Description
Southern Strawberry Punch Bowl Cake is a layered Southern dessert featuring moist yellow cake, fresh strawberries, creamy vanilla pudding, and strawberry gelatin, all beautifully presented in a punch bowl. This refreshing, fruity, and visually stunning cake is perfect for summer parties, family gatherings, and any celebration where you want to impress with sweet Southern hospitality.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Base
- 1 box yellow cake mix (plus ingredients according to package, typically eggs, oil, and water)
Fruit Layer
- 5 cups fresh strawberries, diced
Gelatin Layer
- 1 package (3 oz) instant strawberry gelatin
- 1 cup boiling water
Creamy Filling
- 1 package (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
- 2 cups cold milk
- 1 container (8 oz) whipped topping or whipped cream, thawed
Instructions
- Prepare the Cake: Bake the yellow cake according to the package instructions. Once baked and completely cooled, crumble the cake into bite-sized pieces and place them as the bottom layer in a large clear punch bowl.
- Mix the Strawberry Gelatin: Dissolve the instant strawberry gelatin in 1 cup boiling water, stirring until fully dissolved. Allow the mixture to cool slightly, then gently stir in the diced fresh strawberries to coat them without making the berries mushy.
- Prepare the Creamy Layers: In a bowl, whisk together the vanilla pudding mix and cold milk until thickened. Fold the whipped topping gently into the pudding mixture to create a light and creamy texture suitable for layering.
- Assemble the Punch Bowl Cake: Layer spoonfuls of the crumbled cake, followed by the creamy pudding mixture, then the strawberry gelatin and fresh strawberries mixture. Repeat the layering process until the punch bowl is full. Finish by topping with a generous dollop of whipped topping and garnish with fresh strawberries.
- Chill Before Serving: Cover the assembled punch bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the gelatin to set and flavors to meld, achieving the perfect texture and taste.
Notes
- Use fresh strawberries for the best texture and flavor; avoid frozen berries.
- Allow gelatin mixture to cool before combining with creamy layers to keep the consistency intact.
- Layer carefully without stirring to maintain distinct layers and visual appeal.
- Chill sufficiently to ensure gelatin sets properly and flavors meld.
- Serve in a clear punch bowl to showcase the beautiful layered presentation.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approximate)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 35g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 35mg