Description
A creamy, fruity, and luscious dessert that combines moist vanilla cake, sweet strawberry gelatin, a rich cheesecake layer, and fresh strawberries. This Strawberry Cheesecake Poke Cake is easy to make, perfect for gatherings, and gets better as it chills.
Ingredients
- 1 box vanilla cake mix (plus ingredients required to prepare it)
- 1 package (3 oz) strawberry Jell-O gelatin
- 1 cup boiling water
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 8 oz whipped topping (Cool Whip or homemade)
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare vanilla cake as directed. Bake in a 9×13″ dish and let cool 15 minutes.
- Poke holes evenly across the top using a wooden spoon handle.
- Dissolve strawberry Jell-O in 1 cup boiling water. Pour over cake slowly, letting it seep into the holes.
- Refrigerate cake for 1 hour.
- In a bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and melted butter. Press into the bottom of a clean 9×13″ dish or layer under the cake if preferred. Bake 8 minutes at 350°F for crunch (optional).
- In a mixing bowl, beat softened cream cheese with powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.
- Spread cream cheese mixture over the chilled cake.
- Gently spread whipped topping over cream cheese layer.
- Top with fresh strawberry slices.
- Chill for at least 3 more hours or overnight before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Chill Time: 4 hours
- Cook Time: 25 minutes