Description
Make your holidays extra sweet with this Peppermint Poke Cake—a festive dessert that’s rich, creamy, and full of cool mint flavor. With layers of moist chocolate cake, silky pudding, and peppermint whipped topping, it’s the perfect easy recipe for Christmas, winter parties, or anytime you’re craving something cheerful. Great for make-ahead treats, quick desserts, or fun food ideas for kids. This is one of the best easy dinner ideas or sweet additions to any holiday spread.
Ingredients
1 box chocolate cake mix
3 large eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup water
1 package (3.9 oz) instant chocolate pudding mix
2 cups cold milk
1 tub (8 oz) Cool Whip, thawed
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 cup crushed candy canes
Instructions
1. Preheat oven and prepare chocolate cake mix with eggs, oil, and water according to package directions. Pour into a greased 9×13″ pan and bake.
2. Let the cake cool slightly, then use the end of a spoon to poke holes all over the cake.
3. Whisk pudding mix with cold milk until slightly thickened. Pour evenly over the warm cake, allowing it to fill the holes.
4. Chill the cake in the fridge for 1 hour to let the pudding set.
5. Stir peppermint extract into Cool Whip. Mix gently until smooth.
6. Spread peppermint Cool Whip evenly over the chilled cake.
7. Sprinkle crushed candy canes generously on top.
8. Chill the cake for another hour before serving for clean, firm slices.
Notes
Always chill after adding pudding and topping for best texture.
Add the candy canes just before serving to keep them crunchy.
Peppermint extract is strong—start with 1/4 tsp and adjust if needed.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 34g
- Sodium: 360mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 55mg