Easy banana pudding poke cake takes creamy banana pudding and adds it to a buttery yellow cake mix cake with crunchy vanilla wafers on top. This delicious creamy dessert is such a fun twist on banana pudding!
Equipment
1 9 x 12 inch baking pan glass or metal works for this recipe
Ingredients
For The Cake
15.25ouncesyellow cake mixone box
1cupwater
1/2cupvegetable oilor other cooking oil
3largeeggs
For The Filling And Topping
8ouncescream cheesesoftened
14ouncessweetened condensed milk
5.1ouncesinstant banana puddingmix only
2cupsmilk
24ounceswhipped toppingdivided, like cool whip, usually two tubs
5ouncesvanilla wafer cookiesfor garnish, I used about half of a 11 ounce box of cookies
3largebananasfor garnish, optional
Instructions
Baking The Cake
Grease a 9×13 inch pan with cooking spray. Prepare the cake mix according to the package directions, mixing in the egg whites (or whole eggs), oil and water as listed on the package. I've listed the most common egg, oil and water amounts in the ingredients but use the amounts listed on your package. See notes.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees for a metal pan and 325 degrees for a glass pan. Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan and bake according to the package directions, usually 28-35 minutes.
Let the cake cool for at least 15-20 minutes or until cool to the touch. The warm cake can melt the pudding and whipped cream topping if it is too hot.
Adding The Filling And Topping
Once the cake is cool, poke holes in the cake in rows for the pudding, about 6-8 rows down the longer side of the pan. Use the handle of a wooden spoon or a similar tool to poke holes in even lines all the way down the cake.
In a large mixing bowl mix add the softened cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk. Mix well until fully combined. This step is easier with an electric mixer but can be done by hand if the cream cheese is well softened.
In a second large mixing bowl, add the instant banana pudding and mix it with the milk. Then add 12 ounces of whipped topping (one tub) and fold it into the banana pudding mixture with a silicone spatula.
Combine the cream cheese mixture with the pudding mixture and mix well. Carefully scoop the mixture and place it evenly over the top of the cake. Gently spoon and push the mixture down into the holes as needed.
Cover the entire top of the cake with a layer of whipped topping, 12 ounces. Add vanilla wafer cookies to the top, crushing them and sprinkling the cookies on top or you can also place whole cookies on top of the cake.
Place the cake in the fridge to chill for at least 2 hours but can chill overnight. Add slices of fresh bananas before serving if desired, then enjoy!
Notes
If the cake mix you have selected suggests adding different ingredients to it besides the water, oil, and egg, go ahead and follow the boxed instructions for baking a 9x13 cake. Occasionally different brands of cake mix will have other instructions, but most have water, oil, and egg added.