Banana Pudding Poke Cake

This Banana Pudding Poke Cake is an easy, crowd-pleasing dessert that home bakers of any skill level can make. It starts with a soft vanilla cake that’s poked and filled with creamy banana pudding, then topped with fresh banana slices, fluffy whipped topping, and crushed vanilla wafers. Inspired by the classic Southern dessert, this simple poke cake is perfect for potlucks, family gatherings, church dinners, or office parties.

Banana Pudding Poke Cake Recipe

Around the South, desserts like this are a familiar sight at potlucks, church suppers, and family gatherings. Classic banana pudding has long been a favorite on dessert tables, usually served in a big dish and shared with a crowd. This Banana Pudding Poke Cake brings those same nostalgic flavors into an easy, sliceable dessert that’s perfect for feeding a group. It’s the kind of sweet treat that disappears quickly at church dinners, holiday potlucks, and backyard get-togethers.

Key ingredients you’ll need to make Banana Pudding Poke Cake: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)

• Cake – One box of golden cake mix or butter cake mix plus oil water and eggs to prepare
• Instant Pudding – One box instant vanilla pudding and one box banana pudding for the pudding layer that soaks into the cake making it super moist and flavorful.
• Liquid – Whole milk or half and half to whip the creamy pudding.
• Bananas – Sliced bananas give this cake its signature flavor.
• Frosting – Whipped topping i.e. Cool Whip fr the top of the cake.
• Garnishes – Nilla wafers for garnishing.

The Best Banana Pudding Poke Cake with Vanilla Pudding

• Bake Cake – Prepare the cake in a 13×9-inch cake pan per the package directions using the amounts called for of eggs, oil and water. (You can swap out water for milk or buttermilk.)
• Make Vanilla Pudding – Whip together both banana and vanilla instant puddings with milk or half and half until thickened.
• Poke Holes in the Cake While Warm – Remove the cake from the oven. Using the handle of a wooden spoon or similar immediately poke holes all over the cake.
• Transfer Pudding to Cake – Pour pudding on top of cake spreading into the holes. Cool completely.
• Bananas – Once cooled layer banana slices over the pudding and frost with whipped topping.
• Garnish – Sprinkle the top with crushed vanilla wafers. Chill until serving.

Kitchen Equipment to Make Banana Poke Cake with Pudding

• Large bowl.
• Hand mixer or stand mixer.
• 13×9 inch baking pan or baking dish.
• Measuring cups and measuring spoons.
• Knife and cutting board.
• Wooden spoon handle or similar size spoon. The handle is used to poke holes in the warm cake.

Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions

• Instant Pudding – I recommend using one vanilla pudding mix and one instant banana pudding mix as it mellows the banana flavor in the instant pudding mix a bit, and I find it a more pleasing flavor. You could use only vanilla pudding or only banana pudding.
• Homemade Butter Cake – If you’d like to make the cake from scratch my Old Fashioned Butter Cake would work perfectly.
• Cover Bananas to Prevent Browning – Make sure you cover the fresh banana slices fully with the top layer of pudding and whipped cream to prevent them from being exposed to air and oxidizing.
• Add Banana Slices for Garnishing – If you plan to garnish with fresh banana slices do so just before serving. If you’d like to make the cake fully in advance, use banana chips on top.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers – Store Banana Pudding Poke Cake in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap chilled in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Freezer – You can freeze leftovers for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge and enjoy. Please note, the fresh bananas may brown slightly.

More Poke Cake Recipes to Make

• Island inspired Hawaiian Pineapple Coconut Poke Cake.
• Lemon Burst Poke Cake packs a bite of lemon in every bite.
• Party any day of the year with this Cheesecake Birthday Poke Cake.
• Strawberries and Cream Poke Cake is a guaranteed hit.
• Rich and fudgy Rocky Road Fudge Poke Cake.
• Carrot Cake Poke Cake is an easy and impressive cake to serve.
• If you like the pie you’ll love this Key Lime Poke Cake.
• Smores Poke Cake from Averie Cooks.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Stand Mixer
• Cooling Racks
• Measuring Set
• 13×9-inch Pan

Print

Banana Pudding Poke Cake

Course Cakes, Dessert

Cuisine American, Southern

Keyword banana-pudding, banana-pudding-poke-cake

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Chill time 4 hours hours

Total Time 4 hours hours 45 minutes minutes

Servings 16 pieces

Calories 338kcal

Author Melissa Sperka

Ingredients

• 1 15.25 oz box yellow cake mix plus eggs, oil, water to prepare
• 1 3.4 oz box instant banana pudding mix
• 1 3.4 oz box instant vanilla pudding mix
• 4 cups whole milk or half and half
• 4-5 medium medium bananas sliced
• 16 oz frozen whipped topping thawed
• 1/2 cup crushed vanilla wafer crumbs
• 16 whole vanilla wafers for garnishing optional

Instructions

• Prepare the cake in a 13×9-inch cake pan per the package directions using the amounts called for of eggs, oil and water. (May use milk or buttermilk in place of the water) Bake in prepared pan per the directions until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes back clean.
• Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl whip together both banana and vanilla instant puddings with cold milk or half and half until thickened.
• Remove the cake from the oven. Using the handle of a wooden spoon or similar immediately poke holes all over the warm cake.
• Pour pudding on top of the cake and spread into the holes. Cool completely.
• Once cooled, layer banana slices over the pudding layer and frost with whipped topping.
• Sprinkle the top with crushed vanilla wafers. Chill until serving.
• Garnish each piece with one vanilla wafer, if desired.

Notes

• Instant Pudding – I recommend using one vanilla pudding mix and one instant banana pudding mix as it mellows the banana flavor in the instant pudding mix a bit, and I find it a more pleasing flavor. You could use only vanilla pudding or only banana pudding.
• Homemade Butter Cake – If you’d like to make the cake from scratch my Old Fashioned Butter Cake would work perfectly.
• Cover Bananas to Prevent Browning – Make sure you cover the fresh banana slices fully with the top layer of pudding and whipped cream to prevent them from being exposed to air and oxidizing.
• Add Banana Slices for Garnishing – If you plan to garnish with fresh banana slices do so just before serving. If you’d like to make the cake fully in advance, use banana chips on top.

Nutrition

Serving: 1piece | Calories: 338kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 467mg | Potassium: 220mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 139IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 155mg | Iron: 1mg

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