This Strawberry Fudge Poke Cake is made with just a few ingredients and will be a hit at all your summer picnics. The sweet, refreshing cake will have everyone asking for more.
Chocolate Poke Cake
A few years ago I made this chocolate coconut cake. It was my first poke cake using sweetened condensed milk. The only poke cakes I had ever made before had pudding or Jello drizzled over the top.
Something about a cold, gooey cake satisfies every dessert craving in me. I'm not sure why I waited an entire year to make another one of these amazing cakes. What was I thinking?
A few weeks ago I made this coconut fudge poke cake, and I remembered why I loved poke cakes so much. Now I can't stop thinking about different combos to try.
I love how refreshing a poke cake is on a hot day. Trust me, and make this s’mores cake or this lemon poke cake for your next summer party.
What is a poke cake?
True to the name, it is a cake that is poked with a fork or wooden spoon immediately after taking it out of the oven. The holes are then filled with with a liquid or filling that infuses flavor into the cake.
The cake is then refrigerated while the liquid soaks into the cake making it ooey, gooey, and oh, so delicious.
Here are some of the common things you can pour over a poke cake.
- Jell-O
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Pudding
- Cream of Coconut
- Frosting
- Peanut Butter
- Pureed fruit
How to make a Strawberry Fudge Poke Cake
One thing that I love about this chocolate poke cake is how easy it is to make. You only need five simple ingredients to put it together this afternoon.
- Mix together your favorite chocolate cake batter in a bowl and bake it. I always use a cake mix for these cakes, but you can also do homemade if you prefer. (full recipe at bottom of post)
- As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, use a fork to poke holes all over the top of the cake. Go slowly so it doesn't pull apart the cake.
- Slowly drizzle an entire can of sweetened condensed milk over the top of the cake. Let the cake cool on a wire rack for an hour.
- Open the can of fudge frosting, remove the metal liner, and microwave 30 seconds. Stir and pour the chocolate frosting over the top of the cake.
- Spread the frosting out evenly and refrigerate the chocolate poke cake until completely chilled.
- Dump a can of strawberry pie filling into a bowl. Use a fork to break apart the big chunks of strawberries.
- Fold a container of thawed Cool Whip into the pie filling. Spread on top of the chilled cake.
- Serve with fresh strawberries.
Hurry! Run to the nearest grocery store and buy these 5 items, so you can have a Strawberry Fudge Poke Cake in your refrigerator too. I promise you are going to love it!!!
More Poke Cake Recipes
- Raspberry Poke Cake
- Peanut Butter Poke Cake
- Coconut Poke Cake
- Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake
- Strawberry Cheesecake Poke Cake
Strawberry Fudge Poke Cake Recipe
This Strawberry Fudge Poke Cake is made with just a few ingredients and will be a hit at all your summer picnics. The sweet, refreshing cake will have everyone asking for more.
Ingredients
- 1 dark chocolate cake mix
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 16 ounce container chocolate fudge frosting
- 21 ounce can strawberry pie filling
- 8 ounce container Cool Whip, thawed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick spray.
- Prepare the cake according to the box directions. Bake for 25-27 minutes.
- As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, poke the cake with a fork all over. Make sure you cover the cake with holes.
- Drizzle the sweetened condensed milk slowly over the top of the hot cake. Make sure to fill all the holes. Let the cake sit on a cooling rack until cool.
- Remove the foil top from the frosting. Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds.
- Stir and pour over cooled cake. Spread out evenly with a spatula. Refrigerate for a few hours or until chilled completely.
- Open the can of pie filling. Use a fork to break apart the strawberry chunks. Fold into the Cool Whip.
- Spread the strawberry Cool Whip over the top of the cake. Serve with fresh strawberries.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 237Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 91mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 1gSugar: 28gProtein: 3g
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 Fudge Poke Cake was first published May 26, 2013. The photos and post were updated and republished June 16, 2020.
Sharlana
I made this cake for Easter and it was really, really good BUT—the Cool Whip/strawberry topping slid off the piece of cake after it was cut! Is there any way to avoid this? I refrigerated it overnight after the chocolate frosting was put on top then put the Cool Whip mixture on the next morning then refrigerated it again for several hours. Still delicious but kind of embarrassing…
Jocelyn
I'm so glad you made and enjoyed the cake even though the topping slid off. This one is definitely a messy type of cake, and this topping will tend to slide some. Here are a few things I thought of that might affect the cake. Was the cake cool to touch before you added the frosting layer? Did you serve the cake directly from the fridge or did it sit out some first?
Sharlana
The cake was cool when I added the frosting layer and was served right from the refrigerator. It was still delicious!
Rhanie
Hi! I plan on making this for my daughter 3rd birthday soon. Is it OK to use my spring form pan that is used for cheesecakes?
Also, can I use regular chocolate frosting? Or does it need to be microwaved. Sorry! Want to get it before Next weekend.
Thank You!
Jocelyn
I would honestly not recommend making a poke cake in anything other than the 9x13. The moisture from the sweetened condensed milk being poured over and into the cake makes it very soft. Were you planning on taking the sides off the springform pan to serve it? I would worry that the cake would fall apart and not look good. The reason for microwaving the frosting is so that it becomes pourable and easier to spread, buy you can use any chocolate frosting. That's just my thoughts on it...definitely keep me posted on how it works if you make it.
Rhanie
Thank you so much for your reply! I’ll get a baking pan then. I didnt know you responded :(.
So any type of frosting can do? And their safe to microwave? Im gonna get the ones at walmart if you say those can. Lol the plastic tubs.
Jocelyn
Yes, the plastic tubs of frosting is what I used. Remove the plastic and foil lids and microwave for 30 seconds. It melts enough that you can pour and smooth it out really easily.
chris
would this be just as good if made a day ahead?
Jocelyn
Yes, it will be just fine to make it one day ahead of time. I usually do the cake, milk, and fudge part the night before, then finish the topping the next day. I hope you enjoy the cake!
Heather @ Sugar Dish Me
I am such a sucker for desserts with Cool Whip. Love this chocolatey strawberry cake!
Betsy @JavaCupcake
I think this is one of my favorite food flavor combos..... YUM!
shelleen oberender
I cant find strawberry pie filling and everyone I have talked to has not heard of it. Its chilling in the fridge now, had to make it, I got some fresh and sweetened frozen and mixed them together, it has just got to be great, thanks for the recipe
Jocelyn Brubaker
I have found the strawberry pie filling at Walmart and our local Kroger grocery store. You can make your own homemade strawberry pie filling with the fresh and frozen strawberries using this recipe https://insidebrucrewlife.com/homemade-strawberry-pie-filling/ I hope you enjoy the cake! It's a good one!
Jayne
Just curious why condense milk wouldn't it be too sweet ?
Jocelyn Brubaker
This is a very sweet cake, but oh so delicious!!! So, yes, the sweetened condensed milk is a must!!!
Emily
yum! I just made a strawberry tart, love those strawberry desserts... that poke cake look amazing!!! I hope you are planning to link it up to tasteful tuesdays this week! Emily
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks!! I love strawberry desserts too!
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain
It's like chocolate covered strawberries transformed into decadent cake! *drools embarrasingly*
Jocelyn this is AWESOMEEEEE. 😀
Jocelyn Brubaker
Yes it is!! Thank you so much!! 😉
Lina
This may be a silly question but the cal is warm when you put the team s.c. milk and fudge frosting on it right? I have never made a poke cake (even a hello one) before so I just want to make sure I make this right for my anniversary tonight. Thanks so much!
Jocelyn Brubaker
You will put the sweetened condensed milk on while the cake is hot! You want to wait to put the frosting and Cool Whip on after the cake has cooled. I hope you enjoy it. Happy Anniversary!
carrian
Mmmmmm, I like it!!