Description
This bright and refreshing poke cake combines zesty lemon cake, sweet strawberry Jell-O filling, and creamy buttercream frosting for the perfect summer dessert. Easy to make and full of fruity flavor!
Ingredients
-
For the Cake Batter:
- 1 (15 ¼-ounce) box lemon cake mix
- 1 (3.4-ounce) box vanilla instant pudding
- ¾ cup lemonade
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- 5 eggs
For the Strawberry Filling:
- 1 ¼ cups lemonade
- 1 (3.4-ounce) box strawberry Jell-O
For the Topping:
- 2 (12-ounce) tubs buttercream frosting
- 1 pint fresh strawberries, sliced or halved
- 1 lemon, sliced
Instructions
-
Preheat Oven & Prep Pan:
Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Line a 13×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease with cooking spray. -
Make the Cake Batter:
In a large bowl, whisk together the cake mix and pudding mix. Add lemonade, oil, and eggs, whisking until smooth. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. -
Bake the Cake:
Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool completely on a wire rack (about 30 minutes). -
Prepare the Strawberry Filling:
In a small saucepan, bring lemonade to a low simmer over medium heat. Remove from heat, stir in strawberry Jell-O, and mix until fully dissolved (about 3 minutes). Set aside to cool to room temperature (about 10 minutes). -
Poke & Fill the Cake:
Once the cake is cooled, use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke about 24 holes evenly across the cake. Spoon the Jell-O mixture into the holes. -
Chill the Cake:
Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours (preferably overnight for the best texture).
-
Frost & Garnish:
Remove the cake from the refrigerator. Spread the buttercream frosting evenly over the top. Garnish with fresh strawberries and lemon slices before serving.
Notes
- For best texture and flavor, refrigerate overnight.
- You can substitute with other fruit-flavored Jell-O if preferred.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 340 kcal
- Sugar: 35g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 47g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 45mg