Festive Easter Poke Cake Recipe: Sweet Spring Celebration

Springtime calls for delectable desserts that sparkle with joy, and this vibrant Easter poke cake brings pure delight to any celebration.

Creamy layers blend seamlessly with sweet, colorful surprises that dance across each slice.

Soft vanilla cake becomes the perfect canvas for a playful dessert that captures the essence of spring.

Bursts of pastel hues peek through the moist layers, creating a treat that’s as beautiful as it is delicious.

Guests will marvel at the stunning presentation and irresistible flavor profile of this crowd-pleasing dessert.

Rich cream and delicate toppings transform an ordinary cake into a spectacular centerpiece that screams festive cheer.

Dive into this delightful recipe and watch faces light up with pure Easter excitement.

Reasons To Love Festive Easter Poke Cake

• Simplify Dinner Prep: Combine lasagna and ravioli in one delicious crockpot meal, saving you precious kitchen time and effort.
• Kid-Friendly Comfort Food: Packed with cheesy layers and familiar flavors that children and adults will absolutely love, making mealtime a breeze.
• Minimal Hands-On Cooking: Brown meat, mix sauce, layer ingredients, and let the crockpot do the rest – perfect for busy families or anyone wanting a stress-free dinner solution.
• One-Pot Wonder: Eliminates multiple pots and pans, reducing cleanup and making this recipe a smart choice for weeknight dinners or casual gatherings.

Ingredients For Festive Easter Poke Cake

• White Cake Mix: A versatile base that creates a light and fluffy cake foundation.
• Food Coloring (Blue, Green, Pink, Yellow): Vibrant colors that transform the cake into a festive Easter design.

• Instant White Chocolate Pudding: A creamy mixture that adds moisture and richness to the cake.
• Milk: A liquid that helps create a smooth and consistent pudding texture.

• Heavy Cream: A rich dairy product that creates a luxurious whipped cream topping.
• Powdered Sugar: A sweet ingredient that adds sweetness and helps stabilize the whipped cream.
• Vanilla Extract: A classic flavoring that enhances the overall taste of the whipped cream.
• Pastel-Colored Sprinkles: Decorative elements that add a festive and playful touch to the cake.

Step-By-Step Festive Easter Poke Cake Instructions

Step 1: Mix Vibrant Cake Batter

Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.

Prepare white cake mix following package instructions. Divide the batter into four equal portions.

• Blue
• Green
• Pink
• Yellow

Pour the colored batters into the baking dish. Use a toothpick to gently swirl colors together, being careful not to overmix.

Step 2: Bake the Colorful Cake

Bake the cake according to mix instructions, typically 25-30 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should come out clean.

Allow the cake to cool completely.

Step 3: Create Creamy Pudding Layer

In a bowl, whisk white chocolate pudding mix with milk until smooth.

Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes to slightly thicken.

Step 4: Poke and Fill with Pudding

Use a wooden spoon handle to poke holes evenly across the cooled cake.

Pour pudding over the cake, ensuring it fills the holes. Smooth the top with a spatula.

Refrigerate for 30 minutes to set the pudding.

Step 5: Whip Up Creamy Topping

• Heavy cream
• Powdered sugar
• Vanilla extract

Whip until soft peaks form.

Spread the whipped cream evenly over the pudding layer.

Step 6: Add Festive Finishing Touches

Sprinkle pastel-colored sprinkles over the top.

Slice and serve this vibrant Easter Poke Cake at your holiday celebration.

Helpful Tips To Perfect Easter Poke Cake

• Gently mix colors using a toothpick without overmixing to maintain distinct color patterns in the cake.
• Allow pudding to sit for 5 minutes before pouring to achieve the ideal thickness for filling cake holes.
• Use a wooden spoon handle to create evenly spaced holes, ensuring pudding distributes consistently throughout the cake.
• Refrigerate the cake for at least 30 minutes to let pudding set properly and enhance flavor absorption.
• Beat heavy cream until soft peaks form to create a light, fluffy topping that complements the colorful cake base.

Creative Twists To Try On Easter Poke Cake

• Gluten-Free Easter Cake: Replace white cake mix with a gluten-free cake mix, ensuring all ingredients are certified gluten-free. Use almond or coconut milk for pudding layer.
• Vegan Rainbow Poke Cake: Substitute cake mix with vegan cake mix, use coconut cream instead of heavy cream, and replace milk with plant-based milk. Add vegan food coloring for vibrant layers.
• Low-Sugar Easter Treat: Use sugar-free pudding mix, replace sugar with stevia or monk fruit sweetener. Choose a sugar-free cake mix and low-fat whipped topping for a lighter version.
• Fruit-Infused Easter Cake: Add pureed strawberries or blueberries to cake layers for natural coloring. Incorporate fruit zest into whipped cream for extra flavor complexity.

Best Pairings To Serve With Easter Poke Cake

• Pair with Pastel Cocktail Delights: Mix a light lavender-colored lemon martini or a soft pink strawberry champagne cocktail to complement the cake's festive colors and light sweetness.
• Serve with Spring Fruit Accompaniments: Add a fresh fruit platter featuring strawberries, blueberries, and mandarin oranges that echo the cake's vibrant color palette and provide a refreshing contrast to the creamy texture.
• Match with Creamy Easter Beverage: Create a white chocolate mocha or vanilla bean latte that harmonizes with the cake's white chocolate pudding layer and offers a warm, comforting drink alongside the dessert.
• Enhance with Delicate Tea Selection: Brew a light chamomile or earl grey tea with a hint of vanilla, which will beautifully balance the cake's sweetness and provide a gentle, aromatic complement to the dessert.

Tips To Store Festive Easter Poke Cake

• Store the cake covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Keep refrigerated to maintain freshness and prevent spoilage.
• Wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
• Warm individual slices in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. Avoid overheating to prevent the whipped cream from melting or becoming watery.
• Remove cake from refrigerator 15-20 minutes before serving to allow it to slightly soften and reach optimal serving temperature.

FAQs

• Why are the cake layers colored differently?

The vibrant colors represent Easter’s cheerful spirit, creating a fun and festive dessert that looks playful and exciting when sliced.

• Can I use natural food coloring instead of artificial?

Yes, you can use natural food coloring made from ingredients like beet juice, spinach, or turmeric to achieve similar pastel colors while keeping the cake’s festive look.

• How do I ensure the pudding fills all the cake holes properly?

Slowly pour the pudding over the cake, allowing it to naturally seep into the holes. Gently tap the cake pan to help the pudding distribute evenly throughout the poked spaces.

Festive Easter Poke Cake Recipe

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4.6 from 34 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Delightful Easter Poke Cake brings springtime cheer to dessert tables with its playful pastel colors and sweet cream filling. Guests will savor each moist, creamy slice, celebrating seasonal joy in one delectable bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cake Ingredients:

• 1 box white cake mix
• Food coloring (blue, green, pink, and yellow)

Cake Mix Additional Ingredients (as per box instructions):

• Eggs
• Oil
• Water

Pudding Layer Ingredients:

• 1 package (3.4 ounces/96 grams) instant white chocolate pudding
• 2 cups (480 milliliters) milk

Whipped Topping Ingredients:

• 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
• 1/4 cup (30 grams) powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Garnish Ingredients:

• Pastel-colored sprinkles

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350F (175C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
2. Mix the white cake batter according to package instructions, then divide into four equal portions.
3. Tint each cake batter portion with different food colors: blue, green, pink, and yellow.
4. Carefully pour colored batters into the prepared dish, using a toothpick to create a gentle swirling pattern without overmixing.
5. Bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Allow the cake to cool completely at room temperature.
7. Whisk white chocolate pudding mix with milk until smooth, letting it thicken for 5 minutes.
8. Use a wooden spoon handle to create evenly spaced holes across the cooled cake surface.
9. Pour pudding over the cake, ensuring it fills the holes completely and covers the entire surface.
10. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to set the pudding layer.
11. Whip heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until soft peaks form.
12. Spread whipped cream evenly over the pudding layer.
13. Decorate the top with pastel-colored sprinkles for a festive Easter appearance.
14. Slice and serve chilled, presenting a vibrant and creamy holiday dessert.

Notes

• Try natural food coloring like beet juice, spinach, or turmeric to create vibrant cake layers without artificial additives.
• Prevent cake from drying by not overbaking; check doneness early and remove from oven when a toothpick comes out with just a few moist crumbs.
• Create dairy-free version by substituting milk with almond or coconut milk, and using non-dairy whipped cream alternatives for a lighter texture.
• Enhance flavor complexity by adding a hint of almond or lemon extract to the cake batter, which complements the sweet pudding and whipped cream layers.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 320 kcal
• Sugar: 30 g
• Sodium: 210 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 40 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 50 mg