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Creamy Banana Pudding Poke Cake

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This easy, crowd-pleasing dessert features layers of soft yellow cake, creamy banana pudding, fresh bananas, and a fluffy Cool Whip topping. It’s a nostalgic treat perfect for parties, potlucks, or weeknight indulgence.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 box yellow cake mix (15.25 oz)
  • 3 large eggs (room temperature)
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 (3.4 oz) packages instant banana pudding mix
  • 3 cups cold milk (whole or 2% recommended)
  • 3–4 medium ripe bananas, sliced
  • 1 (8 oz) tub Cool Whip, thawed (or homemade whipped cream)
  • Optional: 10 vanilla wafer cookies, crushed (for garnish)
  • Optional: Extra banana slices (for decorating)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.
  2. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, water, and vegetable oil. Beat for 2 minutes until smooth and slightly fluffy.
  3. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  4. Let cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes until warm but not hot.
  5. Using the handle of a wooden spoon, poke holes all over the cake about 1 inch apart, going deep but not through the bottom.
  6. In a medium bowl, whisk together banana pudding mix and cold milk for 2 minutes until thickened but pourable. Let sit 2-3 minutes to set.
  7. Pour pudding evenly over the poked cake, spreading with a spatula to encourage it into the holes.
  8. Let sit for 10 minutes, then layer sliced bananas evenly over the pudding-covered cake.
  9. Spread thawed Cool Whip over the pudding and banana layers. Optionally, garnish with crushed vanilla wafers and extra banana slices.
  10. Cover with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight is best).
  11. Slice into squares and serve chilled. Wipe knife between cuts for neat slices.

Notes

For best results, use just-ripe bananas and pour pudding while cake is still warm. Chill for at least 2 hours for set layers. To keep bananas from browning, toss slices with lemon juice. Sugar-free pudding and light whipped topping can be used for a lighter version. Gluten-free cake mix and certified gluten-free pudding make this recipe suitable for gluten-free diets.

Nutrition

Keywords: banana pudding poke cake, creamy banana dessert, easy cake recipe, Cool Whip cake, potluck dessert, family gathering, banana pudding cake

Find it online: https://jodierecipes.com/creamy-banana-pudding-poke-cake-recipe-easy-fluffy-cool-whip-dessert/