Unicorn Poke Cake (Printable)

A stunning rainbow dessert with colorful pudding pockets hidden inside fluffy confetti cake topped with clouds of whipped cream.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cake Base

01 - 1 box funfetti or vanilla cake mix (15.3 oz)
02 - Cake mix required ingredients (typically eggs, vegetable oil, water)

→ Colorful Pudding Filling

03 - 2 packages instant vanilla pudding mix (3.4 oz each)
04 - 4 cups cold milk
05 - Gel food coloring (pink, purple, blue, yellow)

→ Decorative Topping

06 - 1 tub whipped topping (8 oz), thawed
07 - Unicorn or colorful confetti sprinkles

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9x13-inch baking pan generously with non-stick cooking spray.
02 - Prepare cake batter according to package directions. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake for 25–30 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
03 - Remove cake from oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Using the handle end of a wooden spoon, poke holes every 1–2 inches across the entire surface of the warm cake.
04 - In a large bowl, whisk together both vanilla pudding mixes and cold milk for about 2 minutes until mixture begins to thicken slightly.
05 - Divide pudding mixture evenly among 4 separate bowls. Add a different gel food coloring to each bowl, stirring until you achieve vibrant, saturated colors.
06 - Spoon the colored puddings randomly into the poked holes, alternating colors to create a rainbow pattern throughout the cake.
07 - Spread the thawed whipped topping evenly over the entire surface of the cooled cake using a spatula.
08 - Generously sprinkle unicorn or colorful confetti sprinkles over the top. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before slicing to allow flavors to meld and pudding to set.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The surprise rainbow inside makes every slice feel like opening a present
  • Kids and adults alike get genuinely excited about cutting into it
  • It comes together faster than you would expect from something so show stopping
02 -
  • Warm cake absorbs the pudding better so do not let it cool completely before poking
  • The holes need to be big enough to hold pudding but not so big that the cake collapses
  • Gel food coloring is worth the extra trip to the store for that professional look
03 -
  • Put a baking sheet under your pan while filling the holes to catch any pudding overflow
  • Use a piping bag for the whipped topping if you want that Instagram worthy swirl pattern

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