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Creamy Poke Cake Recipe: Easy Boxed Mix Dessert with Whipped Topping

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This creamy poke cake is a nostalgic, crowd-pleasing dessert made with boxed cake mix, a rich pudding filling, and fluffy whipped topping. It’s quick to prepare, endlessly customizable, and perfect for potlucks, parties, or a sweet family treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 box (15.25 oz) vanilla or yellow cake mix
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil (or melted butter)
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 box (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 2 cups cold milk (whole or 2%)
  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened (optional)
  • 1 tub (8 oz) whipped topping (e.g., Cool Whip)
  • Sprinkles or colored sugar (optional, for garnish)
  • Fresh berries (optional, for garnish)
  • Toasted coconut flakes (optional, for garnish)
  • Chocolate shavings or mini chocolate chips (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking pan.
  2. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and water. Mix until smooth, about 2 minutes.
  3. Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for 28-32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  4. Let cake cool for 15 minutes. Using a fork, skewer, or handle of a wooden spoon, poke holes all over the cake, spacing about 1 inch apart.
  5. In a medium bowl, whisk together instant pudding mix and cold milk for about 2 minutes until thickened. Beat in softened cream cheese until smooth, if using.
  6. Pour pudding mixture over poked cake, spreading with a spatula to encourage filling into the holes. Tap pan gently to distribute filling.
  7. Cover cake with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight is best).
  8. Spread whipped topping evenly over chilled cake. Create swirls or peaks with a spatula.
  9. Garnish with sprinkles, berries, coconut, chocolate chips, or desired toppings.
  10. Slice into squares and serve cold.

Notes

For best results, chill the cake overnight to allow the filling to set and flavors to meld. Customize with different cake and pudding flavors, or adapt for gluten-free and dairy-free diets. Garnish generously for extra flavor and visual appeal. If using homemade whipped cream, whip to stiff peaks for stability.

Nutrition

Keywords: poke cake, creamy dessert, boxed cake mix, whipped topping, easy cake, potluck dessert, pudding cake, comfort food, party cake, vanilla cake

Find it online: https://avabake.com/creamy-poke-cake-recipe-easy-boxed-mix-dessert-with-whipped-topping/