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Unicorn Poke Cake Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 76 reviews

This vibrant Unicorn Poke Cake is a delightful and colorful dessert featuring swirls of blue, purple, and pink cake batter baked to perfection. Once cooled, it’s poked with holes that are filled with creamy French vanilla pudding, topped with whipped topping, and finished with sparkling candy sprinkles for a magical treat perfect for celebrations or any time you need a fun twist on classic cake.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake Batter

  • 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

Pudding Filling

  • 6.8 ounces French vanilla instant pudding mix
  • 3 ¾ cups cold whole milk

Topping and Garnish

  • 8 ounces whipped topping, thawed
  • 2.82 ounces Unicorn sparkle candy sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and spray a 9×13 inch cake pan with nonstick cooking spray to ensure easy removal and prevent sticking.
  2. Mix Cake Batter: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the white cake mix, water, vegetable oil, and egg whites. Use a handheld mixer on medium speed to blend everything together until smooth and lump-free.
  3. Divide Batter: Evenly divide the batter into three smaller bowls, which ideally are glass or disposable to prevent staining from the gel food colors.
  4. Add Colors: Add 3-4 drops of blue gel food color to one bowl and stir until fully blended with no streaks. To the second bowl, add 5-7 drops of purple gel food color and mix well. Add 5-7 drops of pink gel food color to the third bowl and stir until completely combined.
  5. Layer and Swirl Batter: Spoon the colored batters randomly into the prepared cake pan. After all the batter is added, gently swirl the colors together with a toothpick or bamboo skewer to create a marbled effect.
  6. Bake Cake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-28 minutes. Start checking at 22 minutes by inserting a toothpick; if it comes out clean, the cake is done. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely.
  7. Poke Cake Holes: Once cooled, use the handle end of a wooden spoon to poke holes about an inch apart all across the cake surface.
  8. Prepare Pudding: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cold milk and instant pudding mix using a handheld mixer on low speed or a whisk until thickened, about 2-3 minutes.
  9. Fill Holes with Pudding: Spoon the pudding mixture into the holes, filling them completely. After filling the holes, spread the remaining pudding evenly over the entire cake surface using a spatula.
  10. Add Whipped Topping: Spread the thawed whipped topping over the pudding layer evenly with a spatula. Cover the cake and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to set.
  11. Decorate & Serve: Remove the chilled cake from the refrigerator and sprinkle the unicorn sparkle candy sprinkles evenly over the whipped topping. Slice into 3 by 5 pieces and serve chilled. Store leftovers refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Notes

  • Use gel food colors for vibrant hues without thinning the batter.
  • Glass or disposable bowls are preferred for mixing colored batter to avoid staining.
  • Check the cake early as oven temperatures can vary.
  • This cake must be refrigerated after assembling to allow pudding to set well.
  • Keep leftover cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days for best freshness.

Keywords: Unicorn Poke Cake, colorful cake, poke cake recipe, vanilla pudding cake, fun birthday cake, swirled cake batter, rainbow cake, festive dessert

Find it online: https://flavorsbymaya.com/unicorn-poke-cake-recipe/