Oreo Poke Cake
Oreo Poke Cake is the recipe that started the poke cake rage! Chocolate cake mix, Oreo Pudding and whipped topping. So, so good!
OREO COOKIES, PUDDING AND CHOCOLATE CAKE
Since I started sharing poke cakes many years ago here on The Country Cook, they have been some of my most popular recipes. And for good reason! They are easy to make but aren’t your usual cake and frosting recipes. Poke cakes have a little surprise inside!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Just use a vanilla pudding and add finely crushed Oreos on top of the pudding after you’ve pushed it down into the cake holes.
You certainly could but just remember that homemade whipped cream doesn’t stay stabilized for as long as Cool Whip.
Of course. You can really switch this recipe up and have a lot of fun with the flavors. Mint Oreos would be delicious!
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE
- chocolate cake mix – use your favorite chocolate cake mix. I think Chocolate Fudge or Devil’s Food work the best.
- ingredients needed to make cake (eggs, oil and water) – you are going to use the amounts given on the back of the cake mix box.
- Instant Oreo pudding mix – see my frequently asked questions above if you cannot find the Oreo pudding mix.
- milk – I think you get the best results with 2% or higher fat milk.
- whipped topping – you don’t have to use the Cool Whip brand – the store brand works just fine. You just need to make sure you thaw it in the refrigerator before use (since it is frozen when you purchase it.)
- Oreo cookies – again, this does not have to be name brand Oreo cookies. You can use the copycat store brand version.
HOW TO MAKE OREO POKE CAKE
Preheat oven to 350f degrees. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Make cake mix according to package directions. Bake cake according to times on the back of the box.
When cake is finished, allow to cool for about 10 minutes, then poke holes all over cake (about 1-inch) intervals using a wooden spoon handle.
In a medium bowl, add milk to pudding mixture and whisk until most of the lumps are removed. There will be a few lumps in the pudding because of the Oreo pieces that are in the pudding. Whisk for about 1-2 minutes until pudding just starts to thicken. You want it to thicken slightly so it isn’t overly runny but not fully thickened into pudding.
Pour pudding mixture over warm cake, making sure to aim for the holes.
Spread it out with a spoon and gently push down on the pudding to help get it into the holes.
Spread whipped topping on top of pudding layer. Then put the cake in the refrigerator to allow it to cool completely (about an hour). When ready, crush about 6-8 Oreo cookies (I just put them in a Ziploc bag and bang at it with my rolling pin).
Sprinkle the top of the cake with the crushed Oreos.
Slice and serve! Keep cake refrigerated.
CRAVING MORE POKE CAKE RECIPES?
Originally published: July 2011
Updated photos & republished: June 2021
Oreo Poke Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box chocolate cake mix
- ingredients needed to make cake (eggs, oil and water) (use the amounts on the back of the cake mix box)
- 3 cups milk (2% or higher)
- 2 (4 ounce) packages Instant Oreo pudding
- 8 ounce tub whipped topping, thawed (Cool Whip)
- crushed Oreo cookies (for topping(
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Prepare 1 box chocolate cake mix with ingredients needed to make cake (eggs, oil and water) according to package directions and bake cake according to times on the back of the box.
- When cake is finished, allow to cool for about 10 minutes, then poke holes all over cake (about 1-inch intervals) using a wooden spoon handle.
- In a medium bowl, add 3 cups milk to 2 (4 ounce) packages Instant Oreo pudding and whisk until most of the lumps are removed. There will be a few lumps in the pudding because of the Oreo pieces that are in the pudding.
- Pour pudding mixture over cake making sure to aim for the holes.
- Spread it out with a spoon and gently push down on the pudding to help get it into the holes.
- Then put the cake in the refrigerator to allow it to cool completely. About an hour.
- Spread 8 ounce tub whipped topping, thawed on top of pudding layer.
- Once it is set, top with crushed Oreo cookies. Slice then serve.
Video
Notes
- Keep cake refrigerated
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Kathy, it is okay to make the day before (just don't put the crushed oreos on top until right before serving. You don't want those to get soggy. Just cover the cake with plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge until ready to serve. 🙂
Kristin – glad you gave it another shot and had success!! So happy to hear that!!
Made this again last night, and it turned out so much better! The secret was that I used a newer box of cake mix–I think the last one had been in my cupboard for a year?!?, and I didn't make up the pudding until I pulled the cake out of the oven. Yummy!
That is SO great to hear! I'm so happy you liked this recipe!! Thank you for letting me know! 🙂
Made this tonight and it was amazingly yummy!! Can't wait to eat the leftovers!
:question: only add the 4 cups of milk to the dry pudding mix and disregard the instructions on the box?
Carrie, yes 2 packages of pudding mix and 4 cups of milk. I believe the back of the directions call for those same amounts (2 cups of milk per box of pudding). You want the pudding just starting to thicken slightly but not too thick to where you can't still pour it. Hope that helps! 🙂
Glad y'all are enjoying this one!! Crissy – that is definitely why I put in the instructions to go with 2% or higher with the milk, anything less and it's kinda just like adding water to the pudding mix. But I'm still glad it turned out edible anyway ;o)
Anonymous, I've made this with the white chocolate pudding and it tastes really good with it! Then just put crushed oreos on top – yum!
I have the cake in the oven now, could not find Oreo pudding, am trying white chocolate with crushed Oreos hope it tastes good!?
I used 1% milk for the pudding, and I would suggest whole or maybe 2% the pudding got watery when it set! It was still good, just would be much better with whole milk!
I made this tonight, and it was pretty good! I did have a slight problem with the pudding not really going down in the cake, but I think that was because I let it set up too much before I poured it, and I don't think the holes were large enough. That said, the pudding made an excellent frosting, and I will be making this again 🙂 Thanks for the recipe. By the way, I had pudding left over because I didn't notice that I'd bought one 4 oz box and one 5 oz…what a shame! Anyway, thanks again!
Pinning this on Pinterest. I love this. I bet I could eat the whole thing in one sitting!
K I was hoping to get some feedback to those that have made this. Would this be something that could be made in a bundt pan? Would the pudding set up enough when you take the cake out of the pan? 🙂 ???
Can't wait to try out the sugar free version. My husband is a pretty severe diabetic and my oldest son who is 3 is autistic and neither of them should have sugar. So I plan to give it a whirl and see how it tastes. I'm not a big sugar free fan myself but it's only fair to them. Thanks for this recipe:)
I'm just so thrilled y'all are enjoying this one! We love it too.
As for making it healthier, I've never actually tried to be honest. I suppose you could give it a try using sugar-free and skim milk. I can't honestly say I know how it would taste but you could certainly try it out. If you do, please let me know!
My family loves dirt dessert, so I knew they would love this cake. Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful recipe. I took it to a New Year's Eve party and it was enjoyed by all!
i jusst found your recipe on Pinterest the other day and decided to make it for our New Years Day family get-together. Oh my goodness — sooooo easy and soooo delicious! EVERYONE loved it — this will be my new "go to" dessert for sure! Thank you!!!
I just repinned this. My mouth is watering! With the resolution to eat healthier, I don't guess there is any way to do this with healthier ingredients? Will skim milk, sugar free pudding, etc. not set as well?
Anonymous – it's not really a problem. The pudding may not soak down into the holes really well but it doesn't affect the flavor :o)
Hello, I made it for the first time but I think I let the pudding thicken a little. I hope that's not a problem :/
Hi Just me! Your comment had me cracking up!! So funny! I am so thrilled you found some recipes you and your hubby would enjoy. Are you sure we didn't marry the same guy? LOL. I know the feeling!! Let me know how everything turns out for ya!
Okay, I just found your blog through Pinterest and I have to say you are my new favoritest person in the world!! I enjoy cooking (although I am still recovering from my Christmas dinner marathon), but my husband is SOOOO unadventurous (sp?) when it comes to food! If he could eat meat, potatoes, cheese, and chocolate cake everyday for the rest of his life, there would not be a happier man on earth! So many of your recipes look absolutely delicious without being too out there! Thank you a million times over for eliminating the never ending conversation of "what do you want for dinner, I don't know-what do you want for dinner, I don't know-we have a package of hamburger meat, How about meat and potatoes…" I can't wait to get home from work and make dinner now, I have the next two weeks already planned out:D
Anonymous, just make sure the car is not too hot. The pudding may do weird things in a hot car..LOL. As soon as you get to your destination, if it isn't going to be eaten right away, put it in the fridge to keep cool until time to eat. 🙂
SOUNDS SO GOOD WOULD THIS CAKE BE OKAY TO TAKE WITH ME IN CAR 2 HOURS AWAY
alrs, yes it does need to be kept refrigerated 🙂