If you liked strawberry shortcake popsicles growing up, you’ll love this strawberry crunch poke cake. The ice cream truck treat took its cue from the classic strawberry shortcake, but then added what we all know is the best part: the crunchy coating. Here, we start with a boxed cake mix, infuse it with strawberry flavor, top it with fluffy cream cheese frosting, and then finish it off with a strawberry and cake topping. It’s the perfect summer dessert.
Not familiar with poke cakes? Now is your chance to get on board with the easiest and tastiest desserts ever. They start with a cake mix (see, simple!), then when the cake is cool, the fun begins – adding your flavors. Use a bamboo skewer or chopstick to poke holes all over the cake. To preserve the flavor inside the cake, do not go all the way to the bottom of the pan.
Now add your filling. For this dessert we use strawberry Jell-O. All you have to do is heat water, mix in the Jell-O powder and pour it into the holes. Leave the cake to cool in the fridge for at least a few hours or up to overnight. This soaking time will help ensure you get beautiful white and pink swirls when you cut into the cake.
We love this dessert with cream cheese frosting, but you can go with straight whipped cream if you want things less sweet. Finish it all off with the crunch, which starts with vanilla sandwich cookies (like Golden Oreos). Just grind them up in the food processor or put them in a ziplock bag and crush them with a rolling pin. Throw in more strawberry Jell-O powder for a pretty pink color and a hit of nostalgic berry flavor.
Want even more strawberry crunch inspired desserts? Check out our strawberry crunch cake, our strawberry shortcake ice cream layer cake or our strawberry shortcake vegan ice cream.
Have you made this treat? Tell us all about it in the comments section below!
