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Easy Lightened Up Strawberry Poke Cake

This Easy Lightened Up Strawberry Poke Cake screams summertime-it’s refreshing, fruity, and easy to make!! Perfect for a family gathering, summer BBQ, or weekday dessert!

What Ingredients do I need to make this Easy Lightened Up Strawberry Poke Cake?

  • Cake Mix: you can use a regular white cake mix such as Duncan Hines White Cake Mix or the Pillsbury sugar free yellow cake mix! The point values are listed for both options. If you live in the United States, you can find the Pillsbury Sugar Free Cake mixes online HERE on Amazon or at your local Walmart store. 
  • Eggs: you can use whole egg or egg whites… keep in mind if you are using the white cake mix, you’ll want to use just egg whites-since the yolks will discolor the batter it will turn out more yellow than white. 
  • Unsweetened Applesauce: I use this as a substitute for oil-which makes this cake lower in points, fat, and calories.
  • Sugar Free Jello: You can use any flavor of sugar free jello mix you like!! I used strawberry sugar free jell-o for this recipe. 
  • Boiling water
  • Cold water
  • Lite or sugar free cool whip-used for the frosting.
  • Fresh strawberries or fruit- for topping/garnish. 

What other flavors can I make for this Easy Lightened Up Poke Cake?

  • Pillsbury Sugar Free Chocolate Cake Mix- mixed with any flavor of sugar free jell-o such as: raspberry, lime, or orange.Garnish with raspberries, strawberries, mandarin oranges, peaches, or limes. 
  • Pillsbury Yellow Cake Mix-mixed with any flavor sugar free jell-o such as: raspberry, lime, or orange. Garnish with raspberries, strawberries, mandarin oranges, peaches, or limes. 
  • Ducan Hines White Cake Mix-mixed with any flavor sugar free jell-o such as: raspberry, lime, or orange. Garnish with raspberries, strawberries, mandarin oranges, peaches, or limes. 

How do I make this Easy Lightened Up Strawberry Poke Cake?

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non stick cooking spray. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl combine, cake mix, water, whites, and unsweetened applesauce.

Whisk until well combined.

Pour batter into prepared 9×13 baking dish. 

Cook for 22-25 minutes. 

Remove from oven and let cool 15 minutes on the counter. 

Poke the entire cake all over to create small holes (I use the end of a chopstick or small wooden spoon).

In a small mixing bowl combine Jell-o and boiling water. Stir until Jell-o is completely dissolved. 

Add cold water. Pour Jell-o over the cake slowly ensuring it gets in all of the holes. 

Cover with plastic wrap or foil.

Place in the fridge for at least 3 hours or until the jello sets.

The longer it chills the better-overnight is best!

Remove from fridge and spread lite cool whip over the top of the chilled cake.

Garnish with fresh strawberries or fruit! 

Directions: 

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non stick cooking spray. Set aside.
  2. In a large mixing bowl combine, cake mix, 1 cup water, eggs or egg whites, and unsweetened applesauce. Whisk until well combined.
  3. Pour batter into prepared 9×13 baking dish.  Cook for 22-25 minutes. 
  4. Remove from oven and let cool 15 minutes on the counter.  Poke the entire cake all over to create small holes (I use the end of a chopstick or small wooden spoon).
  5. In a small mixing bowl combine Jell-o and boiling water. Stir until Jell-o is completely dissolved. 
  6. Add cold water. Pour Jell-o over the cake slowly ensuring it gets in all of the holes. Cover with plastic wrap or foil. 
  7. Place in the fridge for at least 3 hours or until the jello sets. The longer it chills the better-overnight is best
  8. Remove from fridge and cool whip over the top of the chilled cake. 
  9. Garnish with fresh strawberries or fruit! Slice cake into 20 servings-5 rows of 4 servings.
  10. Store leftovers in fridge in an airtight container or insert toothpicks into the cake and make a tent with foil.
  11. This poke cake will stay fresh for up to 4 days in the fridge.

Makes 20 servings

4 Points® per serving if using sugar free cake mix

How do I track this recipe in my WW app? 

Click the link below to go to the recipe builder. You’ll first need to sign into your WW account and then the recipe builder will upload. The recipe builder is the most accurate way to create, obtain, and track the Points®

*The recipe builder link only works for WW members located in the United States. If you are located outside of the United States, you’ll need to access the WW app manually to create the recipe in the recipe builder. 

Yield: 20

Easy Lightened Up Strawberry Poke Cake

Easy Lightened Up Strawberry Poke Cake

This Easy Lightened Up Strawberry Poke Cake screams summertime-it’s refreshing, fruity, and easy to make!! Perfect for a family gathering, summer BBQ, or weekday dessert!

Author: thepounddropper.com

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Additional Time 1 day
Total Time 1 day 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 (16.5 oz.) package Duncan Hines White Cake Mix or (16 oz.) Pillsbury Sugar Free Yellow Cake Mix 
  • 1 package (.3 oz.) package of sugar free Jell-o
  • 1 cup water 
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce 
  • 3 whole eggs or 3 large egg whites 
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1/2 cup cold water
  • 8 oz. lite or sugar free cool whip 
  • Fresh strawberries or fruit, for garnish

Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with non stick cooking spray. Set aside.
    2. In a large mixing bowl combine, cake mix, 1 cup water, eggs or egg whites, and unsweetened applesauce. Whisk until well combined.
    3. Pour batter into prepared 9x13 baking dish. 
    4. Cook for 22-25 minutes. 
      Remove from oven and let cool 15 minutes on the counter.  Poke the entire cake all over to create small holes (I use the end of a chopstick or small wooden spoon).
    5. In a small mixing bowl combine Jell-o and boiling water. Stir until Jell-o is completely dissolved. 
    6. Add cold water. Stir until well combined. Pour Jell-o over the cake slowly ensuring it gets in all of the holes. Cover with plastic wrap or foil. 
    7. Place in the fridge for at least 3 hours or until the jello sets. The longer it chills the better-overnight is best.
    8. Remove from fridge and spread cool whip over the top of the chilled cake.
    9. Garnish with fresh strawberries or fruit! Slice cake into 20 servings-5 rows of 4 servings.

    Makes 20 servings

    4 Points® per serving if using sugar free cake mix

Notes

  • Store leftovers in fridge in an airtight container or insert toothpicks into the cake and make a tent with foil.
  • This poke cake will stay fresh for up to 4 days in the fridge.
  • Smartpoints:GREEN/BLUE/ PURPLE: 3 smartpoints per serving if using sugar free cake mix and sugar free Jell-o. 5 smartpoints per serving if using regular Ducan Hines White Cake Mix with sugar free Jell-o. 6 smartpoints per serving if using regular Ducan Hines White Cake Mix with regular Jell-o. 

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

20

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 78Total Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 172mgCarbohydrates: 20gNet Carbohydrates: 19gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 2g

Do not use the WW nutritional calculator to calculate points. The nutritional calculator does take zero point food ingredients into consideration and will not be accurate. Personal Point values and nutritional information is estimated and calculated using the brand of ingredients listed in the recipe. PersonalPoints values may vary depending on the brand of ingredients used and depending on your customized zero point foods list. To accurately calculate the Personal Point value on a recipe you will need to enter the ingredients in the WW app recipe builder by going to the top bar in your WW App and selecting “My Foods” then when you are in my foods select “Recipes” then click “Create” in top corner, this is where you will build the recipe, give it a name, select how many servings it makes and then add all ingredients.

Kim G

Sunday 14th of May 2023

Hi! This sounds yummy! Did you change the box mix directions (temperature and cook time) because you don’t use the oil? The box says 325 for 35-38 minutes. I prefer oil in my cake, so I’m wondering, if I make the sugar free mix as it is on the box, and then follow your instruction for the ‘poke’ part, would it still work?

PS: According to the recipe builder on my WW app, using SF cake mix as is, with SF Jell-O, and no Cool Whip (I’m not a fan), cut into 16 servings, it’s still only 4 points per serving. I’ll add fresh strawberries and Reddi wip to my servings and have a 5 WW points piece of cake. That’s a great low point dessert. I’m going to make one for a WW-friendly option at my next family gathering. Thank you so much for a great idea.

Nicole

Friday 17th of March 2023

Do you think I could still do this recipe but instead of using applesauce, use Greek yogurt as an oil swap?

Wanna try this for Easter but also mix cheesecake pudding mix in the cool whip for frosting.

Lindsay Kehl

Saturday 18th of March 2023

HI Nicole

Yes, non fat greek yogurt can be a great substitute for oil or unsweetened applesauce, it is a bit thicker-so you may need to add a bit of water or unsweetened almond milk to the batter!

Enjoy!

Peggy

Sunday 23rd of May 2021

Hi would like to no is the white cake the only one you can use your recipes

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