• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Browse Recipes:
  • Appetizers
  • Drinks
  • Cookies
  • Cakes
  • Cupcakes
  • All Recipes »

Baking Beauty logo

  • ^ Back to Top
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Media Kit
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Browse Recipes
  • Appetizers
  • Drinks
  • Cookies
  • Cakes
  • Cupcakes
  • All Recipes
×

Recipes » Desserts » Cakes » Banana Pudding Poke Cake

Published: Oct 25, 2021 by Krystle Smith · This post may contain affiliate links

Banana Pudding Poke Cake

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Moist banana cake topped with a generous amount of whipped cream and sprinkled with vanilla wafers. This banana pudding cake has all the flavors you love in an easy-to-make poke cake.

banana cake filled with banana pudding and topped with cool whip and crushed vanilla wafers.

Banana Pudding is one of our all-time favorite desserts. It is the perfect ending to a Sunday Supper or a great late-night treat. (What don’t pretend like you don’t get the munchies for sweets at midnight too). One of the first Banana Pudding Recipes was published by Mary Harris Frazer in 1903. We’ve been loving it ever since.

This banana pudding poke cake is one of the best desserts you’ll ever have. Seriously. It’s so good, you’ll make this recipe again and again.

We’re talking about a moist cake with layers of banana pudding and whipped cream that melts in your mouth. It is heaven on the tongue. I like to top mine with vanilla wafers and sliced bananas.  It goes over well at parties, picnics, and potlucks.  If you like poke cakes stick around and check out my death by chocolate cake, and my oreo poke cake too.

Table Of Contents hide
1 Why You’ll Love This Cake
2 What Is a Poke Cake?
3 Ingredient Notes
4 How To Make Banana Pudding Poke Cake
5 How To Quickly Ripen Bananas
6 Make-Ahead
7 Leftovers
8 Pro Baking Tips
9 Craving more cake?
10 Banana Pudding Poke Cake
11 Ingredient Notes
12 Pro Baking Tips

Why You’ll Love This Cake

  • Easy: This recipe doesn’t require any fancy techniques. Even the topping can be easily spread smooth with a spatula.
  • Common Ingredients: This recipe starts with a box mix and other pantry ingredients.
  • No Special Equipment: No mixer required, I used a wooden spoon.
  • Super Moist: This cake is moist with rich banana flavor in every bite.
  • Bonus: You can use up those bananas that have seen better days from your kitchen counter!

What Is a Poke Cake?

A poke cake is an American dessert that became popular in the 1970s thanks to Jello. It is usually a sheet cake with holes poked in the top. Then it is filled with jello, pudding, or sweetened condensed milk. This leads to a moist and flavorful cake.

Ingredient Notes

  • Banana Pudding: Be sure to use Instant pudding, not cook and serve or it will not thicken.
  • Bananas: You want them too ripe, but not too brown. Check your grocery store sometimes they sell ripe bananas in bulk for a discount.
  • Milk: For best results use whole milk. If using plant-based milk you’ll usually need to cut the amount in half.
  • Cake Mix: I like the flavor and color of yellow cake mix for this recipe, but feel free to use your favorite.

a bite of banana pudding poke cake on a fork with the cake below on a black plate.

How To Make Banana Pudding Poke Cake

  1. Prep work: Preheat oven and line and grease pan.
  2. Make cake batter: Combine cake mix. ingredients called for on the box and bananas.
  3. Bake: Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  4. Make Filling: Combine pudding and mik. Pour over cake.
  5. Top: Top with cool whip, vanilla wafers, and sliced bananas.

How To Quickly Ripen Bananas

  • Quick: Put the bananas in a brown paper bag with an apple or banana that is already ripe.
  • Quickest: Peel and place them in the microwave for 10 seconds on high power.

a slice of banana pudding poke cake topped with cool whip and vanilla wafers.

Make-Ahead

Poke cakes are perfect to make ahead and are actually better the second day. The benefit of making it ahead is that you can avoid some of the prep work on a busy evening. All the more time for relaxing with family and friends over this delicious dessert! Makeup to 2 days in advance.  

Leftovers

Storage: Store in the fridge for up to 4 days. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap.

Freeze: Freeze for up to 3 months. I suggest freezing without the sliced bananas and vanilla wafers. Thaw overnight in the fridge.

 

Pro Baking Tips

  1. Check with the produce guru at your grocery store. Mine has super cheap ripe bananas once a week that are perfect for baking!
  2. Line your baking pan with foil for easy cleanup.
  3. Poke holes using the handle of a wooden spoon.
  4. Poke holes around 1-2 inches apart to ensure flavor in every bite.
  5. Cool the cake completely before adding the whipped topping or it will melt off.
  6. Add bananas just to the slices you’ll be serving so they don’t turn brown. You can also dip them in a bit of lemon juice to prevent this.

 


Craving more cake?

Chocolate Cake With Chocolate Buttercream

Boston Cream Poke Cake

Chocolate Cherry Cake Recipe

Cherry Dr. Pepper Cake

Lemon pound cake

Still Hungry? Follow Baking Beauty on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram so you don’t miss a recipe. Subscribe to our newsletter too!

Banana Pudding Poke Cake

Moist banana cake topped with whipped topping and vanilla wafer crumbs.
5 from 8 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 38 minutes
Total Time: 58 minutes
Servings: 16 Slices
Calories: 218kcal
Author: Krystle Smith

Ingredients

  • 1 Box Yellow Cake Mix + Ingredients called for on the box
  • 4 Ripe Bananas Mashed
  • 2 Boxes Instant Banana Pudding
  • 3 Cups Whole Milk
  • 8 Ounces Extra Creamy Cool Whip Thawed
  • 2 Bananas Sliced
  • 1 Cup Vanilla wafers Crushed
Don't lose this recipe. Pin for later!

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and dust a 9x13 pan with flour.
  • In a large bowl, combine cake mix, ingredients called for on the box, and bananas until well combined.
  • Bake for 38-40 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Immediately poke holes in cake using the handle of a wooden spoon.
  • Whisk milk and pudding mix together until thickened.
  • Pour pudding mix over top of cake. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
  • Serve with cool whip, sliced bananas, and crushed vanilla wafers.
  • Store in the refrigerator.

Notes

Ingredient Notes

  • Banana Pudding: Be sure to use Instant pudding, not cook and serve or it will not thicken.
  • Bananas: You want them too ripe, but not too brown. Check your grocery store sometimes they sell ripe bananas in bulk for a discount.
  • Milk: For best results use whole milk. If using plant-based milk you'll usually need to cut the amount in half.
  • Cake Mix: I like the flavor and color of yellow cake mix for this recipe, but feel free to use your favorite.

Pro Baking Tips

  1. Check with the produce guru at your grocery store. Mine has super cheap ripe bananas once a week that are perfect for baking!
  2. Line your baking pan with foil for easy cleanup.
  3. Poke holes using the handle of a wooden spoon.
  4. Poke holes around 1-2 inches apart to ensure flavor in every bite.
  5. Cool the cake completely before adding the whipped topping or it will melt off.
  6. Add bananas just to the slices you'll be serving so they don't turn brown. You can also dip them in a bit of lemon juice to prevent this.

Nutrition

Calories: 218kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 283mg | Potassium: 240mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 102IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 122mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe? I want to see!Mention @BakingBeautyBlog or tag #BakingBeauty!

 

Pin770
Share177
Tweet
Yum66
1K Shares
« Strawberry Poke Cake
Frozen Strawberry Margaritas »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sandra says

    October 24, 2021 at 3:45 pm

    5 stars
    This is seriously amazing! A huge hit dessert at my house!

    Reply
  2. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

    October 22, 2021 at 10:46 am

    5 stars
    This Banana Pudding needs to happen at my house very soon!!

    Reply
  3. Beth says

    October 22, 2021 at 6:37 am

    5 stars
    Delicious and easy is a combination I’m always on the lookout for. I love that it’s so simple, but it has flavors that would make it perfect for even holiday parties.

    Reply
  4. Amanda says

    October 21, 2021 at 7:46 pm

    Oh my this looks amazing. I will be making it with the kids this weekend!

    Reply
  5. Kasey says

    October 14, 2020 at 3:46 pm

    5 stars
    My new favorite cake.

    Reply
  6. 2pots2cook says

    September 21, 2017 at 5:05 am

    Pinned to Night Time Snacking 🙂 🙂 🙂 Thank you !

    Reply
    • Krystle says

      April 13, 2018 at 11:07 pm

      My favorite time of the day! Thanks for pinning.

      Reply

Let know what you think Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

Welcome to my site Beautiful! Here I share sweet and savory recipes made without fancy equipment, or hard to find ingredients. I firmly believe the best tools in the kitchen are your 2 hands. I refuse to skimp on the butter, sugar, or love! Romans 8:28

10 Fun Facts About Me

Let's Be Friends

Facebook

Like

Instagram

Follow

Pinterest

Follow

Twitter

Follow

Reader Favorites

Easy Cronuts Recipe

Zeppole

Zepoole Recipe

Blue Hawaiian Recipe

Cosmic Brownies

Amaretto Sour

best amaretto sour recipe

Reese’s Cake

reeses cake

Bible Verse of the Day

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Psalm 32:8

Summer Favorites

Frog Eye Salad

frog eye salad

Cheesecake Salad

Pork Belly Burnt Ends

smoked pork belly burnt ends

Mexican Street Corn

Broccoli Salad With Bacon

Watermelon Cake

Footer

^ back to top

Featured In

Privacy and Disclosure Policies | Accessibility Statement

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.