Strawberry Crunch Cake
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Strawberry Crunch Cake disappears faster than I expect every single time! recipes that somehow tastes like you picked it up from a bakery, but is SO easy to make.
Strawberry Crunch Cake Recipe
Strawberry Crunch Cake
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It’s cool, creamy, a little nostalgic, and that crunchy topping? Yeah, that’s what everyone fights over.
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And the best part? You don’t need anything fancy. Just a box mix, a couple of shortcuts, and a few minutes of actual effort. The fridge does most of the heavy lifting here.
Why You’ll Love This Cake
This is the kind of dessert that works for literally everything—potlucks, birthdays, random Tuesday nights when you want something sweet.
It’s soft and fluffy from the cake, soaked with strawberry flavor thanks to the jello, topped with creamy cool whip, and finished with that buttery, slightly crunchy strawberry topping. Every bite hits a little different in the best way.
Also? It’s nearly impossible to mess up. Which, honestly, is my favorite kind of recipe.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- White cake mix
- Eggs
- Vegetable oil
- Strawberry jello (2 boxes)
- Boiling water + cold water
- Cool Whip
- Golden Oreos
- Butter
- Optional: Fresh strawberries, freeze dried strawberries
Step By Step Directions
Prepare the cake mix according to the box directions, then pour it into your pan and bake as directed. Once it’s done, let it cool completely.
When the cake is cooled, grab the end of a wooden spoon or a dowel and poke lots of holes all over the top.
In a bowl, mix one box of strawberry jello with the boiling water until dissolved, then stir in the cold water. Slowly pour this mixture over the cake, making sure it seeps into all the holes.
Cover the cake and refrigerate it for at least until completely chilled. Once it’s chilled, spread the Cool Whip over the top in an even layer.
Before serving, crush the oreos, then mix them with the melted butter. Add the second box of dry strawberry jello powder and stir until everything is coated and slightly crumbly. Optional: add freeze dried strawberries to the crumble mix.
Sprinkle the crumbled mixture all over the top of the cake and gently press it down so it sticks to the Cool Whip. Top with fresh strawberries, if desired.
Tips & Tricks
Make sure your cake is fully cooled before adding the jello, otherwise it won’t set properly and can get a little messy.
When poking holes, don’t be shy. More holes = more flavor soaked into the cake.
Crush the Oreos to a mix of fine crumbs and small chunks. That texture difference makes the topping way more interesting. For more flavor and a pop of color, you can also add freeze dried strawberries.
If you want a stronger strawberry flavor, let it chill overnight. It really does make a difference
Storage
This cake needs to stay refrigerated. Cover it tightly and store in the fridge for up to 3–4 days.
It actually tastes even better the next day once everything has had time to settle together, so don’t worry about making it ahead.
More Great Strawberry Desserts
- Fresh Strawberry Pie Recipe
- Strawberry Cheesecake Stuffed Cookies
- Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe
- Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Cake Recipe
- Strawberry Jello Pie Recipe
- See all our easy strawberry dessert recipes!
How to Make Strawberry Crunch Cake
Strawberry Crunch Cake Recipe
Ingredients
Cake Base
- 1 box white cake mix (15 ounces)
- 3 large eggs
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup water
Strawberry Layer
- 1 box strawberry jello (dry powder) (3 ounces)
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 cup cold water
Topping
- 8 ounces Cool Whip
- 20 Golden Oreos crushed
- ¼ cup butter melted
- 1 box strawberry jello (3 ounces)
- optional: freeze dried strawberries crushed
Optional Garnish
- Fresh strawberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or our homemade cake release.
- Prepare the cake mix according to package directions using eggs, oil, and water listed above. Pour into prepared pan and bake as directed.
- Allow cake to cool completely. Use the end of a wooden spoon to poke holes all over the top.
- In a bowl, dissolve 1 box of strawberry jello in boiling water. Stir in cold water. Pour the jello mixture evenly over the cake, making sure it fills the holes.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Spread Cool Whip evenly over the chilled cake.
- In a bowl, combine crushed Golden Oreos with melted butter. Stir in the dry strawberry jello powder (and freeze dried strawberries, if desired) until fully combined.
- Sprinkle the crumble over the top of the cake and gently press to adhere. Garnish with fresh strawberries if desired.
Notes
- Make sure the cake is fully cooled before adding the jello mixture.
- Chilling overnight gives the best flavor and texture.
- Crush cookies to a mix of fine crumbs and small chunks for the best topping texture.
- Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
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Tools We Love
- Glass Casserole Dish – I love when a dish comes with a lid. Perfect for popping leftovers in the fridge.
- Spatula Set – These ingredients are ooey gooey and sticky. You for sure want to be using a spatula to make sure you’re properly measuring and using all your ingredients.
Other Awesome Poke Cake Recipes
- Texas Tornado Cake Recipe
- Cinnamon Toast Crunch Poke Cake
- Banana Pudding Poke Cake Recipe
- Key Lime Poke Cake
- Lemon Poke Cake Recipe
- Strawberry Poke Cake Recipe
- See all our easy poke cake recipes!
Final Thoughts
This Strawberry Crunch Poke Cake is one of those recipes you make once and then suddenly it’s your “thing.” The one people ask you to bring. The one that disappears before you get seconds.
It’s simple, it’s nostalgic, and it’s ridiculously good. And honestly, the crunchy topping alone is worth making the whole cake.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, this cake needs to chill so the jello sets properly and the layers hold together.
Absolutely. It’s actually better when made the night before since the flavors have more time to soak in.
You can, but stabilized whipped cream works best so it holds up in the fridge.
Vanilla sandwich cookies or even shortbread cookies will work in a pinch.
No, they’re optional, but they add a nice touch if you have them.
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