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    Home » Recipes » Dessert

    Coconut Pudding Poke Cake

    Published: May 31, 2015 · Updated: November 1, 2020 · By: Krissy · 5 Comments
    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Coconut Pudding Poke Cake is so moist and perfectly sweet because you "poke" holes into the cake to enable the homemade coconut pudding to be in each bite.

    A slice of cake on a plate, with Pudding and Coconut

    I had never heard of poke cake until right before I made this. I actually had to look it up on wikipedia. The explanation is simple - you poke the cake to let something wonderful fill the holes. No one likes a dry cake, so here's how you make the ultimate moist cake. This was one of my favorite cakes I've ever made. Don't get me wrong - I love to make homemade cakes from scratch. But we don't always have the time nor the desire to do so. the next best option, in my opinion, are the Trader Joe's cake mixes. In true TJ's fashion, they don't offer a ton of options, but their vanilla cake mix is out of this world delicious... and easy.

    Trader Joe\'s vanilla cake mix box

    Just look at those beautiful specs of vanilla bean. You know I'm a lover of all things vanilla.

    looking down at baked vanilla cake in pan

    A wooden spoon works great, but all of my wooden spoons have rectangular handles instead of round, and I'm such a freak in the kitchen I couldn't handle odd shaped holes in my cake, so I found my silicon brush and it worked perfectly. My OCD almost got in the way of me poking that first whole in this beautiful cake, but once the first one went in, my destructive side had fun and went to down with the whole poking. I actually wish I had put twice as many wholes as I did below so that there would be even more pudding in each bite of the cake.

    vanilla cake in pan with holes punched into it for a poke cake recipes

    For you to be able to enjoy this recipe like I did, you must make a batch of homemade coconut pudding. Sure you could use any kind of store bought pudding, but then you wouldn't feel the sheer and utter joy I did. And believe me, you'll want to.

    creamy coconut topping getting added to vanilla cake

    After I spread the coconut pudding filled with tiny little specs of sweetened toasted coconut into all the holes, I topped with even more sweetened toasted coconut. Wouldn't you want to do the same thing? I thought yes, so I did.

    Two images of coconut poke cake, one with a creamy pudding topping and the other with toasted coconut

    In my opinion, frosting can either make or break a cake. More times than not, it is too sweet and/or fatty and you end up feeling sick after devouring a piece. That's why I fell in love with this cake. The pudding combined with the cake was the perfect balance of sweet and creamy. My kids freaking loved it too (shocking, I know).

    A slice of coconut poke cake on plate

    So the next time you get signed up to bring a dessert to a summer potluck because your last name starts with M-Z, make everyone happy by bringing this Coconut Pudding Poke Cake!

    a bite of coconut pudding poke cake on fork

    This recipe uses pure vanilla extract. Did you know you can make your own homemade vanilla extract? It makes the perfect gift too. Watch how in the video below.

    [adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id="LExWqseM" upload-date="2016-11-14T18:54:41.000Z" name="Self Proclaimed Foodie - Homemade Vanilla Extract" description="Making your own homemade vanilla extract is not only easy to do, but it smells and tastes wonderful, makes the perfect gift, and the beans can still be used once you’re done!" player-type="default" override-embed="default"]

    A slice of cake on a plate, with Pudding and Coconut

    Coconut Pudding Poke Cake

    Coconut Pudding Poke Cake is so moist and perfectly sweet because you "poke" holes into the cake to enable the homemade coconut pudding to be in each bite.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 40 minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
    Scale: 9 servings
    Recipe Created By: Krissy Allori

    Ingredients

    cake:

    • 1 box Vanilla Cake mix (I used Trader Joe's )
    • 2 large eggs
    • ½ cup butter (melted)
    • 1 cup milk

    pudding:

    • 2 cups coconut pudding (see link in notes)
    • ½ cup toasted coconut

    Instructions

    • To bake the cake, follow the directions on the box. You can substitute any other cake mix, but be aware that the Trader Joe's brand makes an 8x8x2 cake, where as big brand cake mixes often make a 9x13x2, so you will either have extra cake batter or you will have less pudding to cake ratio.
    • Make homemade coconut pudding according to the post instructions. Mix half of the toasted coconut into the cooled pudding and reserve the other half.
    • Using the handle of a wooden spoon (or something similar), poke holes that are about an inch apart in your cooled cake. Spread cooled pudding over cake. Top with remaining toasted coconut. Refrigerate for at least an hour.
    • Cut into 9 squares while in pan and serve.

    Notes

    Coconut pudding recipe: https://selfproclaimedfoodie.com/homemade-coconut-pudding/

    NUTRITION INFORMATION

    Calories: 386kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 599mg | Potassium: 111mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 412IU | Calcium: 166mg | Iron: 1mg
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    Coconut Pudding Poke Cake is so moist and perfectly sweet because you \"poke\" holes into the cake to enable the homemade coconut pudding to be in each bite.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Pandora65

      December 12, 2015 at 9:57 pm

      This cake has too much crunchy coconut on top. I put the coconut in my food processor to add to cake batter, added coconut flavoring to a traditional vanilla cake mix. Poked the cake & poured pudding over it then chilled, topped with cool whip and sprinkled more food processed coconut on top. Not
      toasted.

      Reply
      • Krissy

        December 15, 2015 at 5:23 am

        I love it when people vary the recipe because that's how I've always cooked! Your method sounds great... except I'm not a fan of cool whip. - Krissy

        Reply
    2. Tammy

      June 08, 2015 at 12:21 am

      I

      Reply
      • Krissy

        June 08, 2015 at 5:52 am

        was there more? 🙂 Krissy

        Reply
      • Reba Phillips

        January 13, 2016 at 7:57 pm

        If you pour the "warm" coconut pudding over the warm cake it will spread more of the moist delicious pudding throughout the cake. I like to make my cakes from scratch.

        Reply

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