This Boston Cream Poke Cake tastes just like the pie but in cake form! Easily made with a boxed cake mix, pudding and chocolate frosting!
BOSTON CREAM POKE CAKE
VIDEO INCLUDED BELOW:
TIPS FOR MAKING POKE CAKES:
- You'll need a large round wooden spoon handle or other similar sized object to poke the holes. You want fairly large-sized holes for the pudding to go into.
- Don't let the pudding set before pouring onto cake. Whisk the pudding well for a minute or two then start pouring straight into the holes of the cake.
- When softening the frosting in the microwave (to make it pourable) make sure not to get it bubbling hot. Just microwave it for a few seconds at a time and stir after each time until it gets to a smooth, pourable consistency. The cake should be completely cooled before doing this.
- I have tons of different poke cake ideas here on the blog. You can have a lot of fun with these cakes by switching out the cake, pudding and frosting flavors! One of my most popular poke cake recipes is this BANANA PUDDING POKE CAKE!
- I don't recommend doing this as a layer cake. It just won't hold up because of the pudding.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
yellow cake mix
ingredients needed to make cake; eggs, oil and water
instant vanilla or French vanilla pudding
milk
chocolate frosting
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE BOSTON CREAM POKE CAKE:
Make cake mix according to directions and bake in a well-greased 9x13 pan. When cake is finished, while still warm, poke holes all over cake (about 1-inch) intervals using a wooden spoon handle or other similar size object. You want the holes to be fairly big so that the pudding has plenty of room to get down in there. Be sure to poke right down to the bottom of the cake.
In a bowl, add milk to pudding mixture and continue to whisk until most of the lumps are removed.
Pour pudding on top of warm cake. Taking care to pour straight into the holes in the cake.
Take a spoon and spread it out. I like to very gently press down to ensure that pudding goes into the holes and spread it all the way to the sides.
Put cake in fridge and allow to cool completely before adding the frosting (about 2 hours.) Remove the lid and foil covering from the tub of chocolate frosting. Pop it in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds. Stir with a spoon. It should still be thick but pourable - not bubbly hot. Pour chocolate frosting on top of pudding.
Spread frosting to evenly cover cake. Start in the middle and gently spread to the sides.
Allow to cool on the counter for a few minutes, then put into the fridge to fully cool and set up. This cake needs to be kept refrigerated.This is one of those cakes that I think tastes better after it has sat in the fridge overnight. It really helps the pudding to settle in and blend all the flavors.
Originally published: March 2012
Updated & republished: January 2020
BOSTON CREAM POKE CAKE
Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- ingredients needed to make cake; eggs, oil and water
- 2 (3.4 oz) boxes instant vanilla or French vanilla pudding
- 4 cups milk
- 1 tub chocolate frosting
Instructions
- Make cake mix according to directions and bake in a well-greased 9 x13 pan.
- When cake is finished, while still warm, poke holes all over cake (about 1-inch) intervals using a wooden spoon handle or other similar size object.
- You want the holes to be fairly big so that the pudding has plenty of room to get down in there.
- Be sure to poke right down to the bottom of the cake.
- In a bowl, prepare pudding.
- Whisk together instant pudding mix with 4 cups milk.
- Whisk for about a minute until most of the lumps are gone.
- Pour pudding over cake. Taking care to pour it right into the holes as much as possible.
- Spread it all out and using the back of the spoon, gently push pudding down into the holes.
- Put the cake into the fridge to set and cool (about 2 hours).
- Remove the lid and foil covering from the tub of chocolate frosting.
- Pop it in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds.
- Stir with a spoon.
- It should still be a little thick but pourable - not bubbly hot.
- Pour chocolate frosting on top of pudding.
- Spread frosting evenly over cake starting in the center then spreading it towards the sides.
- Allow to cool on the counter for a few minutes, then put into the fridge to fully cool and set up.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
WANT MORE POKE CAKES? TRY THESE!
BANANA PUDDING POKE CAKE
CARROT PUDDING POKE CAKE
LEMON RASPEBERRY POKE CAKE
BUTTERFINGER POKE CAKE
RED VELVET POKE CAKE
COCONUT CREAM POKE CAKE
Yum! This cake looks so good. Love your site.
Oh my, I'm drooling. I love poke cake, and then to add some chocolate... yummy!
Made it - AMAZING!! Definitely even better the second day!
That sounds very good
that sounds amazing!
Made this one before, it's fabulous!! I also make the red velvet poke cake with oreos. That is to die for and is now requested at family gatherings! Love this website!
Making this now it's an easy one and all my favorite flavors
Oh.my.goodness!
Yum, easy and delicious!
Boston cream pie is hubby's favorite! I love this easy version- I may have to surprise him with a little treat. 🙂
Poke cakes are the best! Yours looks aaaaahhhmazing!
This cake looks just wonderful. I hope to make it this week. Thanks for the great recipes.
OK Cake Boss ;-} - another lovely creation that is bound to be tasty. I love your tutorials and the ease of your recipes. Thanks for sharing your creative self with the rest of us. =)
Thank you so much for all of your great recipes! And thanks for making it okay to bake using cake mixes and store-bought frosting! You make such a statement that good food doesn't always have to be made TOTALLY from scratch or the hard way! This cake is right up my alley,as Boston Cream Pie is my favorite cake. Love your site!
oh..my..goodness! Boston Creme Pie is one of my favories. I will be trying this one!
The cakes looks yummy! Question about the extra frosting. Do you think you need it after pouring the canned frosting on the cake?
If this is anything like your eclair cake (and I believe it is,) I am going to love this! It's making me really hungry and ponder cheating on my diet 😉
Anonymous, you don't need to provide a cell phone number to print this recipe. Just click on the link and it takes you to the recipe in Google Docs. No information is asked of you to do that. Sorry you seemed to be having problems.
I've never had a poke cake before, I know, GASP!! I absolutely LOVE Boston Creme doughnuts so this cake has my name ALL over it!!! Can't wait to make it 🙂
Wowsers, your recipe looks creamy, moist and sweet. I would have loved a huge slice of this for dessert tonight! I hear ya on the cake - I love it too - so many varieties/flavor and texture combos...slap a little fruit on it and call it healthy, ya know..cake rocks!
I am making this tonight for a co-worker's last day - that lucky, lucky woman...
Thanks for a great inspiration! This sounded so good! But I am always on the lookout for ways to cut sugar and fat and still have something tasty and delicious (lap band patient myself, and have diabetic friends/family). I took your idea and tweaked it. Used a sugar free Pillsbury Yellow Cake mix, and mixed it with a 12 ounce can of diet lemon lime soda. (no eggs, no oil...just cake mix and soda). Baked that in the 9x13 pan. Poked it and followed your other instructions except I used sugar free fat free pudding mix and sugar free chocolate frosting in the tub. It was yummy and well received! Thanks for a great idea! Will be taking this to the inlaws for Easter!
In the process of making this now fo my grandmother's 78th bday tomorrow. The cake is baked, the pudding is on and it is in the fridge cooling, then time for the chocolate! Can't wait to bite into it tomorrow! Thanks for sharing! *D*
SO happy y'all have enjoyed this one! Thank you so much for letting me know! Craft Teacher, I'm so glad you have found some sugar-free options for this. It's always good to know in case other readers ask how they can make a dessert like this diabetic-friendly! Thanks so much!
thank you so much for these awesome poke cake recipes! my boyfriend and i run a small bbq takeout place and i have to make a lot of the desserts we serve. i have been doing a lot of these poke cake variations and they have been a hit! these recipes have been a life saver.
Hi Cappy! Oh wow!! That is so wonderful to hear! Where is your bbq joint? Anywhere in Virginia where I can come visit? 🙂
I love that these cakes have been a success for you (and your business). Thank you for taking the time to let me know. I know running your own businesses takes a ton of work and there isn't always a lot of off time so I really appreciate you coming back here to let me know!
Found this on Pinterest. I will be making it for Easter. Looks delicious! I will also now be following your site! Thanks!!
I've made a similar cake before called Danube waves. You prepare the yellow cake mix, then spread only half of it in the pan. Add cocoa powder to the rest of the batter, spread this on top of the yellow batter. Now "poke" cherries into the mixture to make the waves. After baking, add the pudding mixture and chocolate. Very yummy!!!
Made this boston cream poke cake, and was so glad that I made it in a 13x9 since my sister was over with her two boys! Needless to say, with four teenagers in the house and three adults....it was devoured lickety split! Delicious and super simple! My husband's only complaint was that the boys ate it all up and there wasn't a bite leftover for him to take to work. Good enough reason to make another one! 😀 Thanks for sharing the recipe!