Jello Poke Cake Recipe

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Jello Poke Cake is a recipe we had pretty often as a child because it was so inexpensive and easy to throw together and DELICIOUS.  Imagine a moist cake oozing with pudding in the middle.  It is heaven.

Poke cake

 Between three kids, sewing, babysitting and doing crafts for extra money, and cooking the kind of meals my mother served, Mama was BUSY! She still insisted on a dessert every night though so this was a good and faithful standby, just like her chocolate cobbler. She always let us help with the cooking and we loved to get to poke the holes for this cake. When we were done, it looked more like the victim of a random woodpecker attack but it tasted awesome!

Now on to POKE CAKE!

poke cake ingredients

Recipe Ingredients:

  • Cake mix and whatever it calls for
  • A box of Jello for pudding and whatever it calls for.
  • Also some confectioner’s sugar.

For more the more detail oriented: I am using a box of jiffy cake mix which requires an egg and some water. I am using a small box of Jello chocolate pudding (instant) and the milk that it calls for. If you are making a larger cake (mine is an 8×8), use the large box of pudding. I totally leave out the confectioner’s sugar because I prefer desserts that aren’t too sweet but I am picturing it here and including instructions for it in case y’all wanna include it.

Note: This will work with any cake mix or any cake recipe.

How To Make Poke Cake with Jello

cake mix for poke cake

Mix up your cake and bake it according to package directions.

poke cake mix

I just put all of the rest of my ingredients for this Pudding Poke Cake Recipe in a Mason jar and give it a good shaking.

Confectioner’s Sugar is Optional

Now this is where most recipes call for confectioner’s sugar. If you are making an 8×8, you add 1/2 cup and if you are making a 9×13 you add a whole cup. Just stir it up with your pudding mix and then add it to the milk and give it a shake. I don’t add it though because I think this cake is just great without the added sweetness. Its totally up to you which way you wanna go!

poking the cake

When the cake comes out of the oven, while its still good and hot, poke holes all in the top of it. Mama says you need to use a wooden spoon handle to do this so the holes are nice and big. Cover the whole cake with holes

Perfect Part Where The Kids Can Help

I know I get on my soap boxes but if you have children, it really would thrill them to be able to help with this part. Kids get so much out of helping you cook. Confidence in themselves, praise from you for a job well done, pride in the finished dish and most importantly, wonderful memories of cooking with you. Don’t ever underestimate how much of an impact something as simple as cooking with your kids can have on their life. Confidence over making a Pudding Poke Cake today just could lead to having the confidence needed to get up in front of congress someday.

pouring pudding on the cake batter

While it’s hot, pour half of the pudding over the cake.

poke cake covered

Spread that over and let it sink in a bit. Once your cake cools, cover it with the rest of the pudding.

Put in the fridge and get good and cold before serving.

slice of pudding poke cake

The options for this are limitless. Here are some I thought of and I hope you’ll chime in with your ideas, too!

  • Chocolate cake with butterscotch pudding
  • White or lemon cake with lemon pudding (mama’s fave)
  • Strawberry cake with Cheesecake flavored pudding
  • Here’s our Butterfinger Poe Cake too.

Pudding Poke Cake

This recipe for Pudding Poke Cake with Jello is a recipe we had pretty often as a child because it was so inexpensive and easy to throw together. Between three kids, sewing, babysitting and doing crafts for extra money, and cooking the kind of meals my mother served, Mama was BUSY! She still insisted on a dessert every night though so this was a good and faithful standby, just like her chocolate cobbler. She always let us help with the cooking and we loved to get to poke the holes for this cake. When we were done, it looked more like the victim of a random woodpecker attack but it tasted awesome!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: pokecake, pudding
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 287kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 Box Cake mix of your choice
  • 1 Box Instant pudding of your choice
  • 1/2 Cup Confectioner's sugar (optional) or 1 cup for large cake

Instructions

  • Prepare cake according to package directions. While still hot, poke holes all over top with end of wooden spoon. Mix pudding mix and confectioners sugar in a mason jar, add milk and shake or beat with mixer until thickened. Pour half over hot cake. Allow cake to cool. Spread remaining pudding over top and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 287kcal
Tried this recipe?Mention @southernplate or tag #southernplate!

You may enjoy these pudding recipes as well:

Easy Homemade Banana Pudding with Meringue Topping

Vanilla Wafer Pudding Recipe With Pineapple

Chocolate Vanilla Wafer Pudding

Baked Rice Pudding Southern Style by Mama Reed

 

Organized people are just too lazy to look for things.

😂😂😂

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60 Comments

  1. Happy Birthday Bill!!!

    That quote is so funny, I am going to use it on my husband tonight… perfect for me 😛

    As for letting your children help, my 3 year old son loved getting to help me make the corn casserole last night. It gives us some quality time together and I can teach him technical terms like dump 😛 I just have to watch carefully because he felt it should have been watered down. He is also mad because he wanted to throw eggs in the mix (Literally he threw a whole egg in it while I was cracking one) But in the end he got over it…

    I think this would be a really nice treat to share with Maw-Maw. (G’s grandma) She LOVED your banana nut bread recipe and actually replaced the version she had been making for years with it. (And caused my mother-in-law to have a small vendetta against my father in law when he ate the 8 muffins that were sent over to the house, but that’s a whole nother story)

  2. best wishes to Bill for a special day and a wonderful year to follow. I do not know you , but I have noticed you are regular at posting and I generally do read through all the posts. I love this site!

  3. It is hilarious that you mention poke cake. I just pulled a cake mix and jello out to make one at my house. Here in Florida we make them with jello. You freeze the cake after it is baked and pour regular jello into the wholes. Super delicious with strawberry jello, cream cheese frosting and fresh strawberries! Ok…I am hungry now. Off to make my poke cake!

  4. I remember this!I used to make with my boys when they were little. I guess it’s time for my grandkids to sample it. Happy Birthday, Bill. Hope you have many more.

  5. Hello Christy!

    Yummy! I’ll whip one up Saturday afternoon for the boys (and me too)! Thank you for sharing another delicious receipe! My only concern, am I going to have enough self control to not eat 1/2 the cake myself!

    Blessings,
    Maralee

  6. Dear Bill!

    Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday! You are a true delight! I enjoy and relish every word you write! It’s obvious you bring sunshine, joy and humor with you everywhere!

    May this year bring you special blessings and the truest desire of your heart as an extra special gift!

    Enjoy your special day and best wishes for at least… 50 more!

    All my best,
    Maralee Mckee

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