Unicorn Poke Cake (Printable Version)

A magical, colorful dessert featuring moist confetti cake with vibrant pudding layers and whipped topping.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cake

01 - 1 box funfetti or vanilla cake mix (about 15 oz)
02 - Ingredients required for cake mix (usually eggs, oil, water; check box)

→ Poke 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)

→ Topping

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

# Step-by-Step:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare a 9x13-inch baking pan with non-stick spray.
02 - Prepare the cake batter according to package instructions. Pour into the prepared pan and bake 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
03 - Remove cake from oven. Let cool for 10 minutes.
04 - Using the end of a wooden spoon, poke holes every 1–2 inches across the warm cake.
05 - In a large bowl, whisk together pudding mixes and cold milk until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
06 - Divide pudding evenly among 4 bowls. Tint each bowl with a different gel food coloring, mixing until vibrant.
07 - Spoon the colored puddings into the holes randomly to create a rainbow effect.
08 - Spread the whipped topping evenly over the cooled cake.
09 - Top with unicorn or colorful sprinkles.
10 - Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before slicing and serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The surprise of cutting into an ordinary-looking cake and finding hidden rainbow pockets inside never gets old, and it makes you look like you spent hours on something that took minutes
  • This is one of those rare desserts that's almost as fun to make as it is to eat, especially if you've got little helpers who want to help create the rainbow effect
02 -
  • The cake must be warm when you poke the holes but not hot, because if it's too hot the pudding will make everything soggy, but if it's completely cool the pudding won't absorb properly into the cake
  • Gel food coloring is absolutely worth the extra cost because liquid coloring will make your pudding too runny and you'll end up with a sad, pale rainbow instead of those vibrant jewel tones
03 -
  • Set your mixing bowls and pudding ingredients out about 10 minutes before you start so the milk isn't ice-cold, which helps the pudding set up faster and incorporate the coloring more evenly
  • If you're worried about the colors bleeding together too much, let each colored pudding sit for about 5 minutes before spooning it into the cake so it thickens up slightly

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