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A moist vanilla poke cake in a glass baking dish, with creamy vanilla pudding filling seeping into the poked holes, topped with fluffy whipped cream, white chocolate shavings, and fresh strawberries

Make a Poke Cake: Easy Steps & Tips

If you’ve ever wondered how to make a poke cake, you’re in for a treat! A poke cake is a delightfully moist and flavorful dessert that is easy to prepare and perfect for any occasion. The secret? Poking holes into a freshly baked cake and filling them with a delicious, creamy filling like pudding, fruit puree, or sweetened condensed milk. This technique infuses the cake with extra flavor, ensuring every bite is rich, soft, and indulgent.

With endless flavor possibilities, poke cakes can be customized for birthdays, holidays, or just a sweet craving. This classic vanilla poke cake recipe with vanilla pudding filling and whipped topping is a crowd-pleaser, but you can easily modify it to match your favorite flavors!

  • Total Time: hour 45 minutes (including chilling time)
  • Yield: 12 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cake:

  • 1 box yellow or vanilla cake mix (or homemade vanilla cake batter)
  • 3 large eggs
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup water or milk

For the Filling:

  • 1 package (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 2 cups cold milk
  • ½ cup sweetened condensed milk (optional for extra richness)

For the Topping:

  • 1 tub (8 oz) whipped topping (Cool Whip) or 2 cups homemade whipped cream
  • ¼ cup white chocolate shavings or sprinkles (for garnish)
  • ½ cup fresh strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries (optional)

Instructions

Step 1: Bake the Cake

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
  3. In a large bowl, mix the cake mix, eggs, oil, and water (or milk) until smooth.
  4. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  5. Allow the cake to cool for 10-15 minutes, but keep it slightly warm for the next step.

Step 2: Poke & Fill

  1. Using the handle of a wooden spoon, a straw, or a skewer, poke holes all over the cake, about 1 inch apart.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the pudding mix and cold milk until smooth. Let it sit for 5 minutes to thicken slightly.
  3. Pour the pudding mixture evenly over the cake, ensuring it seeps into the holes.
  4. Refrigerate the cake for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to absorb.

Step 3: Add the Topping

  1. Spread the whipped topping evenly over the chilled cake.
  2. Garnish with white chocolate shavings, sprinkles, or fresh berries for an extra touch of elegance.

Step 4: Serve & Enjoy!

  1. Slice the cake into squares and serve chilled.
  2. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Notes

  • Flavor Variations: Try chocolate cake with chocolate pudding, lemon cake with lemon curd, or strawberry cake with strawberry puree.
  • Homemade Cake Alternative: Swap the boxed mix for a homemade vanilla cake if you prefer a from-scratch approach.
  • Make-Ahead: This cake is even better the next day as the flavors continue to meld!
  • Author: Delishing recipes
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice
  • Calories: 320
  • Sugar: 28g
  • Sodium: 270mg
  • Fat: 14g
  • Saturated Fat: 6g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 7g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 42g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 4g
  • Cholesterol: 45mg

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