Description
Sweet summer memories bloom with this strawberry lemonade poke cake, where tangy citrus meets luscious berries in a delightful dessert. Creamy layers and zesty flavors promise a refreshing slice you’ll want to savor slowly.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 (15 ounces or 425 grams) box lemon cake mix
- 5 eggs
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
Liquid Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup lemonade
- 1 1/4 cups lemonade
Flavor and Topping Ingredients:
- 1 (3.4 ounces or 96 grams) box vanilla instant pudding
- 1 (3.4 ounces or 96 grams) box strawberry Jell-O
- 2 (12 ounces or 340 grams) tubs buttercream frosting
- 1 pint fresh strawberries, sliced or halved
- 1 lemon, sliced
Instructions
- Prepare the baking environment by heating the oven to 325F (163C) and lining a 13×9-inch pan with parchment paper, then lightly coat with cooking spray.
- Create the cake foundation by combining cake mix and pudding mix in a large mixing bowl. Incorporate lemonade, oil, and eggs, whisking until the mixture achieves a smooth consistency. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, ensuring an even distribution.
- Bake the cake for 45 minutes, verifying doneness by inserting a toothpick that comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool completely on a wire rack for approximately 30 minutes.
- Craft the strawberry infusion by gently simmering lemonade in a small saucepan. Remove from heat and thoroughly dissolve strawberry Jell-O, stirring for about 3 minutes. Let the mixture cool to room temperature for 10 minutes.
- Transform the cake’s texture by creating approximately 24 evenly spaced holes using a wooden spoon handle. Carefully pour the prepared Jell-O mixture into these perforations, ensuring complete coverage.
- Enhance the cake’s flavor profile by refrigerating for a minimum of 6 hours, ideally overnight, to allow optimal flavor absorption and texture development.
- Finalize the dessert by removing from refrigeration and applying a uniform layer of buttercream frosting. Embellish with fresh strawberry slices and delicate lemon garnishes just before serving.
Notes
- Adjust sweetness by selecting a tart or sweet lemonade mix to control the overall flavor profile of the cake.
- Ensure holes are evenly spaced and deep enough to absorb the strawberry Jell-O filling for maximum flavor penetration.
- Use room temperature ingredients to create a smoother, more consistent cake batter that bakes more evenly.
- Experiment with gluten-free cake mix or dairy-free alternatives to make the recipe suitable for different dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 474
- Sugar: 53 g
- Sodium: 316 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 63 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg