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Pumpkin Poke Cake

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Pumpkin Poke Cake is a chilled cake with a pumpkin filling and whipped topping. This cake is made with boxed cake mix for an easy and fun recipe!

Poke Cake is a fun way to incorporate a filling. If you don’t care for cake filling, try my pumpkin sheet cake instead.

Pumpkin Poke Cake Recipe

Pumpkin Poke Cake Ingredients

To make this pumpkin cake recipe, you will need the following ingredients (see the recipe card below for exact amounts):

  • spice cake mix: I used Betty Crocker Delights Super Moist Spice Cake Mix that I found at Target.
  • milk: I used 2% milk, but whole milk will work, too.
  • eggs: Room temperature preferred.
  • canola or vegetable oil
  • instant vanilla pudding: I used JELL-O brand Instant Vanilla Pudding.
  • pumpkin puree: I used Libby’s Pure Pumpkin Puree. You can also use fresh pumpkin puree.
  • pumpkin pie spice: Make a homemade pumpkin spice with 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, and 1/4 teaspoon cloves.
  • ground cinnamon
  • heavy whipping cream: Make sure it’s heavy whipping cream and not half and half or regular whipping cream.
  • vanilla extract
  • confectioners sugar
  • Caramel Sauce
  • Pecan pieces
Pumpkin Poke Cake Ingredients

How to Make Pumpkin Spice Poke Cake

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease the bottom of a 13×9 baking pan or dish with butter or shortening. Set aside.
  2. Bake the Cake: In a large bowl, combine the spice cake mix, milk, eggs, and oil. Stir or whisk until just combined.
  3. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, and bake for 30-35 minutes (25 minutes for a dark pan) or until a toothpick poked into the middle comes out clean.
  4. Using the round handle of a wooden spoon, a chopstick, or a straw, poke holes 1/2 an inch apart, about 1 inch deep, into the cake while it’s still warm. (Poke about 100 holes.) Set aside.
  5. Make the Pumpkin Filling: In a medium bowl, add the vanilla pudding mix and cold milk. Whisk until the pudding has just dissolved. Don’t let it get too thick.
  6. Add the pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon. Continue whisking until just combined. If the mix has gotten too thick to pour, add milk by the tablespoon until it has thinned slightly.
  7. Pour the filling over the cake, and spread it out with a spatula making sure it fills into the holes. Place in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
  8. Prepare the Whipped Cream Topping: Add the heaving whipping cream, vanilla extract, and confectioners sugar to a large bowl, and beat with an electric hand mixer at high speed until stiff peaks have formed, about 5 minutes.
  9. Carefully spread the whipped cream over the cake, and place the cake back into the refrigerator for another 2 hours, or until the whipped cream has set.
  10. Top with caramel topping and pecan pieces, if desired, and serve chilled.
Collage of recipe steps for making pumpkin spice poke cake

Recipe Tips

  • Before making the whipping cream, chill the bowl in the freezer for 20 minutes to speed up the whipping process.
  • I don’t recommend following the baking times on the bake of the cake mix box. I find that they always suggest a time that’s too long. I start out baking the cake for 25 minutes, check the middle of the cake, and add more time if needed.
  • I substitute the water in the cake mix for milk. I think it adds more flavor.
Pumpkin Spice Cake

Storage Instructions

Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

FAQs

Can I freeze cake?

Store covered in plastic wrap and foil in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw before serving.

Can I use store bought whipped topping?

Yes! You can use Cool Whip instead of making it fresh.

Pumpkin Poke Cake Slice

More Pumpkin Desserts

Pumpkin Poke Cake

Pumpkin Poke Cake is a chilled cake with a pumpkin filling and whipped topping. This cake is made with boxed cake mix for an easy and fun recipe!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Chill Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 55 minutes
Course Cakes
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 484 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the Cake:

For the Pumpkin Filling:

For the Whipped Cream Topping:

Optional toppings:

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease the bottom of a 13×9 baking pan or dish with butter or shortening. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine the spice cake mix, milk, eggs, and oil. Stir or whisk until just combined.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, and bake for 30-35 minutes (25 minutes for a dark pan) or until a toothpick poked into the middle comes out clean.
  • Using the round handle of a wooden spoon, a chopstick, or a straw, poke holes 1/2 an inch apart, about 1 inch deep, into the cake while it’s still warm. (Poke about 100 holes.) Set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, add the vanilla pudding mix and cold milk. Whisk until the pudding has just dissolved. Don’t let it get too thick.
  • Add the pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon. Continue whisking until just combined. If the mix has gotten too thick to pour, add milk by the tablespoon until it has thinned slightly.
  • Pour the filling over the cake, and spread it out with a spatula making sure it fills into the holes. Place in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
  • Add the heaving whipping cream, vanilla extract, and confectioners sugar to a large bowl, and beat with an
    electric hand mixer at high speed until stiff peaks have formed, about 5 minutes.
  • Carefully spread the whipped cream over the cake, and place the cake back into the refrigerator for another 2 hours, or until the whipped cream has set.
  • Top with caramel topping and pecan pieces, if desired, and serve chilled.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 484kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 6gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 91mgSodium: 351mgPotassium: 274mgFiber: 1gSugar: 32gVitamin A: 1505IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 126mgIron: 2mg

The nutrition information is calculated using online nutrition calculators and may not be accurate. It is provided as a general guide only.

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The recipe and photos contained herein are the property of Emily Enchanted© and may not be copied.

5 from 1 vote
Recipe Rating




Emily Enchanted

Thursday 1st of December 2022

I love this cake because it is so moist and the pumpkin flavor is perfect.