Banana Pudding Poke Cake Recipe | Easy Banana Cake

This Banana Pudding Poke Cake recipe is the ultimate dessert lover’s dream! Absolutely packed with lovely banana flavor, this super moist cake is guaranteed to be your go-to summertime dessert. It’s perfect for BBQs, picnics, and even your next potluck.

What Makes This The Ultimate Easy Dessert

Vanilla cake? Boring. Banana Pudding? Overrated. This Banana Pudding Poke Cake? Absolutely irresistible! This delicious dessert takes two classic desserts and combines them to create a sweet treat you’ll want to make all summer long! Here’s why:

• Packed with flavor. With layers of banana pudding flavor, this pudding poke cake will have you going back for more with every bite.
• Minimal effort required. Simply whip up a boxed cake mix, mix together some instant banana pudding, create a simple mouse, and top with the perfect garnishes before tossing it in the fridge.
• Easy enough for kids to help. If you have kids that love to help in the kitchen, this is a great beginner’s dessert recipe! Plus, they’ll love poking all of the holes for the poke cake.

What Does Banana Pudding Poke Cake Taste Like?

Imagine biting into the most moist and delicious vanilla cake you’ve ever had. Now picture digging into a big bowl of your grandma’s banana pudding.

Mix both of those incredible dishes together and you have this incredible Banana Pudding Poke Cake. It’s super moist, packed with flavor, and is a refreshing finish to any warm weather meal.

Why Is My Poke Cake Soggy?

Before you get started, remember that this is intended to be an incredibly moist cake. So, if you prefer a light and airy cake, this may not be the perfect dessert for you. There are a few reasons that your poke cake may be soggy. Here are a few things to switch up if you have issues with the texture:

• The cake wasn’t completely baked. An underbaked cake will not absorb the pudding mixture as easily as a completely baked cake. This can cause the pudding to pool excessively, creating a soggy texture.
• Your pudding was too thin. Combine the instant banana pudding well and allow it to rest until it thickens to the proper consistency. Adding the pudding mix before it has thickened can lead to a soggy banana pudding poke cake.
• Inadequate cooling time. If you add the banana pudding to the poke cake before it has cooled completely it can alter the texture. This can have an impact on the structure of the cake.

Ingredients To Grab

Double-check your kitchen for the following ingredients before you get started:

• Vanilla Cake Mix– This serves as the base of the cake. It provides the structure and texture for the dessert.
• Bananas– Sliced bananas are used to add natural sweetness, flavor, and moisture to the cake.
• Vegetable Oil– Added to the cake batter to add moisture and ensure a tender texture.
• Eggs– Eggs act as a binding agent in the cake batter, helping to hold everything together.
• Milk– Milk adds richness and moisture to the cake batter, resulting in a tender crumb.
• Water– Water is added to the cake mix to help moisten the ingredients and create a smooth batter.
• Banana Instant Pudding– Banana instant pudding is used to infuse the cake with banana flavor. It’s poured over the baked cake to seep into the holes created by poking.
• Whipped Topping– This is used to create the banana mousse that tops the poke cake.
• Vanilla Wafer Cookies– Vanilla wafer cookies are sometimes crushed and sprinkled over the top of the cake for added flavor and texture. They can also be used as a garnish.

How To Make Banana Pudding Poke Cake

Combine the cake mix. Use a large mixing bowl to combine the cake mix, water, vegetable oil, and eggs. Once mixed until no lumps remain, pour the vanilla cake mix into a 9×13 pan that has been sprayed with nonstick spray.

Bake the cake. Place the cake mix into a preheated oven and bake according to the instructions on the box.

Make the banana pudding. While the vanilla cake is baking, prepare two boxes of banana pudding according to the box instructions.

Poke holes. Once the cake has finished baking, remove it from the oven. Allow for it to cool to room temperature. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes approximately 1” apart into the cake.

Pour the pudding. Pour 3/4 of the banana pudding over the top of the cake, using extra care to fill the holes that you created.

Make the mousse. Fold the whipped topping into the remaining 1/4 of the banana pudding to create a frosting for the cake.

Top the cake. Carefully spread the banana mousse over the banana pudding topped vanilla cake.

Chill, garnish, and serve. Place the Banana Pudding Poke Cake in the refrigerator and allow it to chill for 1-2 hours. Garnish with vanilla wafer cookies and sliced bananas. Serve and enjoy!

Tips And Tricks

Read over these helpful tips and tricks before you get started to ensure your Banana Pudding Poke Cake turns out perfect every time!

• Use nonstick spray. Ensure you spray the cake pan with plenty of nonstick spray before you pour in the cake batter to prevent it from sticking.
• Let it chill. To guarantee your cake doesn’t fall apart, allow the cake to chill for at least 1-2 hours before serving it.
• Serve immediately. The bananas have a tendency to turn brown after being sliced. So, slice them and garnish the cake immediately before serving for the best eye appeal.

Variations

If you love this Banana Pudding Cake but want to play around with flavors to create a fun new dessert, try some of these variations the next time you need a delicious sweet bite:

• Switch up the cake flavor. Try a different flavor of boxed cake mix. Think white, spiced, or peanut butter for a tasty twist.
• Use a different pudding. If banana isn’t your favorite flavor, give chocolate, pistachio, or lemon a try!
• Layer in bananas. For a more fresh and authentic banana flavor, layer on a hearty amount of sliced bananas before you layer on the banana mousse.

Make Ahead And Storage

If you have a barbecue or potluck planned, you can prepare this Banana Pudding Poke Cake in advance! Since it is best served straight out of the refrigerator, preparing it the night before is actually preferred.

If you have leftover cake and want to save it for later, it can be placed in an airtight container for up to three days. After this amount of time, the layers in the cake will begin to separate and lose texture.

More Delicious Desserts

• Cherry Pie Bubble Up
• No Bake S’mores Bars
• Coconut Cake Balls
• Strawberry Jello Pie
• Cream Cheese Pumpkin Bread

So, if you love this Banana Pudding Poke Cake recipe as much as our family does, make sure you share it with your friends on social media so they can try it too! Don’t forget to save it so you can make it again next time you need a quick and easy dessert.