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Boston Cream Poke Cake

This Boston Cream Poke Cake is so easy and scrumptious! Everyone will be raving over the delicious combination of yellow cake, vanilla pudding custard and chocolate glaze. Plan to take this one-pan dessert to your next gathering!

Easy Boston Cream Poke Cake recipe with delish chocolate ganache! Popular at potlucks!

Boston Cream Poke Cake

When I was a young child I was enamored with any and all desserts containing custard.

I was particularly captivated by Boston Cream Pie because it wasn’t a pie at all, it was a custard filled cake. And that layer of glorious, shiny chocolate—yum!

I learned to bake at a young age, but mastering egg-based sweets like custard and flan de queso wouldn’t come until I was older.

Easy Boston Cream Poke Cake recipe with delish chocolate ganache! Popular at potlucks!

If only I had known about this Boston Cream Poke Cake, I could have eaten it anytime the fancy struck! It’s seriously that simple to cook with boxed cake mix and instant pudding.

While I am now an avid baker, I’m not above using boxed mixes and hacks. If they make life easier and taste just as yummy, I’m all for it.

Easy Boston Cream Poke Cake recipe with delish chocolate ganache! Popular at potlucks!

My cute Lemon Sandwich Cookies start with a cake mix and they fly off the plate every time.

If you have one component that’s completely from scratch, it gives the whole thing a homemade flavor (the cookies have cream cheese frosting).

Easy Boston Cream Poke Cake recipe with delish chocolate ganache! Popular at potlucks!

With that in mind, I decided to make the chocolate glaze from scratch since I’m a bit of a chocoholic.

You could certainly use canned chocolate frosting if you want, but the chocolate ganache is simple enough that it doesn’t take much more than melting a few ingredients together.

The rest of the cake is equally quick and easy. Bake a cake according to the package instructions, then poke holes in it.

Easy Boston Cream Poke Cake recipe with delish chocolate ganache! Popular at potlucks!

Mix up some pudding and pour it over the cake. Do this before the pudding has completely set so the custard can drip all the way down into the pockets.

It all gets topped with that chocolate glaze and then sets up in fridge.

This Boston cream poke cake definitely tastes better if you let it sit overnight.

I’m an impatient person, so I usually can’t wait to dig in before something is done, but trust me the flavors come together in an amazing way!!

pin this to your cake board!

Easy Boston Cream Poke Cake recipe with delish chocolate ganache! Popular at potlucks!

Easy Boston Cream Poke Cake recipe with delish chocolate ganache! Popular at potlucks!

Boston Cream Poke Cake

Yield: 15-18
Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

This Boston Cream Poke Cake is so easy and scrumptious! Everyone will be raving over the delicious combination of yellow cake, vanilla pudding custard and chocolate glaze.

Ingredients

  • 1 box yellow cake mix (plus ingredients to prepare)
  • 2 small boxes (3.4oz) vanilla pudding
  • 4 cups milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 1/3 cups (8oz) chocolate chips
  • 1 tablespoon corn syrup
  • 1 cup heavy cream

Instructions

  • Prepare and bake the cake in a 13x9 pan according to the package instructions. Let cool for 15 minutes before poking holes across the cake with the bottom of a wooden spoon. Be sure to poke all the way to the bottom of the pan.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together pudding, milk and vanilla for 2 minutes. Pour over cake in an even layer, poking down into the holes if necessary. Refrigerate while preparing chocolate glaze.
  • Place the chocolate chips and corn syrup in a heat-proof bowl. In a small saucepan over low heat, warm the cream until it simmers, stirring occasionally. Pour over chocolate chips and let sit for 2 minutes to melt. Whisk until smooth. Let cool for 10 minutes, then pour over cake and smooth with a spatula. Chill cake for 4 hours or overnight before serving.
  • Notes

    Time does not include time needed for chilling.

    Did you make this recipe?

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    This recipe first appeared on Amanda’s Cookin’ as a guest contribution by Kitchen Gidget.

    Maggie

    Saturday 21st of October 2023

    Hi There, had to adjust midway through the recipe because I accidentally bought cook and serve pudding- figured out I should have bought instant. Otherwise the recipe tasted great. Thank you!

    Gwen

    Tuesday 28th of November 2017

    Hi. I will make my own vanilla pudding but do we pour it over the cake while its still hot or does it have to cool off first? Also, what can I substitute with the corn syrup because I don't have any? Or can I just omit it? Thanks!

    Rebekah

    Wednesday 29th of November 2017

    Hi Gwen! I pour the pudding on while it's still slightly warm so it soaks a little more, but completely cool is fine too. If you don't have corn syrup I would just omit it. The glaze may be a little more firm and less shiny, but it will still be delicious!

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