This easy Strawberry Cheesecake Poke Cake topped with a fluffy cheesecake mousse, graham cracker crumbs, and fresh strawberries will make you the star of every summer picnic.
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By now you know that I am slightly obsessed with poke cakes. It all started with this chocolate coconut cake years ago, and I haven't been able to stop making them. Or eating them...
There is just something about the chilled cake drizzled with milk and topped with a fluffy mousse frosting that gets me every single time.
Why Make a Poke Cake
If you love tres leches cake, you will adore a strawberry poke cake. They have the same gooey consistency.
- Easy to make. All you need are a few store bought ingredients to make a cake that everyone will enjoy.
- Gooey and delicious. Sweetened condensed milk and strawberry topping add a moist and amazing texture to the soft cake.
- Great spring or summer dessert. The strawberry flavor and cheesecake topping will make this sweet cake disappear at any party, picnic, or event.
So, take our word for it and make this strawberry cheesecake poke cake for your family this week. I think they will love it just as much as we did.
What is a Poke Cake?
It's exactly like it sounds. You bake the cake and then poke it with a fork or the end of a wooden spoon. After you have a cake full of holes, you drizzle it with sweetened condensed milk and top it with Cool Whip.
Here are some other things that you can pour on poke cakes. Basically any liquid that you can pour and that will soak into the warm cake is fair game.
- Jell-O
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Pudding
- Cream of Coconut
- Frosting
- Peanut Butter
- Pureed fruit
How to make a Strawberry Cheesecake Poke Cake
This strawberry cheesecake poke cake gets an extra shot of strawberry from the strawberry ice cream topping. And adding pudding and cream cheese to the container of Cool Whip takes it over the top. It is seriously so delicious!
- Bake a strawberry cake mix according to the box directions. Remove from the oven and let cool 5 minutes.
- Use a fork to poke holes all over the top of the cake. Slowly drizzle a can of sweetened condensed milk over the top. Let it soak in.
- Pour a jar of strawberry ice cream topping on top of the cake. Use a spatula to smooth it out and press it into the holes. Refrigerate until completely chilled.
- Beat cream cheese until creamy. Whisk together milk and instant cheesecake pudding mix; let set. Beat into the cream cheese.
- Fold in Cool Whip and spread over the top of the chilled cake.
- Right before serving, sprinkle with graham cracker chunks and top with strawberry slices.
More Poke Cake Recipes
- Chocolate S'mores Pudding Cake
- Strawberry Fudge Poke Cake
- White Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake
- Coconut Fudge Poke Cake
- White Chocolate Berry Pudding Cake
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Recipe
Strawberry Cheesecake Poke Cake
This easy Strawberry Cheesecake Poke Cake topped with a fluffy cheesecake mousse, graham cracker crumbs, and fresh strawberries will make you the star of every summer picnic.
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 strawberry cake mix
- 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 (11.75 ounce) jar strawberry ice cream topping
For the Topping
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup milk
- 1 (3.3 ounce) box instant cheesecake pudding
- 1 (8 ounce) container Cool Whip, thawed
- ½ cup graham cracker chunks
- fresh strawberries
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350. Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick spray.
- Mix the strawberry cake according to the back of the package. Bake for about 28 minutes.
- Cool for 3-4 minutes and then poke the top of the cake with a large fork, creating a grid of holes over the entire top.
- Slowly pour the sweetened condensed milk over the top of the cake. Let the milk soak in. Pour the strawberry ice cream topping over the top of the cake.
- Use a spatula to move the mixture back and forth so it seeps into the holes made from the fork. Refrigerate until chilled.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese creamy. Whisk together the pudding mix and milk. Add to the cream cheese and beat again.
- Fold in Cool Whip gently using a spatula to turn the mixture over and over until incorporated. Spread over the top of the cooled cake.
- Refrigerate the cake until ready to serve. Top with graham cracker chunks and sliced strawberries right before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 76Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 53mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 0gSugar: 5gProtein: 1g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*The post for Strawberry Cheesecake Poke Cake was first published on July 2013. The photos and post was updated and republished July 2020.
Phyllis
I like poke cakes and this looks really good so I am going to make for this 4th. I use a chopstick to poke my holes because it is not as big as handle of wooden spoon and is bigger than fork.
Stevi Ashby
What size of cheese cake pudding would you use?
Jocelyn Brubaker
Sorry about that...I fixed the recipe to show the size. You will want to use the 3.3 ounce box. It is the small box of pudding that makes 4 servings. I hope you enjoy the cake!
Greg Nemitz beef jerky king
This strawberry cake looks so pretty. Love the color! It would be great as a birthday party cake 😀
Megan
This looks so yummy but I'm wondering if I could make cupcakes with this?
Jocelyn Brubaker
They would definitely work as cupcakes. The only thing I would suggest is using foil cupcake liners so the sweetened condensed milk doesn't soak through. I hope you enjoy them!
Chels R.
Gorgeous pics! Looks so yummy!
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet
I really need to get on the poke cake trend! This looks fabulous!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Anna!! Yes you do!! They are so moist and delicious!! 😉
Sarah
OK, what did I do wrong: I only got about half the condensed milk mixture to seep into the cake....? :/ Is there any way I can get the other half to absorb at this point?
Jocelyn Brubaker
This particular one won't absorb all the way because the strawberry topping makes it thicker. It will still be absolutely delicious though. I let it sit overnight before adding the Cool Whip topping. Can you do that? Also, bigger holes seems to help with this one...you can use the end of a wooden spoon next time.
Sarah
So it's ok to put the cool whip on top of a layer of the condensed milk mix? Whew! :o) I poked about a million holes with a fork because I don't have a wooden spoon, but I guess I shall pick one up for future poke cakes :o)
Thanks for the response!
Jocelyn Brubaker
How long did you let the cake sit with the condensed milk? It will thicken and soak in more if you have time. Mine did have a little layer of milk even after sitting in the refrigerator all night.
Sarah
It's sat for about an hour with half the mixture on it...and I just added the rest about twenty minutes ago after poking more holes with a fork.
Jocelyn Brubaker
I poured all of it on slowly after it came out of the oven, then I let it cool completely before putting it in my fridge overnight. I added the Cool Whip topping the next morning. You could use a straw to make bigger holes for the mixture to get down into the cake if you want. I used a fork too though.
Sarah
Poked more holes with a straw this morning, after letting it sit all night, and more was able to seep in, I think. It sure does look delicious so I'm sure it'll be a hit today! :o)
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel
Oh my goodness, this looks so divine! I knew when I saw that picture on IG something tasty like this would happen 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha! You so know me!! 😉 Thanks girl!!
tanya
Love me some poke cake especially when its topped with that frosting and all that fresh fruit! Yummy Jocelyn!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Tanya!! 😉
Eat Good 4 Life
I have never made a poke cake before and I see that you have several variations here 🙂 I need to experiment and make one soon 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Yes you should!! I promise your taste buds will thank you!! 😉
Julianne @ Beyond Frosting
Oh man, a cheesecake poke cake? I am totally on board!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha, thanks Julianne!! 😉
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl
After I FINALLY made a poke cake, I realized what I'd been missing out on all this time! I love this strawberry cheesecake version, Jocelyn! Perfect for the holiday, too.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Ashley!! I'm so glad you jumped on the poke cake band wagon!! AND glad that you loved it!!
Tieghan
Sounds so good!!! I am loving your photos and those fresh strawberries on top. I want a big piece!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks girl!! If I could, I'd mail you a piece! 😉
Nancy
Beautiful and absolutely delicious-looking! Do you remember the lemon poke cake you used to eat growing up?
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Mom!! 😉 I vaguely remember it! Do you remember where you got the recipe from?
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust
It sounds DELICIOUS Jocelyn. Oh how I wish we could enjoy a slice together!
Jocelyn Brubaker
I know!! I'd love to sit and chat with you over a few slices of this!! 😉
Julie
These are beautiful, Jocelyn! They look delicious and those berries look so darn good! Pinning!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks so much Julie!! 😉
Mary.
This the prettiest of poke cakes, to take to a picnic! Sine it's "national ice cream month" can you, or dorothy (crazy for crust) or whoever, re-post those "26 ice cream recipes" again?
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you so much Mary!!
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet
This seriously could be my all time favorite! I have yet to do a poke cake yet but you inspire me to do one!!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
You totally need to make this one then!! Do it, do it!!
Holly
Great minds think alike!! Joce, I JUST made us a Strawberry cake on Sunday for our anniversary! Posting it tomorrow! lol Yours looks SO GOOD!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks!! I bet yours was so good too!! 😉
Happy Valley Chow
Great job Jocelyn! Those sound fantastic and the perfect 4th of July dessert. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Eric!!