Colorful Easter Poke Cake Recipe That Brightens Every Table

Springtime calls for sweet celebrations with this delightful Easter poke cake that bursts with pastel colors and creamy textures.

Layers of moist vanilla cake create a delectable canvas for vibrant flavors and festive decorations.

The gentle holes poked throughout the cake allow delicious fillings to seep into every delightful bite.

Creamy pudding and whipped topping transform this dessert into a heavenly treat that screams Easter joy.

Pastel sprinkles and soft marshmallow decorations add a playful touch to this crowd-pleasing dessert.

Each slice promises a symphony of flavors that will delight both kids and adults at your holiday gathering.

Dive into this simple yet spectacular dessert that captures the essence of spring’s most beloved celebration.

Easter Poke Cake Brings Big Smiles To Gatherings

• Whip Up Colorful Delight: A stunning marble-patterned cake that turns heads with its pastel pink, yellow, and blue swirls, making it a visual feast for Easter gatherings.
• Customize with Ease: Simple ingredients and straightforward steps allow bakers of all skill levels to create a professional-looking dessert without complicated techniques.
• Crowd-Pleasing Texture: The combination of moist cake, creamy pudding, fluffy whipped cream, and crunchy toppings delivers a multi-dimensional taste experience that appeals to everyone.
• Festive and Flexible: Perfect for holiday celebrations, potlucks, or family dessert nights, this adaptable recipe can be decorated to match any seasonal theme or personal preference.

Gather The Ingredients For Easter Poke Cake Fun

• White Cake Mix: A convenient base that provides the foundational structure for the Easter-themed dessert.
• Egg Whites: Help create a light and fluffy cake texture.
• Vegetable Oil: Adds moisture and helps bind the ingredients together.
• Greek Yogurt: Provides extra moisture and a subtle tangy flavor.
• Milk: Helps create a smooth and creamy cake batter.
• Gel Food Coloring (Pink, Yellow, Blue): Creates pastel-colored layers for a festive Easter look.

• Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix: Adds a creamy, sweet layer that seeps into the cake.
• Whole Milk: Helps create a smooth and rich pudding consistency.

• Heavy Cream, Granulated Sugar: Combines to create a light and fluffy whipped cream topping.
• Sweetened Shredded Coconut: Adds texture and a tropical sweetness.
• Easter Sprinkles, Mini Eggs: Provides colorful and festive decoration for the cake.

How To Whip Up Easter Poke Cake Quickly

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Fire up your oven to a cozy 350F.

Grab a 9×13-inch glass baking dish and give it a quick spray of cooking oil.

Step 2: Whip Together the Cake Base

In a spacious mixing bowl, combine cake mix, fluffy egg whites, smooth vegetable oil, creamy greek yogurt, and silky milk.

Blend everything until the mixture looks perfectly smooth and dreamy.

Step 3: Create Pastel Magic

Divide your cake batter into three equal bowls.

• Pink
• Yellow
• Blue

Stir gently until you achieve those soft, dreamy pastel colors.

Step 4: Swirl the Colorful Canvas

Dollop spoonfuls of each colored batter into the baking dish, dancing the colors together.

Use a butter knife to create a gentle marble effect, being careful not to overmix.

Step 5: Bake to Perfection

Slide the dish into the oven and bake for 23-28 minutes.

Check doneness by inserting a toothpick – it should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.

Let the cake cool completely.

Step 6: Poke and Prepare

Take a wooden spoon handle and create little holes across the entire cake, going about two-thirds deep.

Wiggle the handle slightly to make room for the upcoming pudding.

Step 7: Craft the Pudding Layer

In a mixing bowl, whisk together instant vanilla pudding mix and whole milk.

Beat for 2 minutes until it starts to thicken beautifully.

Step 8: Drench in Pudding

Pour the pudding over the cake, spreading it evenly.

Use a rubber spatula to help the pudding seep into those lovely holes.

Step 9: First Chill

Cover the cake and let it hang out in the refrigerator for 60-90 minutes until the pudding sets completely.

Step 10: Whip Up the Cream

In a clean bowl, beat heavy cream and granulated sugar.

Whip on medium-high speed until stiff, fluffy peaks form.

Step 11: Decorate with Flair

Spread the whipped cream across the chilled cake.

• Sweetened shredded coconut
• Easter sprinkles
• Mini chocolate eggs

Step 12: Final Cooling

Cover the cake and let it chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.

This allows all the flavors to mingle and get to know each other.

Tips For The Most Moist Easter Poke Cake

• Gently swirl colors to create a beautiful pastel pattern without overworking the batter, which can make the cake tough.
• Use a wooden spoon handle to create perfectly sized holes that allow pudding to seep deep into the cake for maximum moisture.
• Beat heavy cream until stiff peaks form to ensure a light, fluffy topping that holds its shape beautifully.
• Allow ample refrigeration time to let flavors meld and pudding set completely, enhancing the cake's overall texture and taste.
• Add Easter-themed sprinkles and mini eggs just before serving to maintain their crunch and vibrant colors.

Creative Flavor Spins For Easter Poke Cake Lovers

• Gluten-Free Easter Cake: Replace regular cake mix with a gluten-free cake mix, ensuring the same pastel marbling technique and pudding layering process.
• Dairy-Free Delight: Swap greek yogurt and milk with almond milk, use coconut cream for whipped topping, and choose dairy-free pudding mix.
• Vegan Spring Celebration: Use vegan cake mix, replace egg whites with aquafaba, substitute milk with oat milk, and create whipped topping with chilled coconut cream.
• Low-Sugar Option: Select a sugar-free cake mix, use sugar-free instant pudding, and replace sugar in whipped cream with a zero-calorie sweetener like stevia.

Ways To Serve Easter Poke Cake On Holidays

• Pastel Party Platter: Arrange slices on a colorful spring-themed serving tray with scattered mini chocolate eggs and pastel-colored napkins for a festive Easter dessert presentation.
• Sweet Brunch Companion: Pair with light mimosas or fresh fruit cocktails during an Easter morning gathering, creating a delightful sweet and refreshing combination.
• Decorative Display: Garnish individual slices with additional sprinkles, a light dusting of powdered sugar, or a small chocolate egg on the side to enhance visual appeal and add extra festive charm.
• Family Sharing Style: Cut into smaller squares and serve on a large platter with small dessert forks, encouraging guests to sample and enjoy the colorful, creamy cake together.

Keeping Easter Poke Cake Soft Until Tomorrow

• Keep the Easter Poke Cake covered tightly with plastic wrap or in an airtight container to maintain freshness. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Wrap the cake securely in plastic wrap and aluminum foil before freezing. Freeze for up to 2 months without the whipped cream topping. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
• If planning to freeze, add fresh whipped cream and decorative sprinkles after thawing to preserve their texture and appearance.
• Place a piece of parchment paper between the cake's surface and the covering to prevent the whipped cream from sticking and maintain the cake's delicate decorations.

FAQs

• What is a poke cake?

A poke cake is a dessert where holes are made in a baked cake and then filled with pudding, syrup, or other liquid ingredients to create a moist and flavorful treat.

• Why do I need to use gel food coloring instead of liquid?

Gel food coloring provides more vibrant colors without adding extra liquid to the batter, which can affect the cake’s texture and consistency.

• Can I use regular yogurt instead of Greek yogurt?

Greek yogurt works best because it’s thicker and adds more moisture and protein to the cake, but you can substitute with regular yogurt if needed, though the texture might be slightly different.

Easter Poke Cake Recipe

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4.8 from 23 reviews

• Total Time: 43 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Chocolate-lovers rejoice with this Easter poke cake, a delightful dessert that promises pure indulgence. Rich chocolate layers infused with sweet marshmallow filling will make your holiday celebration deliciously memorable.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cake:

• 15.25 ounces (432 grams) white cake mix
• 3 egg whites
• 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup (120 grams) greek yogurt
• 3/4 cup (180 milliliters) whole milk

Coloring:

• Pink gel food coloring
• Yellow gel food coloring
• Blue gel food coloring

Pudding Layer:

• 5.1 ounces (145 grams) instant vanilla pudding mix
• 2 3/4 cups (660 milliliters) whole milk

Topping:

• 2 cups (480 milliliters) heavy cream
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 cup (80 grams) sweetened shredded coconut
• Easter sprinkles
• Mini eggs

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Instructions

1. Prepare the oven at 350°F and coat a 9×13-inch glass baking dish with grease.
2. Combine cake mix, egg whites, vegetable oil, greek yogurt, and milk in a large bowl, blending until smooth and uniform in about 2 minutes.
3. Separate the batter into three equal portions, adding gel food coloring (pink, yellow, blue) to create delicate pastel hues.
4. Artfully distribute colored batters throughout the dish, creating a swirled marble pattern using a butter knife with gentle, minimal strokes.
5. Bake for 23-28 minutes until a toothpick emerges clean or with minimal moist crumbs. Allow complete cooling.
6. Using a wooden spoon handle, puncture holes across the cake’s surface, reaching approximately two-thirds deep and slightly widening each opening.
7. Whisk instant vanilla pudding mix and whole milk for 2 minutes until it begins to thicken and develop a creamy consistency.
8. Pour pudding over the cake, ensuring even distribution and gently pressing into the prepared holes using a rubber spatula.
9. Refrigerate for 60-90 minutes until pudding sets completely.
10. Whip heavy cream and granulated sugar using an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, approximately 2 minutes.
11. Apply whipped cream evenly across the chilled cake, then garnish with sweetened shredded coconut, festive Easter sprinkles, and miniature chocolate eggs.
12. Refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours to allow flavors to harmonize and develop a cohesive taste profile.

Notes

• Choose high-quality gel food coloring for vibrant yet soft pastel shades without altering cake batter consistency.
• Ensure cake is completely cooled before poking holes to prevent pudding from becoming runny and losing structure.
• Use room temperature ingredients like eggs and milk to create smoother, more evenly mixed cake batter.
• Try different pudding flavors like white chocolate or banana for unique taste variations that complement the Easter theme.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 28 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 330
• Sugar: 18 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 34 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 50 mg