Description
This Strawberry Shortcake Poke Sheet Cake is a soft, fluffy vanilla sheet cake soaked with strawberry gelatin and real strawberry puree, then topped with billowy whipped cream and fresh strawberries. It’s an easy make-ahead crowd-pleaser that tastes like summer in every bite—light, fruity, and wonderfully comforting.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 box (15.25 oz / 432 g) vanilla or white cake mix
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) vegetable oil
- 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk (or 2%)
- 1 box (3 oz / 85 g) strawberry gelatin
- 1 cup (240 ml) boiling water
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) cold water
- 1 cup (240 ml) strawberry puree (sweetened or lightly sweetened)
- 2 cups (480 ml) cold heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup (30 g) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups (300–350 g) fresh strawberries, sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch pan.
- Mix cake mix, eggs, oil, and milk until smooth (do not overmix).
- Pour into the pan and bake 28–32 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool the cake 10–15 minutes. Poke holes all over with the handle of a wooden spoon.
- Dissolve strawberry gelatin in boiling water until fully clear.
- Stir in cold water and strawberry puree until combined.
- Slowly pour the strawberry mixture over the cake, letting it soak into the holes.
- Refrigerate at least 2 hours (4 hours or overnight for best texture and clean slices).
- Whip cold heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla to stiff peaks.
- Spread whipped cream evenly over the chilled cake.
- Top with sliced fresh strawberries just before serving.
- Slice cold and serve. Cover and refrigerate leftovers.
Notes
Poke the holes close together so every bite gets strawberry soak. For extra shortcake flavor, add 1 teaspoon lemon zest to the cake batter or sprinkle crushed vanilla cookies on top. Slice strawberries right before serving to keep them bright. Store covered in the refrigerator up to 3 days. This cake is best served chilled and does not need reheating.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: B
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 85mg