King Cake Poke Cake Recipe

User Reviews

5.0

3 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    20 mins

  • Cook Time

    20 mins

  • Additional Time

    30 mins

  • Total Time

    1 hr 5 mins

  • Servings

    12 slices

  • Calories

    362 kcal

  • Course

    Dessert, Cake

  • Cuisine

    American

King Cake Poke Cake Recipe

Celebrate Mardi Gras with this easy poke cake! Start with a box of yellow cake mix, and decorate for a colorful dessert.

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Ingredients

Servings

For the Cake

  • 15.25 ounces yellow cake mix (1 box) -- Duncan Hines brand recommended
  • 1 cup water
  • 3 large eggs room temperature
  • cup vegetable oil

For the Pudding

  • 3.4 ounces vanilla pudding mix (1 box)
  • cups milk
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

For the Glaze

  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • ½ cup milk
  • Decorating sugar green, gold, and purple, for topping
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Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x13-inch baking pan with a nonstick spray.
  2. Mix and bake the cake mix according to the directions on the box and allow it to cool.
  3. Using the top of a wooden spoon, poke holes into the cake, so the whole cake is covered in holes.
  4. Combine the pudding mix, milk, and cinnamon in a medium mixing bowl just until it's combined. Pour the pudding all over the cake.
  5. Cover the cake and place it into the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Hide a plastic baby in the cooled cake, if desired.
  6. Whisk together the sugar and half of the milk in a large mixing bowl until it's smooth; if it's too thick, you can add in a little bit of the milk at a time. You want it to be thin enough to pour the glaze but not too thin that it just runs right off the cake.
  7. Pour the glaze over the cake in an even layer.
  8. Sprinkle the decorating sugars over the top of the glaze.

Notes

  • Storage: Store king cake poke cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
  • You can use white or chocolate cake mix instead, if you prefer!
  • You can swap the pudding mix for a different flavor, such as chocolate, cheesecake, or pistachio.
  • If you can't find decorating sugar, you can use colored sprinkles instead.
  • The ingredients listed for the cake are specific to Duncan Hines brand; if using a different brand, use the ingredients and quantities specified on the box.
  • It's a king cake tradition to bake a plastic baby figurine into the cake; feel free to do this if you like! 
  • Do not poke the holes all the way through or the filling will seep out when the cake is cut.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Serving 1slice Calories 362kcal (18%) Carbohydrates 66g (22%) Protein 4g (8%) Fat 10g (15%) Saturated Fat 3g (15%) Polyunsaturated Fat 4g Monounsaturated Fat 2g Trans Fat 0.1g Cholesterol 54mg (18%) Sodium 225mg (9%) Potassium 122mg (3%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 56g (112%) Vitamin A 168IU (3%) Vitamin C 0.02mg (0%) Calcium 128mg (13%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12slices

Amount Per Serving

Calories 362 kcal

% Daily Value*

Serving 1slice
Calories 362kcal 18%
Carbohydrates 66g 22%
Protein 4g 8%
Fat 10g 15%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g 24%
Monounsaturated Fat 2g 10%
Trans Fat 0.1g 5%
Cholesterol 54mg 18%
Sodium 225mg 9%
Potassium 122mg 3%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 56g 112%
Vitamin A 168IU 3%
Vitamin C 0.02mg 0%
Calcium 128mg 13%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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5.0

3 reviews
Excellent

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