Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Looking for a cake version of your favorite pudding? The flavors of banana cream pudding come together in this easy and delicious Southern Banana Pudding poke cake!
Old Fashioned Banana Pudding Poke Cake
One of my favorite puddings, contains bananas, whipped topping, and crushed wafers. So when I thought, let’s make a cake. How could I not include my favorite things?
Although, I am one for making any dessert semi-homemade and that is what I did by using our favorite yellow box cake mix (from Aldi).
The real stars of the show is the vanilla pudding and sliced bananas, so no one will know that you took a shortcut with the cake.
I always think of Sandra Lee when I say semi-homemade.
Expect this cake to taste super moist and delicious. It is one of the prettiest poke cakes I have seen.
And to serve this cake you just keep it in its glass 9×13 baking pan.
Easy enough. You will also be creating it all in your favorite 9×13 pan. going from batter to baking to layering all in the same pan.
You may also want to try out our recipe for No-Bake Chocolate Eclair Cake Recipe, or this amazing Cookies and Cream Poke cake, both made in a casserole dish.
What is a Poke Cake?
No more dry, crumbly cakes for you! These no-fuss cakes are one of the oldest baking hacks in the book creating a very delicious and moist cake.
A poke cake is exactly what it sounds like: After baking your cake, you poke holes in it and then pour on some kind of topping or filling that adds flavor and moisture.
In my opinion, they are the best types of cakes, a no-fuss dessert created in your 9×13 pan.
Traditionally, poke cakes are topped with whipped cream instead of traditional cake frosting, so they’re usually refrigerated until right before serving. This makes them the perfect dessert for warm summer days.
Ingredients Needed
- 1 box of yellow cake mix
- 1/2 cup of oil
- 1 cup of water
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups of banana pudding – already prepared from your favorite brand or store-bought ready-made
- 8 oz of cool whipping cream
- 3 bananas – Sliced into 1/4 in cuts
- 2 cups of vanilla wafer crumbs –Place in a zipper bag and crush using a rolling pin. Leave some of the pieces big.
How to Make Your Southern Pudding Banana Poke Cake
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Next, prepare your cake by mixing together your yellow cake mix, eggs, water, and oil.
Next, add batter to your glass 9 x 13 pan. Spreading the batter evenly across. Bake the cake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees.
When done, let sit for 15 minutes on the counter and then another 15 minutes in the refrigerator until cool.
Quick tip, make sure the cake is cool before poking holes, otherwise, you will make a mess of your cake.
Using a wooden spoon handle, poke holes in the cake.
Be sure to poke right down to the bottom of the cake.
This will only take you a minute to complete.
If you are letting kids help you be aware, they love poking holes in anything, and too many holes could make or break this cake. Meaning it will fall apart.
Spread banana pudding across all the holes to fill.
Take care to get it into the holes as much as possible. I like to use the back of my wooden spoon to push as much of the pudding into the holes.
Let your cake sit for at least 10 minutes in the fridge. Allowing your pudding to settle in.
Next spread the cool whipping across the cake, fully coating it.
Layout banana slices across the top. And quick note, it doesn’t have to be perfect like mine. I only try my best to make it look pretty for pictures.
Spread crushed wafers onto the top of the cake.
You can do this part immediately before serving the cake if you like.
This will ensure the wafers are crunchy when you serve them. Or add after you make them and stick the cake in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to solidify.
Cut into 12 slices.
Additional Tips for Creating Your Poke Cake
- Make sure the holes aren’t too close together or too far apart—if they’re too close together, your cake could be too moist; if they’re too far apart, there may not be enough filling throughout the cake.
- Don’t let the pudding set before pouring it onto the cake. Whisk the pudding well for a minute or two then start pouring straight into the holes of the cake.
- Please don’t consider creating this cake as a layered cake. Because of the bananas and pudding, your cake layers will just slide apart creating a big mess.
- This cake will stay fresh for 7 days in your fridge. You can even consider freezing it for up to 3 months.
Southern Banana Pudding Poke Cake Recipe
This Southern Banana Pudding Poke Cake is an easy recipe that combines yellow cake with bananas and vanilla pudding. You’ll definitely want a second slice of this dessert!
Did You Enjoy Making This Recipe? Please rate this recipe with ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ or leave a comment. It helps other wonderful people connect with our crafts.
Looking for a cake version of your favorite pudding? The flavors of banana cream pudding come together in this easy and delicious Southern Banana Pudding poke cake!
Ingredients
- 1 box of yellow cake mix
- 1/2 cup of oil
- 1 cup of water
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups of banana pudding
- 8 oz of cool whipping cream
- 3 bananas
- 2 cups of vanilla wafer crumbs
Instructions
- Mix together the cake mix, eggs, water, and oil. Cook in a 9 x 13 pan on 350 for 35 minutes. When done let sit for 15 minutes on the counter and then 15 minutes in the refrigerator. Make sure the cake is cool before poking holes.
- Using a wooden spoon handle, poke holes in the cake.
- Spread banana pudding across all the holes to fill.
- Let your cake sit for at least 10 minutes in the fridge. Allowing your pudding to settle in.
- Spread the cool whipping across the cake fully coating it. Layout banana slices
across the top. - Sprinkle cookie crumbs on top.
- Stick cake in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to solidify.
- Lastly, cut in 12 slices. And serve!
Notes
You can spread the crushed wafers immediately before serving the cake if you like. This will ensure the wafers are crunchy when you serve it. Keep refrigerated.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 467Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 462mgCarbohydrates: 61gFiber: 2gSugar: 33gProtein: 5g
If you made this recipe, we would love to hear all about it. We get so excited when we learn that you have chosen to make one of our recipes featured on Inspiring Savings.
Please leave us a comment below.
Other Delicious Dessert Recipes
Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Bread
Easy Apple Cinnamon Crumb Cake Recipe
Blueberry Sour Cream Pound Cake
Eating out is easy, and it usually tastes delicious, but it’s expensive. Making this meal at home will save you money. Add this recipe to your weekly meal plan.
Diana says
Wow, delicious!
Jen @ Inspiring Savings says
Thank you!!!! Hope you get to try it out.
Christine says
YUM! This looks absolutely delicious and easy enough for me to try! Thank you! I need a new recipe for the holidays.
Jen @ Inspiring Savings says
You’re welcome.
Rose Ann Sales says
This looks like a really amazing and delicious recipe to try! I’m gonna share this to my mother and my friends also!
Manali Oza says
I love banana pudding, I absolutely loved this recipe. Really simple to follow. Thanks for sharing!
Marina says
This sounds yummy. My daughter said the other day when someone asked her what she loves to do with her mom the most – Bake with my mom! So this is next on our agenda. Thanks
Jen @ Inspiring Savings says
AWE… What a great memory for her! I love that she enjoys baking with her mom.
Kat says
I would love to try this recipe on day. Looks fun and easy to create. Definitely going to be delicious!
Beth Pierce says
I love all banana recipes! My aunt has a banana farm and we always get Banana deliveries. I can’t wait to try this.
Jen @ Inspiring Savings says
Oh WOW!!! A banana farm. How fun!
Abida says
I have never thought that such a great recipe cam ever be made from banana! I loved it and obviously will like to give it a go. Thanks for sharing
Jen @ Inspiring Savings says
You’re Very Welcome.
Talya Stone says
Oh my this looks and sounds so deliciously soft! There’s nothing worse than a dry old cake. I’m going to have to give this a try!
Renata - www.byemyself.com says
This cake looks really delicious. Probably very sweet – but sooo juicy! Need to make this asap.
Jen @ Inspiring Savings says
Thank you, Renata! Hope you enjoy!
Kelly Bolen says
Bananas, cool whip and cake! There is no wrong way to eat this!!! Looks delicious!
Cinny says
Oh, that looks like a nice dessert. I’m sure my son would love it!
Thena Franssen says
Oh wow, this looks amazing! I love the idea of serving this banana dessert for the holiday season!
Gladys Nava says
This recipe looks amazing! Can’t wait to try this recipe.! Yummiest!
Jen @ Inspiring Savings says
Thank you, Gladys. I do hope you love it.