Boston Cream Poke Cake

Name: Boston Cream Poke Cake
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 33 min
Total time: 303 min
Ingredients: 1 Box white cake mix (Duncan Hines Perfectly Moist); 1 Cup water; ½ Cup vegetable oil; 3 eggs (at room temperature); 1 Box instant pudding mix (French Vanilla, 3.4 Ounce box ); 1¾ Cup whole milk; 8 Ounces semisweet chocolate (or dark, high quality, roughly chopped); 1 Cup heavy cream; 2 Tablespoons corn syrup (light)

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With its moist yellow cake, creamy vanilla filling, and fudgy chocolate frosting, a Boston cream poke cake is a show-stopping dessert that even new bakers can master. This three-phase cake is easy to make thanks to the box cake mix and French vanilla pudding. This easy cake recipe captures all the flavors of a classic Boston cream pie but in an easy-to-make poke cake form. This easy dessert is perfect for picnics, potlucks, and all your family gatherings.

A piece of a Boston cream poke cake, sits on a small stack of plates next to a checked napkin and bowl of pudding.

Boston cream poke cake is made with layers of soft cake, a silky pudding and a homemade chocolate ganache.

If you like easy semi-homemade desserts, try this decadent brownie batter dip or this delicious coffee cake made with cake mix. More delicious treats include banana bread crumb cake and coconut cream poke cake.

A slice of Boston cream pie poke cake with a chocolate topping and yellow middle layer is lifted from a tray with a spatula. Two bottles with striped straws stand in the background.

Why You’ll Love It

Decadent layers: The combination of moist cake, creamy vanilla pudding, and rich chocolate frosting creates an indulgent, multi-layered dessert experience.
Fun and easy dessert: Using a cake mix and instant vanilla pudding mix simplifies the process, making it accessible even for novice bakers.
Make-ahead friendly: This cake can be prepared in advance, and its flavors meld together beautifully when it sits. It’s a great make-ahead Boston cream pie cake for parties and gatherings.
Looks incredible: The pretty layers and creamy, oozy filling look next-level good.

A slice of Boston cream poke cake with chocolate icing is placed on a white decorative plate, with a fork nearby.

Ingredients for Boston Cream Poke Cake

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

White cake mix: This mix serves as the base for the cake, providing a light and fluffy texture. Duncan Hines (Perfectly Moist) is a reliable brand known for its consistent and moist cake results. Choose a white over a yellow cake mix.
Vegetable oil: Adds moisture and tenderness to the cake, ensuring it stays soft and rich.
Eggs: Eggs contribute to the structure and stability of the cake. Using them at room temperature helps them blend more easily into the batter, promoting even baking.
Instant French vanilla pudding mix: This mix thickens into a creamy filling infused into the cake’s holes, adding a luscious vanilla taste.
Whole milk: Used to prepare the pudding mix, whole milk adds richness and enhances the creamy texture.
High-quality dark or semisweet chocolate chips: This forms the ganache topping. Using high-quality dark or semi sweet chocolate chips or whole chocolate ensures a smooth, glossy finish with a deep, rich chocolate flavor.
Heavy cream: Combined with the chocolate to make the ganache, heavy cream adds smoothness and richness, making the chocolate frosting luxuriously creamy.
Light corn syrup: This helps stabilize the ganache, giving it a shiny finish and smooth texture. It also prevents the chocolate from crystallizing.

Top-down view of baking ingredients on a marble surface, showcasing essentials for a Boston cream poke cake.

How to Make Boston Cream Poke Cake

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Make the Sponge Cake Layer

Prepare the oven and baking pan: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13×9-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and set it aside.
Make the batter: Mix the boxed cake mix, water, oil, and eggs in a large bowl until smooth.
Bake the box mix cake: Pour into a greased 13″ x 9″ pan and bake at 350 degrees for 33 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes clean. Set aside on a cooling rack to cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Cool the cake: Once the cake is cooled to room temperature, use the end handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes, at least 24 to 30, into the cake. The holes should be slightly large enough to hold the pudding but not so large that they cause the cake to fall apart.

A piece of Boston cream pie poke cake, rich with chocolate and yellow custard, is being lifted from a glass baking dish with a spatula. The dish is filled with similar slices, while a bowl of custard sits in the background.

Make the Pudding Layer

Mix the pudding: Mix the instant pudding mix until it’s smooth. Very quickly, while it is thin, pour pudding and spread this mixture over the cooled cake holes, ensuring the pudding mix gets into each hole. Do not wait to pour the pudding into the cake holes – the last 1/2 cup of pudding mix will thicken and be able to be spread on top of the cake.
Refrigerate: Cover the cake with any remaining pudding and refrigerate uncovered for at least 1 hour.

A close-up of sliced Boston cream poke cake in a glass baking dish, with some pieces removed.

Make the Ganache

Melt the chocolate and other liquid ingredients: Place the chopped chocolate into a heat-resistant mixing bowl and set aside. In a small pot over medium heat, combine the heavy cream and the corn syrup and bring to a low boil. Then, reduce the temperature to low to simmer for 3 minutes, whisking continuously. Remove from heat.
Add cream to chocolate: Pour hot cream mixture over the chopped chocolate and cover the bowl with plastic wrap for about 5 minutes. The warmth of the cream mixture will melt the chocolate; do not start stirring the chocolate until after 5 minutes.
Melt the chocolate: After 5 minutes, unwrap and slowly whisk until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth. This takes about 2 minutes to come together. If the ganache is still warm, allow it to sit and rest for 5 minutes.
Finish the cake: Pour and spread the chocolate ganache over the cake to completely cover it. Cover and chill for at least 3 hours or overnight for the chocolate to set.

A spatula holds a square piece of Boston cream poke cake with chocolate on top, lifted from a glass baking dish containing similarly cut pieces.

Substitutions and Variations

An alternative to French Vanilla pudding mix: For a different flavor, use regular vanilla or chocolate pudding mix. Prepare homemade vanilla custard or pastry cream for a more authentic Boston cream filling.
Light corn syrup: You can use honey or agave syrup, though this may slightly alter the flavor and texture. If you prefer a ganache without corn syrup, you can leave it out entirely, though it may be less shiny and smooth.
Presentation: Bake the cake in a bundt pan for a different shape and an elegant presentation. Create individual servings by making the cake in cupcake tins and poking holes in each cupcake for the pudding filling.

A slice of a Boston cream poke cake, accompanied by a glass of milk and a bowl of custard.

Serving Suggestions

Appetizer: Kick off with a loaded platter of steak nachos or smoked spiced shrimp.
Main: Enjoy a steaming bowl of slow cooker cowboy beans as a main, or try out this rigatoni pie. Another must-try is this Philly cheesesteak recipe.
Dessert: End the meal with a slice (or two) of this incredible Boston cream poke cake with chocolate ganache.

A spatula holds a square piece of poke cake with yellow filling and a chocolate top layer. The rest of the cake is partially visible in the background.

How to Store Boston Cream Pie Poke Cake

Store: After baking, leftover pieces of this cake can be wrapped or stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Freezer: To freeze it, wrap it well in plastic wrap and aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn.
Thaw: Pop the frozen cake in the refrigerator and let it thaw overnight.

A slice of yellow cake with chocolate frosting sits on a plate. A fork has a small piece of the cake. Two additional cake slices and a glass of milk are in the background.

Top Tips

Room temperature ingredients: Use eggs at room temperature before mixing; this helps them incorporate better into the batter, resulting in a more even and airy cake.
Smooth pudding: Whisk the mix thoroughly to eliminate lumps before pouring it over the cake, ensuring a smooth and creamy filling.
Proper poking: Use the end of a wooden spoon or a similar-sized utensil to poke large, evenly spaced holes in the cake, allowing the pudding to seep in properly.
Chill time: After adding the pudding, allow the cake to chill in the refrigerator to let it set and soak into the cake, enhancing the overall texture and flavor.
Covering the cake: Do not cover the cake with plastic wrap, as it will cling to the chocolate.

A glass baking dish filled with a sumptuous poke cake recipe, topped with chocolate frosting. Nearby, a spatula, a black and white checkered cloth, a plate with three forks, and a bowl of yellow dessert sauce rest on the marble surface.

Boston Cream Poke Cake FAQ

What is the best type of pan to cook the cake in for this recipe?

A nonstick metal pan or glass pan works very well for this recipe. If a ceramic casserole dish is used, the cooking time should be increased to ensure the bottom of the cake is fully cooked.

I only have a regular vanilla pudding mix: can that be used as a substitute for the French vanilla?

Yes, you can use an instant vanilla pudding. However, the color of vanilla pudding may be similar to the color of the cake, so visually, you may not see the Boston cream pie coloring in pieces.

What is the best type of chocolate to use for the top layer?

I prefer Ghirardelli dark chocolate 60% bars. This quality melts very smoothly, and it’s the only type of chocolate I use when adding chocolate frosting to recipes.

Why does the chocolate ganache need to cool?

It is suggested that the chocolate be spread all over the top; as it is added to the cold pudding, it will start to set.

A fork holding a piece of yellow cake with chocolate frosting above a plate; the piece appears moist and spongy with more cake and frosting in the background.

Boston Cream Poke Cake Recipe

Make this surprisingly simple yet super impressive layer cake. Of all the Boston cream poke cake recipes, this is one of the easiest and yummiest ones. Sponge cake, pudding, and a rich chocolate frosting ganache feature in this decadent dessert.

Other Sweet Recipes To Try

Make an easy-going cake mix coffee cake as soon as possible.
Strawberry bundt cakes: So cute, so sweet.
A batch of carrot cake cupcakes is the perfect brunch treat.
Limoncello bundt cake: A luscious lemon cake.
Bake a lemon ricotta Amaretti budino for a beautiful Italian cake.

Bella Bucchiotti

Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.

Boston Cream Poke Cake

Why You’ll Love It

Ingredients for Boston Cream Poke Cake