Peppermint Poke Cake (Printable Version)
A chilled chocolate cake filled with mint pudding, topped with whipped cream and crushed peppermint candies.
# What You Need:
→ Cake Base
01 - 1 box (15.25 oz) chocolate cake mix
02 - 3 large eggs
03 - 1 cup water
04 - 1/2 cup vegetable oil
→ Peppermint Pudding Filling
05 - 1 box (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
06 - 2 cups cold milk
07 - 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
08 - 2 to 3 drops red or pink food coloring (optional)
→ Topping
09 - 1 tub (8 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed
10 - 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies or candy canes
11 - Chocolate shavings or mini chocolate chips (optional)
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, water, and vegetable oil. Mix with an electric mixer or whisk until batter is smooth and homogeneous.
03 - Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 28 to 32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean.
04 - Allow cake to cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes.
05 - Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes evenly across the cake surface, spacing holes about 1 inch apart.
06 - In a medium bowl, whisk together instant pudding mix, cold milk, peppermint extract, and food coloring until mixture has thickened, about 2 minutes.
07 - Pour pudding evenly over the cooled cake, using a spatula to gently spread and press pudding into the holes.
08 - Cover cake and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until the pudding is fully set.
09 - Spread the thawed whipped topping evenly over the chilled cake.
10 - Sprinkle the surface with crushed peppermint candies and, if desired, chocolate shavings or mini chocolate chips.
11 - Slice the cake and serve chilled for optimal texture and flavor.
# Helpful Tips:
01 -
- When everyone tries a slice, they'll think you spent hours—just let them.
- The trick of infusing pudding into the cake makes each bite wildly moist and flavorful.
02 -
- If you pour the pudding before it's fully thickened, it leaks to the bottom instead of soaking into the cake—be patient.
- Crushing peppermint candies in a double-sealed bag keeps stray shards from flying everywhere, a lesson courtesy of my first (chaotic) attempt.
03 -
- A metal skewer or chopstick can poke smaller holes for a more even pudding distribution.
- Adding a touch of peppermint extract to the whipped topping gives the whole cake an extra cool kick.