Banana Pudding Poke Cake recipe - easy and delicious dessert! (2024)

By: Author Nicole Johnson

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Categories Blog, Dessert, Recipes

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This Banana Pudding Poke Cake is super easy, and such a crowd pleaser! One of our family favorites, for sure. Try it out and let me know what you think!

Banana Pudding Poke Cake recipe - easy and delicious dessert! (1)

Banana Fo Fanna Pudding Poke Cake

For some odd reason, my two youngest boys have decided that one of their FAVORITE snacks is a sliced up banana, covered in milk, and then eaten with a spoon. They have deemed this a banana fo fanna. I mean, as far as snacks go it could definitely be worse, but it’s weird, right? They are an odd bunch I’m raising here. They tell me they got the idea from Bubble Guppies, but who knows really where and how they come up with this stuff.

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This banana fo fanna pudding cake is a little tribute to them. I haven’t done all that many poke cakes beyond the better than anything cake. I went looking for ideas and specifics, and pretty quickly came across this one over at The Country Cook. Mine, beyond the pudding mix which probably makes the rest of this a moot point, forgoes the boxed cake mix and the Cool Whip, but if you want something incredibly simple I’m sure that version is awesome. She has a ton of great poke cake ideas over there if that’s your thing! Check it out!

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How to make banana poke cake

Start this version by mixing all your cake ingredients together for 3-5 minutes, until they are well combined. Pour into a greased and floured 10×13 inch pan, and bake at 350 until the top is golden brown and a tester comes out clean. As you can see from my photos, my cake went a few minutes too many and is overdone. Don’t make the same mistake I did! I was playing Plants Vs. Zombies and got a little, ahhhh….distracted. 😉 The cake itself has a really really good flavor, and the texture was great too in the middle where I didn’t cook the ever-loving-snot out of it.

Let it cool for 5-10 minutes and then poke a bunch of holes all over it.

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Prepare a large box of instant banana pudding according to the regular package directions (3 cups of cold milk to one large box of pudding), but instead of mixing the entire 5 minutes until it is thickened, mix for about 2-3 minutes so it’s dissolved, but still very pourable. Pour it all over the cake and spread it around, making sure it gets into all those holes.

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Chill the cake until it is cooled completely and the pudding is set. Next, whip up your cream and spread it all over the top. Crush your cookies, and garnish with the crushed cookies and sliced banana.

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Hungry for more? Check out these other awesome cakes here on Or Whatever You Do!

Banana Pudding Poke Cake recipe - easy and delicious dessert! (7)

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Banana Pudding Poke Cake recipe - easy and delicious dessert! (8)

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Banana Pudding Poke Cake recipe - easy and delicious dessert! (9)

No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake Fluff Pie

Yield: 12 servings

Banana Pudding Poke Cake recipe - easy and delicious dessert! (10)

Easy and yummy pudding poke cake featuring bananas, pudding mix, whipped cream, and toasted coconut. A family favorite!

Prep Time20 minutes

Cook Time35 minutes

Total Time55 minutes

Ingredients

Cake:

  • 2 c all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 small package instant vanilla pudding, 3 1/8 oz.
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 4 lg eggs, beaten
  • 1/2 cups canola oil
  • 2 tsp vanilla

Toppings:

  • 1 large box instant banana cream pudding
  • 3 cups cold milk
  • Whipped Cream:
  • 1.5 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar, or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla

Garnish:

  • crushed Girl Scout Shortbreads or Nilla Wafers
  • fresh sliced bananas

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prep a 10x13 pan by buttering and flouring, or using baking spray.
  2. Put the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, vanilla pudding, sour cream, eggs, oil, and vanilla in a large bowl. Mix for 3-5 minutes. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a tester comes out clean.
  3. Let cool for 5-10 minutes, and then poke holes all over the cake with the bottom of a wooden spoon. Mix large box of instant banana cream pudding with milk with a whisk for 2-3 minutes, or until the pudding mix is fully dissolved, but the pudding is still very pourable. Pour all over the cake, making sure it gets into all the holes.
  4. Chill cake until fully cooled and pudding has set, about 15-20 minutes.
  5. Whip cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Spread on the top of the cake. Garnish with crushed cookies and fresh sliced banana. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 494Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 112mgSodium: 273mgCarbohydrates: 52gFiber: 1gSugar: 29gProtein: 8g

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Nicole Johnson

Website

Nicole Johnson, a self-taught expert in grilling and outdoor cooking, launched Or Whatever You Do in 2010. Her blog, renowned for its comprehensive and creative outdoor cooking recipes, has garnered a vast audience of millions. Nicole's hands-on experience and passion for grilling shine through her work. Her husband, Jeremiah Johnson, also plays a pivotal role in recipe development, adding his culinary flair to the mix. Together, they form a dynamic duo, offering a rich and varied outdoor cooking experience to their followers.

Banana Pudding Poke Cake recipe - easy and delicious dessert! (2024)

FAQs

Why is my poke cake soggy? ›

Make sure the holes aren't too close together or too far apart—if they're too close together, your cake could be too moist; if they're too far apart, there may not be enough filling throughout the cake.

What does adding instant pudding to cake mix do? ›

Adding instant pudding mix to your dessert brings a moist texture to recipes.

How do you keep banana pudding from getting soggy? ›

The best way to combat this is to serve and enjoy the pudding freshly made. If you're making ahead, prepare the pudding layer ahead of time, press plastic wrap directly against the top, and store in the fridge for a day or two.

Why is it called poke cake? ›

Both cakes called for hole-poking action long before the 1970s. Even though Jell-O isn't quite the potluck-table staple it once was, there are still plenty of home bakers poking holes in their cakes and filling them with sugary semi-liquids.

Do you poke holes in a cake when it's hot or cold? ›

It's best to make the holes in the cake while it is still slightly warm, because as it cools the crust on top of the cake will crumble more easily.

What does adding an extra egg do to a cake mix? ›

Because eggs help build the cake's structure (don't use them and you're looking at a gooey mess), adding an extra egg yolk makes the cake batter denser. Translation: you'll have a moister confection. Conversely, she suggests an extra egg white for a fluffier cake.

How to jazz up instant pudding? ›

6> Mix in Crushed Cookies or Biscuits: Crushed cookies like Oreos, graham crackers, or digestive biscuits can add both flavor and texture to your pudding. 7> Top with Whipped Cream: A dollop of whipped cream on top of your pudding can add a light and airy texture while complementing the sweetness of the pudding.

What can I add to pudding to make it better? ›

Sprinkle in chopped nuts, chocolate chips or baking spices like cinnamon or freshly grated nutmeg. Don't be surprised if folks go back for seconds! And you can always top with sprinkles, too. They make everything more fun!

What is a substitute for vanilla wafers in banana pudding? ›

What are good alternatives to vanilla wafers? It's worth trying to find vanilla wafers — their mild flavor and crunchy texture is ideal for this dessert. However, if you're unable to source them, you can substitute with shortbread cookies, ladyfingers (also known as Savoiardi cookies), or animal crackers.

Should homemade banana pudding be refrigerated? ›

Cover the banana pudding tightly with storage wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to three days. Chill until serving.

Should banana pudding be refrigerated? ›

Store, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Why is it called Elvis Presley cake? ›

Before it's served, you'll add a layer of cream cheese frosting and sprinkle candied pecans on top for some crunch. Internet lore would have you believe this pineapple-topped concoction was Elvis Presley's favorite cake, that he even asked his grandmother to make it for him as a kid.

When to poke holes in poke cake? ›

After the cake is baked and cooled, you take the back of a wooden spoon (that's what my mom always used), and poke holes all over the cake. A poke cake then has some kind of glaze or soak (caramel, chocolate, fruit soak, etc.) poured on top and is finished with a whipped cream topping.

Why is it called dump cake? ›

A dump cake is an American dessert similar to a cobbler but with a cake-like topping. It is so named because it is prepared by "dumping" ingredients (typically canned fruit or pie filling, followed by a boxed cake mix) into a cake pan without mixing.

How do you fix a soggy cake? ›

Adjusting the cooking time and temperature

If your cake has a soggy middle, the first thing to try is bringing the temperature down a little and baking for slightly longer. I'd suggest reducing the temperature by 20 degrees and increasing the baking time for 7 minutes.

What to do if your cake has a soggy bottom? ›

  1. This is a term that usually applies to pastry particularly pies. If you.
  2. use a glass or ceramic pie dish you're sure to get a soggy bottom.
  3. Use a metal or foil pie tin cook the bottom of your pie blind, then.
  4. add the filling and pie crust. ...
  5. You've either not cooked enough or left in in the cake tin for too.
  6. long.
Apr 1, 2020

How do you fix a soggy cake top? ›

You can also place your baked items in the fridge for a half hour, and this should cool and dry the surface as well. The fridge is known to be a dry environment as it naturally dehumidifies air by cooling the insides. Just don't leave it in there too long uncovered because it will completely dry out your baked goods!

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