Get ready to discover your new favorite holiday dessert! This Christmas Red Velvet Poke Cake is the ultimate festive treat, combining the rich flavor of red velvet with a creamy, dreamy white chocolate pudding filling and a luscious cream cheese frosting. It’s incredibly easy to make, stunning to look at, and guaranteed to be the star of any Christmas party or family gathering. If you want a showstopper dessert without the stress, this is the recipe for you.
We start with a simple red velvet cake mix, bake it to perfection, and then poke holes across the top. A decadent mixture of white chocolate pudding and sweetened condensed milk soaks into the cake, making it unbelievably moist. Topped with a classic cream cheese frosting and a sprinkle of festive red and green, it’s a dessert that truly captures the magic of the season.
Why You’ll Love This Christmas Red Velvet Poke Cake
- Incredibly Moist: The pudding filling seeps into every nook and cranny, creating a super moist and tender crumb that melts in your mouth.
- Perfectly Festive: With its deep red color and festive sprinkles, this cake looks as good as it tastes and is perfect for any holiday celebration.
- Easy to Make: Using a box of cake mix saves time and effort, making this a fantastic recipe for bakers of all skill levels. It’s a simple way to create an impressive dessert.
- Crowd-Pleasing Flavor: The classic combination of red velvet and cream cheese frosting is a guaranteed hit with both kids and adults.
What is a Poke Cake?
A poke cake is a simple yet brilliant concept. It’s a cake that you bake and then, while still warm, poke holes all over the surface using the handle of a wooden spoon or a large fork. You then pour a liquid filling—like pudding, Jell-O, or a sweet sauce—over the top. The filling soaks down into the holes, infusing the entire cake with extra flavor and moisture. It’s a fun and easy technique that transforms a basic cake into something truly special.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe comes together with a few simple, easy-to-find ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to grab:
For the Red Velvet Cake
- Red Velvet Cake Mix: One standard box (around 15.25 oz) is the perfect shortcut.
- Ingredients for Cake Mix: Follow the package directions, which typically call for water, vegetable oil, and eggs.
For the Filling & Topping
- Instant White Chocolate Pudding Mix: This creates a sweet, creamy filling that perfectly complements the red velvet.
- Milk: Used to prepare the pudding mix.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: Adds richness and an almost caramel-like sweetness to the filling.
- Cream Cheese: The base of our tangy, delicious frosting. Make sure it’s softened to room temperature for a smooth consistency.
- Unsalted Butter: Also softened, to add structure and flavor to the frosting.
- Powdered Sugar: To sweeten the frosting.
- Vanilla Extract: A splash enhances all the other flavors.
- Christmas Sprinkles: For that essential festive finishing touch!
How to Make The Perfect Christmas Red Velvet Poke Cake
Follow these simple steps to create a showstopping holiday dessert.
- Bake the Cake: Prepare and bake the red velvet cake mix according to the package directions in a 9×13 inch baking pan. Let it cool for about 15-20 minutes.
- Poke the Holes: Using the round handle of a wooden spoon, poke holes all over the top of the warm cake, about an inch apart.
- Prepare the Filling: In a medium bowl, whisk together the instant pudding mix and milk until it starts to thicken. Whisk in the sweetened condensed milk until smooth.
- Fill the Cake: Immediately pour the pudding mixture evenly over the cake, using a spatula to gently spread it and guide it into the holes.
- Chill: Cover the cake and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or until the filling is firm and the cake is completely chilled.
- Make the Frosting: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar until smooth, then mix in the vanilla extract.
- Frost and Decorate: Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the chilled cake. Decorate with a generous amount of Christmas sprinkles.
- Serve: Slice, serve, and enjoy the best Christmas Red Velvet Poke Cake ever!
Expert Tips for the Best Results
- Don’t Overbake the Cake: Keep a close eye on the cake to ensure it stays moist even before the filling is added.
- Poke Holes While Warm: Poking the cake while it’s still warm helps the filling absorb more easily.
- Chill Thoroughly: Don’t rush the chilling time! A well-chilled cake allows the filling to set properly, making it easier to frost and serve clean slices.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: For the smoothest cream cheese frosting, make sure your butter and cream cheese are fully softened before mixing.
More Festive Desserts to Try
Looking for more holiday baking inspiration? These recipes are sure to bring some cheer to your dessert table. Try these amazing Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars for a classic treat, or whip up this delicious Easy Christmas Fudge Recipe. For a simple yet elegant option, this No-Bake Peppermint Cheesecake is always a winner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! This cake is perfect for making ahead. You can prepare it a day or two in advance and keep it covered in the refrigerator. The flavors will meld together and it will be even more delicious.
Absolutely! While white chocolate pudding is delicious, you could also use vanilla or even cheesecake-flavored instant pudding for a different twist.
Using a box cake mix makes this recipe quick and easy, which is perfect for the busy holiday season. However, you can certainly substitute your favorite from-scratch red velvet cake recipe baked in a 9×13 pan.
Store any leftovers tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Due to the cream cheese frosting and pudding filling, it should not be left at room temperature for extended periods.
Besides sprinkles, you could top this cake with white chocolate shavings, crushed peppermint candies, or even some mini chocolate chips for extra texture and flavor.
The Perfect Holiday Treat
This Christmas Red Velvet Poke Cake isn’t just a dessert; it’s a festive experience waiting to happen. It’s the perfect recipe to bring to a holiday potluck, serve after Christmas dinner, or simply enjoy with family. Easy, delicious, and beautiful—it’s everything a holiday dessert should be. We hope you love making it as much as we do!
If you try this recipe, we’d love to see it! Share a photo on Pinterest and let us know what you think in the comments below!
Christmas Red Velvet Poke Cake
Christmas Red Velvet Poke Cake (Easy Holiday Recipe)
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- Prepare and bake the red velvet cake mix according to package directions in a 9x13 inch baking pan. Let the cake cool in the pan for 15-20 minutes.
- Using the round handle of a wooden spoon, poke holes evenly across the top of the warm cake, about one inch apart.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the instant white chocolate pudding mix and cold milk until it begins to thicken. Whisk in the sweetened condensed milk until the mixture is smooth.
- Immediately pour the pudding mixture over the top of the cake, using a spatula to spread it evenly and push it into the holes.
- Cover the pan and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or overnight, until the cake is fully chilled and the filling has set.
- To make the frosting, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing until just combined. Add the vanilla extract, then increase the speed to high and beat for 2-3 minutes until smooth and creamy.
- Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top of the chilled cake. Garnish with Christmas sprinkles before slicing and serving.
Notes
Tip 2: For extra clean slices, chill the frosted cake for 30 minutes before serving. This helps the frosting set completely.
Tip 3: You can substitute vanilla pudding for white chocolate if you prefer or cannot find it.
