Description
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with this festive and delicious St. Patrick’s Day Poke Cake featuring a moist green-tinted white cake soaked with creamy vanilla pudding and topped with fluffy whipped topping and fun garnishes.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake
- 1 box white cake mix (including eggs, oil, and water as per box instructions)
- Green food coloring, about 10-12 drops or as desired
Pudding Topping
- 1 package (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
- 2 cups milk
Finishing Toppings
- 1 1/2 cups whipped topping (such as Cool Whip)
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (optional, for garnish)
- 1/4 cup green sprinkles (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare Cake Batter: Preheat your oven according to the white cake mix package instructions. Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan. Prepare the cake mix as directed on the box, adding green food coloring to the batter until your desired green shade is reached.
- Bake Cake: Pour the green-tinted batter into the prepared pan and bake according to package directions, usually for around 30 minutes. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes after baking.
- Poke Holes in Cake: Using the handle of a wooden spoon or similar tool, poke holes evenly spaced about 1 inch apart all over the top of the slightly cooled cake to allow pudding to soak in.
- Mix Vanilla Pudding: In a medium bowl, whisk together the instant vanilla pudding mix and 2 cups of milk until it thickens, which usually takes about 2 minutes.
- Pour Pudding Over Cake: Pour the thickened vanilla pudding evenly over the cake, filling the holes completely. Use a spatula to spread the pudding so it covers the cake surface uniformly.
- Chill Cake to Set: Refrigerate the cake for at least 2 hours to let the pudding set and for flavors to meld perfectly.
- Add Whipped Topping and Garnish: Before serving, spread 1 1/2 cups of whipped topping evenly over the cake. Optionally, sprinkle mini chocolate chips and green sprinkles on top for a festive touch.
- Serve: Cut the cake into 12 to 15 squares and serve chilled. Enjoy your St. Patrick’s Day treat!
Notes
- You can adjust the green food coloring quantity to achieve your preferred shade.
- For best results, use chilled milk when preparing the instant pudding.
- Allowing the cake to chill for more than 2 hours enhances the flavor and texture.
- The optional chocolate chips and green sprinkles add a festive look but can be omitted if preferred.
