to make. Start with a white cake mix, then add a strawberry jello filling and lemonade cream cheese layer. All together it’s irresistable!
Serve this cake for a summertime dessert, for a festive Easter dessert, Valentine’s dessert, or any time you need a beautiful cake that everyone will love.
Why you’ll love this Strawberry Poke Cake recipe:
- TASTES LIKE SUMMER: This cake is deliciously sweet and tart, just like a glass of strawberry lemonade. It’s perfect for summer!
- UPGRADE YOUR BOXED CAKE: You can start with a boxed cake mix and take it up a few notches with this fun recipe.
- MAKE AHEAD DESSERT: Since you’ll need to refrigerate this cake, you can easily make it up to 2 days in advance.
Ingredients List
Here are a few notes and tips to keep in mind. Check the recipe card for the full ingredients list.
- Frozen Strawberries – I prefer frozen strawberries for the filling because they create a better consistency (and they’re more convenient).
- Frozen Lemonade Concentrate – You’ll need this for the filling, the cake, and the cream cheese layer (1 cup total). So 1 can of this should be enough (they’re usually about 12 oz.).
- Strawberry Gelatin – Use the dry gelatin powder/mix to add into the filling.
- Cake Mix – A box of white cake mix is the base for this strawberry lemonade cake.
- Cream Cheese – Allow the cream cheese to soften at room temperature.
- Cool Whip – You’ll need a tub of this for the topping, or you can use heavy whipping cream.
- Yellow Sanding Sugar – This is used to decorate and finish off the cake. It’s not necessary if you don’t have it, but it looks beautiful!
How to make Strawberry Lemonade Poke Cake
You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!
- Make the strawberry filling: Cook the frozen strawberries along with the other filling ingredients on the stove until softened. Then mix in the gelatin and let it cool to room temperature.
- Make the cream cheese layer: Mix the cream cheese, lemonade concentrate, powder sugar, and lemon juice in a electric mixer. Set it aside until ready to use.
- Bake the cake: Combine the cake mix with lemonade concentrate, water, sour cream, eggs, and lemon zest, and beat in a stand mixer. Then pour the cake batter into the cake pan, and bake according to box instructions.
- Cool and poke cake: Let the cake cool completely, then use a wooden spoon handle to poke holes all over the top of the cake.
- Assemble the cake: Pour strawberry jello filling over the cake so that it falls into the holes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Then spread the cream cheese layer evenly on top.
- Refrigerate: Cover the cake again and refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.
- Serve: To serve, top it with cool whip, fresh strawberries, and sugar.
How do you poke holes in a poke cake?
I recommend using a wooden spoon with a thin, rounded handle for this. After you bake the cake, let it cool completely. Then use the spoon handle to poke holes all over the top of the cake (about 35-40 holes).
I try to leave about an inch between holes, but it doesn’t have to be exact. Poke about 3/4 of the way through the cake; you don’t want a hole all the way through it.
Does jello poke cake need to be refrigerated?
This strawberry lemonade poke cake is made with a gelatin filling, as well as a cream cheese layer. So it should be refrigerated before and after serving.
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes! This cake should be refrigerated before serving, so it’s the perfect dessert to make ahead of time. Bake and assemble the cake according to the instructions in the recipe card.
Then cover the cake in plastic wrap and store in the fridge up to 2 days before serving.
Tips!
- The strawberry filling will need about 30-45 minutes to cool down to room temperature.
- Let cream cheese soften before making the cream cheese mixture.
- Use a 9×13 inch pan for this poke cake recipe.
- Refrigerate the cake after adding the strawberry filling, and then again after adding the cream cheese layer. So you’ll need to give it plenty of time to chill before serving.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 4 days.
This strawberry lemonade poke cake is so easy, fun, and delicious. Serve it up with as much cool whip as you like!
More Easy Cake Recipes we Love
- Oreo Poke Cake
- Lemon Meringue Cake
- White Cake with Strawberry Filling
- Fresh Strawberry Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.
Strawberry Lemonade Poke Cake
Ingredients
For the Strawberry Jello Filling
- 3 cups frozen strawberries 500 grams
- 3 tablespoons water 43 grams
- ¼ cup granulated sugar 50 grams
- ¼ cup frozen lemonade concentrate 57 grams
- 1 medium lemon juiced and zested
- 2 tablespoons strawberry gelatin powder 19 grams
For the Lemonade Cream Cheese Layer
- 12 ounces cream cheese 340 grams, room temperature (1½ bricks)
- ½ cup frozen lemonade concentrate 114 grams
- ¼ cup powdered sugar 28 grams
- 1 medium lemon juiced and zested
For the Cake
- 15.25 ounces white cake mix 432 grams (1 box), Duncan Hines Classic White recommended
- ¼ cup frozen lemonade concentrate 57 grams
- ¾ cup water 170 grams
- ⅓ cup sour cream 76 grams
- 3 large eggs 150 grams
- 1 medium lemon zested
For the Topping
- 16 ounces Cool Whip 454 grams (1 tub)
- Fresh strawberries sliced or chopped
- Yellow sanding sugar optional
Recommended Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
Instructions
For the Strawberry Filling
- In a medium saucepan set over medium-low heat, combine the strawberries, water, sugar, frozen lemonade concentrate, and zest and juice of 1 lemon. Stir well, cover, and cook until the strawberries are softened and the liquid is deep red, about 10 minutes.3 cups frozen strawberries, 3 tablespoons water, ¼ cup granulated sugar, ¼ cup frozen lemonade concentrate, 1 medium lemon
- Pour the liquid over a fine-mesh sieve and into a bowl and add the strawberry gelatin into the liquid. Whisk well until the gelatin dissolves, and set aside, allowing the mixture to cool to room temperature, about 30-40 minutes. (Discard the strawberry solids or use for another recipe.) While the filling cools, make the cream cheese layer.2 tablespoons strawberry gelatin powder
For the Lemonade Cream Cheese Layer
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, frozen lemonade concentrate, powdered sugar, and the zest and juice of 1 lemon together on medium speed until smooth and creamy.12 ounces cream cheese, ½ cup frozen lemonade concentrate, ¼ cup powdered sugar, 1 medium lemon
For the Cake
- Set oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with nonstick baking spray. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the cake mix, frozen lemonade concentrate, water, sour cream, eggs, and zest of 1 lemon. Beat together, on medium speed, for 2 minutes.15.25 ounces white cake mix, ¼ cup frozen lemonade concentrate, ¾ cup water, ⅓ cup sour cream, 1 medium lemon, 3 large eggs
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake according to cake package directions, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean (about 25-30 minutes). Transfer the cake to a wire rack to cool completely. When cooled, use a thin handle of a wooden spoon to poke about 35-40 holes all around the top of the cake.
- When the strawberry gelatin mixture has cooled to room temperature, slowly pour (or spoon) it over and into the holes in the cooled cake.
- Cover with plastic wrap (keep the plastic wrap from touching the cake, if possible) and refrigerate 30 minutes before adding the Lemonade Cream Cheese Layer.
Assembly
- When the cake is ready, spread the Lemonade Cream Cheese mixture on top and smooth it out.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to 2 days.
- When ready to serve, decorate the top with Cool Whip, fresh strawberries and colored sanding sugar, if desired.16 ounces Cool Whip, Fresh strawberries, Yellow sanding sugar
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- Total lemons and frozen lemonade for this cake: 4 medium lemons and 1 (12-ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate.
- The strawberry filling will need about 30-45 minutes to cool down to room temperature.
- Let cream cheese soften before making the cream cheese mixture.
- Use a 9×13 inch pan for this poke cake recipe.
- Refrigerate the cake after adding the strawberry filling, and then again after adding the cream cheese layer. So you’ll need to give it plenty of time to chill before serving.
Nutrition Information
When I saw it takes frozen lemonade concentrate, it took me back to my childhood. I knew I had to try this. It was a huge hit!
Looks delicious, Colleen!
It looks amazing but frozen lemonade concentrate is impossible to find. Any suggestions for substitutions?
You could try a DIY recipe or use regular lemonade!
Cake was EXTREMELY dense and didn’t even absorb the strawberry filling. The icing was good but I would not make this cake again, such a disappointment
I am sorry to hear that!
Looks amazing! I’m going to try it. I’m ok with box cake mix. Lol
Let us know how it goes!
The recipe was disappointing. I should have known a box mix cake wouldn’t be great know matter how much you doll it up. Next time I will make the cake from scratch.
I am sorry this didn’t work out for you!