The Ultimate Strawberry Poke Cake Recipe: A Sweet Delight

This decadent Strawberry Poke Cake is the perfect blend of moist cake, creamy filling, and fresh strawberry flavor. This recipe is easy to follow, even for beginner bakers, and guaranteed to impress your friends and family. Let's dive into creating this delicious dessert!

What is a Poke Cake?

A poke cake is a delightful dessert characterized by its moist layers of cake that are "poked" with holes, allowing a luscious filling to soak into the cake, creating an intensely flavorful and moist texture. The combination of the cake and the filling is what makes this dessert so irresistible. This Strawberry Poke Cake elevates this classic recipe to another level with the vibrant taste of fresh strawberries.

Ingredients You'll Need:

This recipe is broken down into three key parts: the cake, the filling, and the topping.

For the Cake:

• 1 box (15.25 ounces) white cake mix
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 4 large eggs

For the Strawberry Filling:

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen strawberries, thawed and drained (reserve about 1/2 cup for garnish)

For the Topping:

• Reserved strawberries (from the filling)
• Whipped cream (optional)

Instructions: Baking the Perfect Strawberry Poke Cake

Step 1: Baking the Cake

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, water, oil, and eggs. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes.
3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
4. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before poking holes.

Step 2: Poking the Cake

1. While the cake is still warm, use the handle of a wooden spoon or a chopstick to poke holes evenly across the surface of the cake. Don't poke too deep, just enough to create channels for the filling.

Step 3: Preparing the Strawberry Filling

1. In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth.
2. Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until light and fluffy.
3. Stir in the vanilla extract and the drained strawberries until well combined.

Step 4: Assembling the Cake

1. Pour the strawberry filling evenly over the poked cake, allowing it to seep into the holes.
2. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to meld and the cake to fully absorb the filling.

Step 5: Serving Your Masterpiece

1. Once chilled, garnish the cake with the reserved strawberries and a dollop of whipped cream, if desired.
2. Slice and serve, enjoying the delicious combination of moist cake and creamy strawberry filling.

Tips for Strawberry Poke Cake Success

• Don't overbake the cake: Overbaking will result in a dry cake. Start checking for doneness at 25 minutes.
• Use fresh strawberries: Fresh strawberries will provide the best flavor.
• Let the cake cool slightly before poking: This prevents the cake from crumbling.
• Refrigerate for at least 2 hours: This allows the cake to absorb the filling and the flavors to meld.
• Get creative with toppings: Consider adding chocolate shavings, sprinkles, or other fresh berries for extra flair.

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