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Easter Pastel Poke Cake

Easter Pastel Poke Cake
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The Easter Pastel Poke Cake is a colorful, moist, and fluffy dessert perfect for spring celebrations. Featuring pastel hues and creamy pudding filling, this easy-to-make cake delights both kids and adults with its festive appearance and luscious texture. It uses common pantry ingredients and can be customized for flavor, color, and dietary needs.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake Ingredients

  • 1 box Yellow Cake Mix (or gluten-free cake mix)
  • Eggs (as called for on cake mix package, usually 3 large)
  • Oil (vegetable or canola, per cake mix instructions, typically 1/2 cup)
  • Water (as directed by cake mix, about 1 cup)

Pudding Ingredients

  • 2 to 3 packages Instant Pudding Mix (vanilla or white chocolate, approx. 3.4 oz each)
  • 4 cups Cold Milk (whole milk recommended for creaminess)
  • Pastel Gel Food Coloring (pink, blue, yellow, purple)

Frosting and Decoration

  • 1 container Whipped Topping (approximately 8 oz, or substitute coconut cream for dairy-free)
  • Pastel-colored Sprinkles, edible glitter, or mini candy eggs for decoration

Instructions

  1. Prepare and Bake the Cake: Make the yellow cake batter by combining the cake mix with eggs, oil, and water according to package directions until smooth. Pour into a greased 9×13-inch baking pan and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool slightly before proceeding.
  2. Poke the Cake: Using a wooden spoon handle or a clean popsicle stick, poke evenly spaced holes all over the cooled cake, about 1 inch apart. This allows the pudding to seep inside and keep the cake moist.
  3. Prepare the Pudding: Whisk instant pudding mix with cold milk according to package instructions until thickened. Divide the pudding into separate bowls and tint each with different pastel gel food coloring to create soft Easter hues.
  4. Fill the Poke Holes: Spoon colored pudding into each hole, alternating colors for a vibrant pastel effect, ensuring all holes are filled evenly.
  5. Spread the Whipped Topping: Gently cover the entire cake surface with a layer of whipped topping, hiding the pudding-filled holes and adding a creamy finish.
  6. Chill and Decorate: Refrigerate the cake for at least 2 hours to allow pudding to absorb and meld with the cake. Before serving, decorate the top with pastel sprinkles, edible pearls, or mini candy eggs for a festive touch.

Notes

  • Space pokes evenly to distribute pudding uniformly throughout the cake.
  • Mix pudding just until thickened to avoid lumps or runniness.
  • Use full-fat milk and whipped topping for the creamiest texture.
  • Apply varying intensities of pastel food coloring for a beautiful gradient effect.
  • Chill cake adequately to meld flavors and set the pudding.

Nutrition

Keywords: Easter cake, poke cake, pastel dessert, spring celebration, colorful cake, moist cake, pudding poke cake, gluten-free dessert

Find it online: https://mealsbylina.com/easter-pastel-poke-cake/