• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Everyday Shortcuts
  • Recipes
  • DIY Projects
  • Travel
  • Shop
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • DIY Projects
  • Travel
  • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • DIY Projects
    • Travel
    • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes

    Strawberry Crunch Poke Cake

    Published: Apr 7, 2023 · Modified: Jun 14, 2023 by Alison · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Jump to Recipe

    Indulge in this delectable Strawberry Crunch Poke Cake – a light and delightful dessert that’s perfect for the beautiful spring and summer days!

    Strawberry crunch poke cake on a plate

    You’ll absolutely love this Strawberry Crunch Poke Cake if you were a fan of the Good Humor strawberry shortcake crunch ice cream bars during your childhood. You know the ones – with the creamy strawberry ice cream center surrounded by a crunchy layer of vanilla cake and topped with a sweet strawberry sauce.

    This dessert is a delightful twist on the classic strawberry crunch ice cream bars and is sure to be a hit with anyone who tries it. It’s cookie crumble topping and fruity sweetness makes it perfect for any occasion, and it’s incredibly easy to make with simple instructions.

    So, whether you’re nostalgic for your childhood favorites or just looking for a new dessert to try, this Strawberry Crunch Poke Cake is a must-try!

    top view of strawberry crunch poke cake

    Why We Love This Strawberry Crunch Cake

    • Moist & Delicious – bursting with strawberry flavor and super moist.
    • Easy to Make – made with simple ingredients starting with a boxed cake.
    • Great for a Crowd – large enough to serve many and great for potlucks, special events and get-togethers.
    • Make Ahead – can easily be made in advance and stored.

    What You Need

    • Boxed cake mix: I used white box cake mix for this recipe.
    • Eggs: Used for the cake mix.
    • Vegetable oil: Used for the cake mix.
    • Water: You will need hot and cold water for the Jello mixture + room temperature water for the cake mixture.
    • Strawberry Jello: Two envelopes of strawberry jello powder to get that delicious sweet strawberry flavor for the inside of the cake and topping.
    • Whipped topping: I used a tub of Cool Whip for this recipe but you could make homemade whipped cream.
    • Golden Oreo cookies: Add the crunchy texture to the top of the cake.
    • Melted butter: I used unsalted butter and highly recommend it for this recipe.
    • Fresh strawberries: Optional but makes a great garnish to the crunch cake.
    inside of strawberry crunch poke cake

    Recipe Variations

    • Make it gluten-free by swapping out boxed cake mix and Golden Oreos for gluten free cake mix and Great Value vanilla flavored creme sandwich cookies.
    • If you don’t have white cake mix, you can swap out for yellow cake mix or strawberry cake mix.
    • Can make your own homemade whipped topping by beating chilled heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar with an electric mixer until stiff peaks.
    • If you want a different flavor swap out strawberry jello for a different flavored jello.

    How to Make Strawberry Crunch Poke Cake

    Full steps of how to make this delicious strawberry crunch poke cake are in the printable recipe card below.

    Step 1: Prepare the cake per directions on the box and allow to cool completely.

    Step 2: Prepare one packet of jello per directions on the box.

    Step 3: Once cake is cooled use the end of a wooden spoon to poke holes all around the top of the cake.

    Step 4: Pour the strawberry gelatin mixture over top cake holes, making sure to get in each hole.

    Step 5: Cover cake and place in fridge for 4 hours or overnight.

    Step 6: Spread Cool Whip in an even layer over top the cake. Crush up the Golden Oreos and place in bowl with melted butter, and jello packet. Mix together and sprinkle over top of cake.

    Step 7: Garnish with a fresh strawberry for each slice and enjoy!

    strawberry poke cake garnished with a strawberry

    Recipe Tips

    • Crush up the Oreos in either a food processor or smashing it in a zip lock bag with a rolling pin being mindful to not over crush as you want some pieces.
    • Space holes about 1″ apart to ensure enough Jello gets saturated in the cake without being soggy.
    • Give cake enough time in fridge to allow Jello to set.
    • Allow cake to cool completely before pouring gelatin mixture over top to prevent it from sinking to the bottom of the cake.

    How to Store a Crunch Cake

    • To Store: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days! DO NOT store at room temperature due to it’s gelatin mixture.
    • To Freeze: Place in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow to defrost in fridge overnight before serving.
    strawberry poke cake with crunch topping

    FAQs

    Can I make cupcakes with this recipe?

    Yes, you definitely can! Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners and add mixture halfway to each liner. Bake at a shorter time than cake time and when toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle. Then follow the poke and topping instructions to finish the cupcakes.

    Can I make this cake ahead of time?

    Of course you can make this cake ahead of time. It stores nicely in an airtight container in the fridge and can be made 2 days in advanced. Hold off on the topping before you’re ready to serve to prevent it from getting soggy.

    How to serve strawberry crunch cake?

    Serve on it’s own with a strawberry garnish or add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and extra whipped cream.

    What if I don’t have a wooden spoon?

    If you don’t have a wooden spoon, you can use a bamboo skewer to pokes holes in the cake.

    More Poke Cake Recipes

    • Patriotic Poke Cake
    • Lemon Poke Cake
    • Quadruple Chocolate Poke Cake
    • Frozen Inspired Poke Cupcakes

    Recipe

    Strawberry Crunch Poke Cake

    EverydayShortcuts.com
    Indulge in this delectable Strawberry Crunch Poke Cake – a light and delightful dessert that's perfect for the beautiful spring and summer days!
    No ratings yet
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    Additional Time 4 hours hrs
    Total Time 4 hours hrs 45 minutes mins
    Course Desserts
    Cuisine American

    Ingredients
      

    Poke Cake

    • 15 oz box white cake mix
    • 3 eggs
    • ⅓ cup vegetable oil
    • 1 cup water
    • 3 oz strawberry jello
    • 1 cup boiling water
    • 1 cup cold water

    Strawberry Crunch Topping

    • 3 oz strawberry jello
    • 8 oz cool whip
    • 18-20 golden oreos crushed
    • ¼ unsalted butter melted
    • Fresh strawberries are optional

    Instructions
     

    • Prepare oven and baking dish. Preheat oven to 350° and grease a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
    • Prepare cake mix. Follow the back of the box instructions to prepare the cake. Pour cake mixture into the prepared baking dish and bake according to box instructions.
    • Poke the cake. Allow cake to cool completely. Once cooled use the end of a wooden spoon to poke holes all around the top of the cake.
    • Prepare the Jello mixture. In a small to medium bowl add one box of jello, boiling water, mix and then cold water and mix once again. Pour the gelatin mixture over top cake holes, making sure to get in each hole.
    • Allow Jello to set up. Cover cake and place in fridge for 4 hours or overnight.
    • Prepare topping. Spread Cool Whip evenly over top the cake. Crush up the Golden Oreos. Melt the butter in a microwave safe bowl. In a bowl, pour the oreos, then butter over top and mix, then add in the other box of jello powder and mix once again. Sprinkle all over the top of the cake and lightly press down to make the crumbs stick into the cool whip.
    • Slice and serve! Add fresh strawberries for garnish.

    Notes

  • To Store: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days! DO NOT store at room temperature due to it's gelatin mixture.
  • To Freeze: Place in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow to defrost in fridge overnight before serving.
  • Nutrition Disclosure

    Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

    Tried this recipe?Tag @everydayshortcuts or use #everydayshortcuts on Facebook, TikTok or Instagram to let us know!

    More Recipes

    • Sheet Pan Chicken and Potatoes
    • Pepperoni Pizza Sliders
    • 4th of July Cheesecake
    • Bomb Pop Cookies
    FacebookTweetPin

    Alison is a wife and mother of three who embraces the simple life, finding joy in easy recipes, DIY projects, life hacks, and her passion for travel. Learn more about me!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    Alison McFadden

    Welcome to Everyday Shortcuts, where I share delicious and simple recipes that anyone can cook, practical household tips and clever shortcuts to help simplify your everyday life. 

    More about me →

    Popular

    • 8 Easy Chicken Freezer Meals in One Hour

    • Crock Pot Coca-Cola Baby Back Ribs

    • My 3 Day Egg Fast Experience and Weight Loss

    • Copycat White Castle Sliders

    Holiday Recipes

    • Snowman Cheese Ball

    • Jingle Juice Recipe

    • Grinch Puppy Chow

    • Blood Bag Cocktails

    Footer

    Everyday shortcuts as seen on logos

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy
    • About Me

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Press & Media
    • PR Friendly

    Alison McFadden is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

    Copyright © 2025 Everyday Shortcuts. All Rights Reserved

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
    Cookie SettingsAccept All
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required