Description
This festive Christmas Red Velvet Poke Cake combines the rich, classic flavor of red velvet cake with a creamy cheesecake pudding filling, topped with fluffy whipped topping and colorful sprinkles for a delightful holiday treat. Perfect for celebrations, this easy-to-make poke cake is moist, flavorful, and visually stunning.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake
- 1 box red velvet cake mix (plus eggs, oil, and water as required on the box)
Filling
- 1 package (3.4 oz) instant cheesecake or vanilla pudding mix
- 2 cups cold milk
Topping
- 1 container (8 oz) whipped topping, thawed
- Red and green sprinkles for garnish
- Optional: white chocolate curls or crushed peppermint for topping
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray to prevent sticking.
- Make the Cake Batter: Prepare the red velvet cake mix according to the package instructions, usually by mixing the cake mix with the required eggs, oil, and water.
- Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake as directed on the package, typically around 30 minutes. Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool for 5–10 minutes.
- Poke the Cake: Using the handle of a wooden spoon, poke holes evenly across the surface of the cake about 1 inch apart to create pockets for the pudding filling.
- Prepare the Pudding: In a medium bowl, whisk together the instant cheesecake or vanilla pudding mix with 2 cups of cold milk. Whisk until the mixture begins to thicken, approximately 2 minutes.
- Fill the Cake: Pour the pudding mixture evenly over the cake, allowing it to seep into the holes. Use a spatula to smooth the surface evenly over the cake.
- Chill: Refrigerate the cake for at least 2 hours to let the pudding set and the flavors meld.
- Add the Topping: Once chilled, spread the thawed whipped topping evenly over the cake surface.
- Garnish: Decorate with red and green sprinkles and optionally add white chocolate curls or crushed peppermint for a festive finish.
- Serve: Slice and serve chilled for a delicious holiday dessert.
Notes
- For extra richness, drizzle sweetened condensed milk over the cake before pouring the pudding mixture.
- This dessert can be prepared a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator, making it convenient for holiday gatherings.
