Description
Celebrate Easter with this delightful Easter Poke Cake recipe, featuring a moist white cake filled with colorful pastel vanilla pudding and topped with fluffy whipped cream and festive sprinkles. Perfect for spring gatherings and family celebrations, this cake combines vibrant colors and delicious flavors with an easy-to-follow process.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Ingredients
- 1 box white cake mix
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup (240ml) water
- ½ cup (120ml) vegetable oil
Pudding Filling
- 2 boxes (3.4 oz each) instant vanilla pudding mix
- 4 cups (960ml) cold milk
- Food coloring (pink, yellow, blue, or any pastel shades)
Topping and Decoration
- 8 oz (225g) whipped topping (Cool Whip or homemade whipped cream)
- Easter sprinkles, pastel candies, or crushed cookies (optional)
Instructions
- Bake the Cake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish thoroughly. In a mixing bowl, combine the white cake mix, eggs, water, and vegetable oil, stirring until the batter is smooth and well blended. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow the cake to cool for 10-15 minutes.
- Prepare the Pudding Filling: While the cake cools, whisk together the instant vanilla pudding mixes with the cold milk until the mixture thickens and is fully combined. Divide the pudding into separate bowls and add different food coloring to each to create soft pastel shades of pink, yellow, blue, or your preferred Easter colors.
- Poke Holes & Add Pudding: Using the handle of a wooden spoon or a straw, carefully poke holes all over the surface of the cake, making sure to penetrate deeply enough to hold the pudding. Pour the colored pudding into the holes, alternating the colors for a festive look. Smooth out any excess pudding so it is level with the cake surface.
- Chill & Frost: Cover the cake and refrigerate it for at least 1 hour to allow the pudding to set within the cake. After chilling, evenly spread the whipped topping over the entire cake to create a fluffy, creamy layer.
- Decorate & Serve: Add Easter-themed sprinkles, pastel candies, or crushed cookies on top as decoration to enhance the festive appearance. Serve the cake chilled and enjoy your colorful and delicious Easter treat!
Notes
- Make sure the cake is still slightly warm when poking holes to allow the pudding to sink in well.
- Use different pastel food coloring carefully to create vibrant layers without overpowering the vanilla flavor.
- The cake can be made a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator to enhance flavors.
- For homemade whipped topping, whip heavy cream with a little sugar and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.
- Feel free to substitute the white cake mix with a gluten-free cake mix if needed.
