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Easy Firecracker Strawberry Cheesecake Poke Cake

firecracker strawberry cheesecake poke cake - featured image
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A quick and easy summer dessert combining moist strawberry poke cake with a creamy cheesecake topping and festive red, white, and blue garnish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 box white or yellow cake mix (15.25 oz / 432 g)
  • 1 cup water (240 ml)
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil (80 ml)
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 package (3 oz / 85 g) strawberry Jell-O gelatin mix
  • 1 cup boiling water (240 ml)
  • 1/2 cup cold water (120 ml)
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened (225 g)
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream (240 ml), chilled
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar (60 g)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (5 ml)
  • Fresh strawberries, sliced (optional)
  • Red, white, and blue sprinkles or edible stars
  • Blueberries or raspberries (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.
  2. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, water, vegetable oil, and eggs. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes until smooth and slightly thickened.
  3. Pour batter evenly into prepared pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  4. Let cake cool for 10 minutes. Using a wooden skewer or spoon handle, poke holes about 1 inch apart all over the cake, deep enough to reach the bottom but not pierce the pan.
  5. Dissolve strawberry Jell-O powder in 1 cup boiling water, stirring for 2 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup cold water and let cool for 5 minutes without setting.
  6. Slowly pour the warm gelatin evenly over the cake, allowing it to seep into the holes. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to set.
  7. In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese until smooth. In a separate chilled bowl, whip heavy cream until soft peaks form.
  8. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla extract to cream cheese, then gently fold in whipped cream until fluffy.
  9. Spread cheesecake whipped topping evenly over chilled cake using a spatula.
  10. Garnish with fresh strawberries, blueberries, and red, white, and blue sprinkles. Chill for another 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

Use room temperature eggs for better batter texture. Poke holes evenly about 1 inch apart to avoid sogginess. Whip cream separately before folding into cream cheese for a light topping. Chill cake thoroughly to set gelatin and topping. For dairy-free, substitute cream cheese and heavy cream with vegan alternatives. Gluten-free cake mix can be used for gluten-free version.

Nutrition

Keywords: strawberry poke cake, cheesecake poke cake, summer dessert, easy dessert, patriotic dessert, firecracker cake, strawberry cheesecake

Find it online: https://cooksybite.com/easy-firecracker-strawberry-cheesecake-poke-cake-recipe-for-perfect-summer-dessert/