Unicorn Poke Cake (Printable)
A whimsical dessert featuring confetti cake with rainbow pudding pockets and whipped cream topping.
# What You'll Need:
→ Cake Base
01 - 1 box funfetti or vanilla cake mix (approximately 15 ounces)
02 - Ingredients required for cake mix (typically eggs, vegetable oil, and water)
→ Colorful Pudding Filling
03 - 2 packages instant vanilla pudding mix (3.4 ounces each)
04 - 4 cups cold milk
05 - Gel food coloring in pink, purple, blue, and yellow
→ Toppings
06 - 1 container whipped topping (8 ounces), thawed
07 - Unicorn sprinkles or colorful confetti sprinkles for decoration
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
02 - Prepare cake batter according to package instructions. Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
03 - Remove cake from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes in the pan.
04 - Using the handle of a wooden spoon, poke holes every 1-2 inches across the surface of the warm cake.
05 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the instant vanilla pudding mixes and cold milk until the mixture begins to thicken, approximately 2 minutes.
06 - Divide the pudding evenly among 4 separate bowls. Add a different gel food coloring to each bowl and mix thoroughly until vibrant colors are achieved.
07 - Spoon the colored puddings randomly into the poke holes, creating a rainbow effect throughout the cake.
08 - Spread the thawed whipped topping evenly over the entire surface of the cooled cake.
09 - Sprinkle unicorn or colorful confetti sprinkles generously over the top. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld before slicing and serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The surprise of cutting into an ordinary looking cake and finding a rainbow inside still makes people gasp every single time
- Its surprisingly forgiving, perfect for those days when you want something magical without spending all afternoon in the kitchen
02 -
- Poking the holes while the cake is still warm helps the pudding seep down into the crumb, but waiting the full 10 minutes prevents the cake from falling apart
- The random pattern of colored pudding looks much more impressive than trying to create organized sections, so trust your instincts and pour freely
03 -
- A straight handled wooden spoon creates the cleanest holes without tearing the cake, but the handle of a whisk works in a pinch
- If you want even more dramatic colors, use a light colored cake mix instead of funfetti so the rainbow pudding really pops against the white crumb