Pumpkin Spice Pudding Poke Cake Recipe - Inside BruCrew Life (2024)

Creamy pudding and warm spices take thisPumpkin Poke Caketo the next level. It's easy to make and will be a hit with everyone at your next fall event.

Poke cakes are one of the easiest and most delicious desserts to make. Nothing beats the satisfaction of digging into a moist cake on a warm day. A couple of our favorite cakes that we make year-round arechocolate coconut cakeanddreamsicle cake.

It's officially pumpkin season, which is the perfect time to share all things pumpkin. As the weather cools down and leaves turn orange and red, I'm excited to share my recipe for pumpkin poke cake. It is a simple yet elegant way to enjoy a delicious autumn dessert as we transition to fall.

Why You Will Love This Pumpkin Poke Cake Recipe

If you're looking for an easy pumpkin dessert, this pudding poke cake is your answer. It's poked with holes and filled with smooth pudding for flavor.

• Easy to make.This dessert is incredibly easy to make, even for beginning bakers. Using a cake mix and instant pudding simplifies the process, making it easy for anyone to create a fantastic cake.
• It tastes like Fall.The combination of pumpkin, spices, and vanilla cake makes this dessert taste so good.
• Fun to Customize.While the recipe is delicious, just as it is, try other toppings for extra flavor. Add a drizzle of caramel, chopped nuts, and crunchy toffee bits for the ultimate fall dessert.

What is a Poke Cake?

To make a poke cake, you need to bake a cake. After baking the cake, use the handle of a wooden spoon or fork to poke holes in it. Finally, fill the holes with pudding or sweetened condensed milk.

Key Ingredients

This poke cake recipe uses simple ingredients found in local grocery stores.

• White Cake Mix- A box mix saves time in the kitchen.
• Pumpkin Pie Spice- This blend of spices adds a warm and rich fall flavor.
• Vanilla Pudding- Using instant pudding is the key to a pudding cake. This will set up quickly, filling in the holes.
• Milk- Use 2% or whole milk for the best pudding texture.
• Pumpkin Puree- Make sure you buy pure pumpkin puree, not the pumpkin pie mix. My favorite is Libby's because it is thick and tastes great.
• Cool Whip- One 8-ounce container of whipped topping will cover the cake. You can also make homemade whipped cream if you like.

How To Make Pumpkin Poke Cake

You will love how easy this pumpkin spice cake is to make.

1. Bake the cake.Prepare the vanilla cake mix according to the instructions on the back of the box. Pour the cake batter into a greased baking pan and bake.
2. Poke holes.Once your vanilla cake is out of the oven and slightly cooled, use the end of a wooden spoon handle and poke holes all over the cake.
3. Prepare the pumpkin pudding.Combine the instant pudding mix, cold milk, and pumpkin pie spice in a large bowl with an electric mixer. Add the pumpkin puree and mix again until smooth.
4. Assemble and chill.Pour the pumpkin pie filling over the cake and into the holes. Use the back of a wooden spoon to push and smooth it into the holes of the cake. Cover it with plastic wrap, then place it in the fridge for several hours.

BruCrew Tip:When you're ready to serve the moist cake, use a rubber spatula to add swirls of spiced whipped cream to the surface of the cake.

Storage Recommendations

This pumpkin spice poke cake needs to be refrigerated because of the pudding. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Tips and Variations

This easy recipe is simple to follow, but here are a few tips to ensure success every time.

• Use any flavor of cake mix.A few of our favorites are white, spice, and chocolate cake.
• Poke evenly.Space the holes in the cake so the pudding stripes are not too close together.
• Let it chill.Please do not add the whipped cream to the top of the cake until it is thoroughly chilled.
• Add toppings.Chopped Butterfingers, Heath bars, or nuts add crunch to the cake.
• Drizzle with syrup.Caramel sauce, butterscotch, or hot fudge taste amazing on a moist pumpkin cake.
• Try a different frosting. A cream cheese frosting would be delicious.
• Make it ahead.This cake needs to be refrigerated for the best results, so it's a great recipe to make ahead of time.

FAQs

More Pumpkin Recipes

• Pumpkin Spice Latte
• Pumpkin Fluff
• Pumpkin Sheet Cake
• Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites
• Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake

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Recipe

Pumpkin Pudding Poke Cake

Yield: 24 pieces of cake

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 28 minutes

Total Time: 48 minutes

Creamy pudding and fall spices take thisPumpkin Poke Caketo the next level. It's easy to make and will be a hit with everyone at your next fall event.

Ingredients

• 1 white cake mix
• 3 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, divided
• 1 - 3.4 ounce box instant vanilla pudding
• 1 ¾ cup milk (2% or whole)
• ½ cup canned pure pumpkin puree
• 1 - 8 ounce container Cool Whip, thawed

See Also

Homemade Raspberry Popsicles RecipeStrawberry Tiramisu RecipeBest Ever Homemade Bread RecipeThe BEST Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick spray.
2. Prepare the cake mix according to the package directions. Add one teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice and bake in a prepared 9x13 pan based on the box directions.
3. Cool the cake for 5 minutes, then use a wooden spoon handle to poke holes all over the cake.
4. Whisk together the instant pudding mix, pumpkin pie spice, and milk. Stir in the pumpkin puree. Optional: Use orange gel food coloring to deepen the orange color, if desired.
5. Spoon the pudding immediately over the holes in the cake. Use the back of the spoon to push the pudding into the holes. You can also tap the cake gently on the counter to get the pudding to go into the holes.
6. Cool completely in the refrigerator.
7. Stir the remaining teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice into the Cool Whip. Spread over the cooled cake. Store covered in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 24Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 58Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 27mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 0gSugar: 5gProtein: 1g

Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.

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*This post was first published in September 2015. It was updated and then republished in October 2023.

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