Strawberry Poke Cake (Printable Version)

# What You'll Need:

→ Cake Batter

01 - 1 box vanilla cake mix
02 - 4 large eggs
03 - ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
04 - 1 cup milk

→ Strawberry Filling

05 - 1 box (3-ounce) strawberry gelatin
06 - 1 cup boiling water
07 - ½ cup cold water
08 - 1 ½ cups fresh strawberries, hulled

→ Custard Layer

09 - 2 boxes (3.4-ounce each) vanilla instant pudding mix
10 - 2 ½ cups half and half

→ Topping

11 - 2 containers (8-ounce each) whipped topping, thawed
12 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced for garnish

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
02 - In a large bowl, beat the cake mix, eggs, melted butter, and milk until smooth and well combined.
03 - Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool for 10 minutes.
04 - Using the handle end of a wooden spoon, poke holes all over the cake surface.
05 - In a small bowl, dissolve the gelatin powder in boiling water, stirring until completely dissolved.
06 - Blend the fresh strawberries until smooth, then stir into the dissolved gelatin mixture.
07 - Add cold water to the strawberry-gelatin mixture and blend again until fully combined.
08 - Refrigerate the strawberry mixture for 2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes to prevent settling.
09 - Pour the strawberry mixture evenly over the cake, ensuring it soaks into the holes. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
10 - Whisk the pudding mix with cold half and half until thickened, about 2 minutes.
11 - Spread the custard evenly over the cake and refrigerate for an additional 30 minutes.
12 - Spread the thawed whipped topping over the pudding layer and garnish with sliced strawberries.
13 - Chill for at least 1 hour before serving for best texture and flavor.

# Handy Tips:

01 - The cake needs several hours of chilling time between layers, so plan accordingly.
02 - Ensure the gelatin mixture doesn't fully set before pouring over the cake.
03 - For best results, use fresh strawberries rather than frozen for brighter flavor.

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