Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Orange Poke Cake Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.1 from 134 reviews

  • Author: Amina
  • Total Time: 4 hours 50 minutes
  • Yield: 12 servings

Description

This Orange Poke Cake is a delightful and refreshing dessert that combines a moist white cake infused with a sweet and tangy mandarin orange soak, topped with a creamy vanilla pudding and whipped topping mixture studded with juicy mandarin orange pieces. Perfect for gatherings and special occasions, it offers a perfect balance of citrus flavor and smooth texture with an easy-to-make method that yields a crowd-pleasing treat.

Ingredients

Cake

  • 1 box white cake mix
  • Egg whites, oil, and water (amounts as directed on the cake mix box)
  • 3 ounce box orange Jell-O

Soak

  • 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
  • 3/4 cup mandarin orange juice (reserved from the 15 ounce can)

Topping

  • 3.4 ounce box French vanilla instant pudding mix
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 8 ounce tub whipped topping (Cool Whip)
  • 15 ounce can mandarin oranges, drained (juice reserved for soak)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the baking dish: Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray that contains flour to prevent the cake from sticking.
  2. Make the cake batter: In a mixing bowl, prepare the white cake mix according to the package instructions using egg whites, oil, and water. Add the dry orange Jell-O mix to the batter and stir well to combine. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly.
  3. Bake the cake: Bake the cake in a preheated oven according to the temperature and time specified on the cake mix box, usually around 350°F for 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  4. Make the soak: While the cake is baking, in a medium bowl whisk together the sweetened condensed milk and the reserved 3/4 cup mandarin orange juice until fully combined and smooth.
  5. Poke the cake: Once the cake comes out of the oven, allow it to cool for about 5 minutes, then use a chopstick, skewer, or similar tool to poke holes evenly all over the surface of the cake.
  6. Apply the soak: Pour the condensed milk and mandarin orange juice mixture evenly over the cake, focusing on the holes to help the soak penetrate fully. Use all the soak mixture.
  7. Cool the cake completely: Let the cake sit at room temperature until it has cooled completely and absorbed the soak, approximately 30-45 minutes or until no longer warm to touch.
  8. Prepare the topping: In a large bowl, whisk together the French vanilla instant pudding mix and whole milk. Do not let it set. Immediately fold in the whipped topping until the mixture is smooth with no white streaks.
  9. Add mandarin oranges: Gently stir in the drained mandarin orange pieces. Break up the oranges to desired size for the topping texture.
  10. Top the cake: Spread the creamy orange topping evenly over the cooled cake surface.
  11. Chill the cake: Cover the cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 to 4 hours, or up to overnight, allowing the flavors to meld and the topping to set.
  12. Serve: Slice the cake into 12 servings. Optionally, garnish each slice with additional mandarin orange slices for presentation. Serve chilled and enjoy.

Notes

  • Use egg whites instead of whole eggs to reduce fat content in the cake while maintaining moistness.
  • Do not allow the pudding mixture to set before folding in whipped topping and spreading; work quickly for best texture.
  • Longer chilling times improve flavor melding and soak penetration for a moist, tender cake.
  • The poke method allows the soak to infuse the cake deeply, resulting in a more flavorful dessert.
  • For a lighter topping, you can substitute the whole milk with 2% milk, but this may slightly affect pudding firmness.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://aminabakes.com/orange-poke-cake-recipe/