Name: Easter Poke Cake Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 box white cake mix (plus ingredients listed on box: usually eggs, oil, and water); 1 package (3 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix; 2 cups cold milk; ½ teaspoon vanilla extract; Pastel food coloring (pink, yellow, blue, green); 8 oz whipped topping (thawed); ¼ cup Easter sprinkles or candy eggs for garnish

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Bright, whimsical, and bursting with festive flavor, Easter Poke Cake is a showstopper that transforms any spring gathering into a cheerful celebration. With ribbons of pastel pudding weaving through tender white cake and a cloud of whipped topping, every bite is as joyful as it looks. This recipe is a family favorite—easy enough for beginner bakers and endlessly customizable for creative holiday fun. If you’re looking to add color and delicious memories to your Easter dessert table, this is the cake that will have everyone reaching for seconds.

Ingredients You’ll Need

What makes Easter Poke Cake so irresistible is how a handful of simple, accessible ingredients come together to create magic on the plate. Each component has a purpose: to build structure, add flavor, and most importantly, deliver that swoon-worthy color swirl and creamy texture.

White cake mix: Ensures a light, fluffy base that soaks up the pudding colors beautifully, with no fuss.
Eggs, oil, and water: These basics (check your cake mix box for amounts) bring the cake to life, providing richness and moisture.
Instant vanilla pudding mix: Adds an irresistibly creamy, sweet filling that drips into every bite; try lemon or white chocolate pudding for a fun twist.
Cold milk: Needed to activate the pudding, making it lusciously thick and spreadable without any cooking.
Vanilla extract: Just a splash boosts the cake’s fragrant vanilla notes and makes the whole cake taste like spring.
Pastel food coloring (pink, yellow, blue, green): These are the magic ingredient for that unforgettable marbled effect; choose your favorites or use all four for extra color.
Whipped topping: Thawed and spreadable, it acts as a pillowy, sweet blanket for the cake.
Easter sprinkles or candy eggs: The final sparkly touch that turns your cake into a holiday centerpiece.

How to Make Easter Poke Cake

Step 1: Prepare and Bake the Cake

Get started by preheating your oven to 350°F. Follow the directions on your white cake mix box—usually adding eggs, oil, and water—then beat until smooth. Pour the batter into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading it into an even layer. Bake according to package instructions, usually around 25-30 minutes, until the cake is springy and lightly golden. The aroma filling your kitchen is the first sign that delicious things are to come!

Step 2: Cool and Poke

Once your cake has finished baking, let it rest for about 15 minutes. It should still be slightly warm but not hot to the touch. Now comes the fun part: grab the handle of a wooden spoon and poke holes all over the cake, about one inch apart. Don’t be shy! These little wells will soon be filled with pastel pudding magic, giving every slice of Easter Poke Cake its signature surprise.

Step 3: Make and Color the Pudding

In a mixing bowl, whisk together the instant vanilla pudding mix, cold milk, and a dash of vanilla extract. Beat vigorously for about two minutes, until the pudding just begins to thicken—don’t let it set fully, since you want it pourable. Divide the creamy pudding into three or four bowls, then tint each bowl with a different pastel food coloring. Swirl until each shade is vibrant and happy. This is the creative part, so feel free to mix up your own Easter-inspired palette!

Step 4: Fill with Pudding

Carefully spoon the colored puddings into the holes of the cake, alternating colors and patterns for that signature Easter Poke Cake look. Use the back of your spoon to gently nudge the pudding deep into the holes. It should disappear down into the cake, leaving a colorful trail behind. No need to be precise—it all swirls together into pure joy once you cut into it!

Step 5: Top and Decorate

Once all the holes are filled with their playful pastel stripes, smooth whipped topping over the surface of the cake in an even, fluffy layer. The contrast of the white topping against the colors makes the cake absolutely eye-catching. Finally, scatter on the Easter sprinkles or nestle a few candy eggs on top. It’s now ready to chill in the fridge for at least an hour (or overnight if you’re prepping ahead), which allows the flavors to meld and the cake to set perfectly.

How to Serve Easter Poke Cake

Garnishes

For the ultimate festive flair, top your Easter Poke Cake with a shower of pastel sprinkles or tuck in a handful of mini chocolate eggs. If you want to go the extra mile, add a few edible flowers or some shredded coconut dyed green for a grassy effect. Not only is it visually stunning, but each garnish adds a hint of flavor and crunch that elevates every bite.

Side Dishes

This cake sings at the center of the table, but you can round out your dessert spread with bowls of fresh berries or a fruit salad for a light, juicy counterpoint. A scoop of lemon or vanilla ice cream alongside a slice is never a bad idea either. Pair with coffee, tea, or even a light sparkling wine to make your Easter gathering feel extra special.

Creative Ways to Present

Think outside the sheet pan! You can portion Easter Poke Cake into cupcake liners for individual servings, or make it in a trifle dish by layering cubes of cake, pudding, and whipped cream. If you’re hosting a crowd, cut the cake into fun shapes with cookie cutters before decorating, or serve on a bed of tissue paper “grass” for a true Easter basket effect. This cake’s playful look makes it perfect for kids’ parties too!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover Easter Poke Cake keeps beautifully in the refrigerator. Simply cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap or foil, or transfer slices to airtight containers. Stored cold, the cake stays moist and flavorful for up to 4 days, making it ideal for snacking all week or packing into lunchboxes as a sweet post-holiday treat.

Freezing

For longer storage, you can freeze the cake (minus the whipped topping and sprinkles) for up to two months. Wrap individual pieces or the whole cake tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before adding whipped topping and decorations, which keeps the textures airy and fresh.

Reheating

Since Easter Poke Cake is meant to be enjoyed chilled, there’s no need for reheating. In fact, serving it straight from the fridge keeps the pudding delightfully cool and the whipped topping fluffy. If you find yourself with a slice at room temperature, you can pop it back in the fridge for 10-15 minutes to refresh it before serving.

FAQs

Can I use a homemade cake instead of box mix?

Absolutely! If you have a favorite white or vanilla cake recipe, bake it in a 9×13-inch pan and follow the rest of the instructions. The great thing about Easter Poke Cake is how flexible it is—use whatever cake base you love most.

What if I don’t have instant pudding?

You can substitute with a cook-and-serve pudding, just make sure to let it cool down and thicken before pouring it into the cake holes. The main goal is a thick, creamy pudding that won’t run off but can still sink into the cake for that dreamy marbled effect.

How far in advance can I make Easter Poke Cake?

This cake can easily be made a day ahead and tucked into the fridge overnight. In fact, letting it chill longer only enhances the flavors and helps the pudding fully soak into the cake, yielding even better results when it’s time to serve.

Can I use different colors or flavors?

Definitely! Get creative with the food coloring or try other pudding flavors like pistachio, lemon, or strawberry for a twist. You can match your cake to any springtime holiday or birthday theme, making Easter Poke Cake a fun project for kids and adults alike.

How do I transport this cake safely?

Cover the chilled cake tightly with foil or a sturdy baking dish lid before traveling. If you’re worried about decorations shifting, hold off on adding sprinkles and candy eggs until you reach your destination, then finish the cake just before serving.

Final Thoughts

Once you try Easter Poke Cake, it just may become your favorite springtime tradition, too. It’s almost impossible not to smile when you see those cheerful colors and taste the luscious, creamy layers in every forkful. Gather your ingredients and give it a go—your friends and family will thank you, and your holiday table will never look the same!

Easter Poke Cake Recipe

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4.8 from 25 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes (includes chilling)
Yield: 12 servings 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

Celebrate Easter with this colorful and delightful Easter Poke Cake. A white cake base filled with layers of pastel-colored pudding and topped with whipped cream and sprinkles, this dessert is a perfect addition to your spring celebration.

Ingredients

Scale

White Cake:

1 box white cake mix (plus ingredients listed on box: usually eggs, oil, and water)

Vanilla Pudding Filling:

1 package (3 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
2 cups cold milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Pastel food coloring (pink, yellow, blue, green)

Topping:

8 oz whipped topping (thawed)
¼ cup Easter sprinkles or candy eggs for garnish

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Instructions

Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare the white cake mix as per package instructions.
Bake the cake: Pour the batter into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish and bake according to package directions. Let cool for 15 minutes.
Prepare the filling: Whisk together pudding mix, milk, and vanilla extract until thickened. Divide into bowls, color, and spoon into holes in the cake.
Add topping: Spread whipped topping over the cake, add sprinkles or candy eggs.
Chill and serve: Chill the cake for at least 1 hour before serving.