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Refreshing Strawberry Lemonade Poke Cake Recipe Easy Homemade Dessert with Cream Cheese Frosting

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A moist and tangy strawberry lemonade poke cake with a light cream cheese whipped frosting, perfect for warm weather and casual gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 box white cake mix (about 15.25 oz / 432 g)
  • 1 cup water (240 ml)
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil (80 ml)
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and finely chopped (about 150 g)
  • 1 cup lemonade (240 ml), preferably fresh or from a trusted brand
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar (50 g)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest (from about 1 medium lemon)
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened (225 g)
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream (240 ml), cold
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar (90 g), sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Optional: a pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease your 9×13 inch pan or line it with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the white cake mix, water, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes until smooth.
  3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly with a spatula. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  4. While the cake bakes, mix chopped strawberries, lemonade, sugar, and lemon zest in a small bowl. Stir until sugar dissolves and let sit for 10-15 minutes.
  5. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes. Using a toothpick or skewer, poke holes all over the surface about 1 inch apart.
  6. Slowly pour the strawberry lemonade mixture evenly over the cake. Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan, about 1 hour.
  7. In a chilled bowl, beat the cold heavy cream until soft peaks form. In another bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.
  8. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until combined and fluffy.
  9. Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cake using a spatula or the back of a spoon to create soft swirls.
  10. Refrigerate the cake for at least 2 hours before serving.

Notes

Use room temperature eggs for lighter cake texture. Don’t skip poking holes to allow soak absorption. Chill heavy cream before whipping for best results. Fold frosting gently to keep it airy. Thaw and drain frozen strawberries to avoid soggy cake. Avoid overbaking to prevent dryness. Refrigerate cake for at least 2 hours before serving to let flavors meld. For gluten-free or dairy-free versions, use appropriate substitutions.

Nutrition

Keywords: strawberry poke cake, lemonade poke cake, cream cheese frosting, summer dessert, easy poke cake, refreshing cake

Find it online: https://gleamgulp.com/refreshing-strawberry-lemonade-poke-cake-recipe-easy-homemade-dessert-with-cream-cheese-frosting/