Dessert

Unicorn Poke Cake Recipe

ByMaya Arden July 11, 2026July 11, 2026

Introduction

Unicorn Poke Cake is a fun and colorful dessert that brightens any celebration. This moist white cake is swirled with vibrant pastel colors, filled with creamy vanilla pudding, and topped with fluffy whipped topping and sparkling candy sprinkles. It’s as delightful to look at as it is to eat!

A close-up of a slice of colorful cake held by a woman's hand with a wooden spatula, showing three main layers: the bottom layer is a spongy cake with swirled blue, purple, and pink colors mixed together; above it is a smooth, thick yellow custard layer that slightly drips down into the cake; the top layer is white whipped cream adorned with a variety of bright, multicolored sprinkles including blue, pink, yellow, and purple in different shapes like dots, rods, and flowers. The background shows a white marbled surface with more sprinkles scattered around. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

15.25 ounces white cake mix
1 cup water

½ cup vegetable oil
3 egg whites (room temperature)

Blue gel food color
Purple gel food color

Pink gel food color
6.8 ounces French vanilla instant pudding mix
3 ¾ cups cold whole milk

8 ounces whipped topping (thawed)
2.82 ounces Unicorn sparkle candy sprinkles

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and spray a 9×13-inch cake pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Step 2: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, water, vegetable oil, and egg whites. Use a handheld mixer on medium speed until the batter is smooth with no visible lumps.
Step 3: Divide the batter evenly into three smaller bowls, preferably glass or disposable to avoid staining from the gel colors.
Step 4: Add 3-4 drops of blue gel food color to one bowl and stir until evenly colored with no streaks.

Step 5: Add 5-7 drops of purple gel food color to the second bowl and stir well until fully blended.
Step 6: Add 5-7 drops of pink gel food color to the remaining bowl and mix until the color is uniform.
Step 7: Spoon dollops of each colored batter randomly into the prepared pan. Use a toothpick or skewer to gently swirl the colors together. Bake for 25-28 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Start checking around 22 minutes to avoid overbaking.

Step 8: Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes about an inch apart over the entire cake surface.
Step 9: In a large bowl, whisk or use a handheld mixer on low speed to combine the pudding mix and cold milk for 2-3 minutes until thickened.
Step 10: Fill the holes in the cake with pudding using a spoon. Then spread the remaining pudding evenly over the cake surface using a spatula.

Step 11: Spread the thawed whipped topping over the pudding layer, smoothing it evenly. Cover the cake and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Step 12: Before serving, sprinkle the unicorn sparkle candy sprinkles over the whipped topping. Slice into 3 by 5 pieces and keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Tips & Variations

Use gel food colors rather than liquid to avoid thinning the batter and achieve vibrant hues.

Swap the whipped topping for freshly whipped cream for a more natural flavor.
Add a drizzle of white chocolate sauce on top before sprinkles for extra sweetness.

Storage

Store leftover cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For best texture, keep it chilled and serve cold. Refrain from freezing as the pudding filling may separate when thawed.

How to Serve

A rectangular glass baking dish holds a multi-layered colorful cake with three visible layers: a bright blue bottom layer, a purple middle layer, and a pink top layer. Above the cake layers is a smooth pale yellow custard layer, followed by a thick white whipped cream topping. The whipped cream is covered with a mix of colorful sprinkles in pink, blue, purple, and yellow shapes like dots, stars, and rods. A single square piece of the cake is cut out and placed on a stack of white plates with black rims in the background, showing the same color layers clearly. Two glasses of milk are visible behind the cake, all resting on a white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use regular food coloring instead of gel?

Gel food coloring is recommended because it provides brighter colors without altering the batter’s consistency. Regular liquid food coloring can make the batter too thin and affect baking results.