Unicorn Poke Cake is a fun rainbow cake made from a box cake mix, vanilla pudding and a whipped cream frosting topped with colorful sprinkles that makes my inner unicorn completely delighted!
My daughter requested something a little different this year for her Birthday! She wanted something with pink and rainbows, sprinkles galore and whipped cream so we created this delicious cake that is totally girly and so simple. Works perfect for a unicorn themed Birthday party. Plus, you don’t need any sort of cake decorating skill to nail it!
Also try these Cake Batter Rice Krispie Wands from Leggings ‘N’ Lattes for the ultimate girly party treats.
You may remember that Chocolate Poke Cake from a few weeks back and this poke cake is the same idea. Start with a yummy cake baked in a 9 x 13 inch pan, then poke holes in it using the back of a wooden spoon. Top that with a layer of pudding and then comes the frosting.
Unicorn Poke Cake
My favorite part of this Unicorn Poke Cake are the vibrant colors inside! Aren’t they just beautiful? You can use any color combination you want. My daughter picked yellow, pink, purple and blue and it turned out really nice.
Whipped Cream Frosting
My daughter isn’t a huge fan of traditional buttercream frosting. This Whipped Cream Frosting was just right since she is a whipped cream kind of girl and it adds a really light, fluffy layer that works really well with this dessert. A great whipped cream takes just a little patience to beat the heavy cream until it sets up to that perfect consistency. Add some gelatin to the mix for a more stable topping!
Unicorn Poke Cake
Ingredients
Rainbow Cake
- 1 box white cake mix
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup whole milk
- food dye pink, purple, yellow, blue
- non-stick cooking spray
Vanilla Pudding
- 5.1 ounce vanilla pudding instant
- 3 cups whole milk
Whipped Cream Frosting
- 1 cup confectioners sugar
- 3 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 Tablespoon unflavored gelatin
- 6 Tablespoons hot water
Garnish
- rainbow sprinkles
Instructions
Unicorn Poke Cake
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Use a hand or stand mixer to beat the softened butter until creamy. Add the remaining cake ingredients (milk, cake mix and eggs) and lightly beat until you have a nice, consistent batter.
- Place the batter into four bowls (or a bowl for each color you are using). Add food dye to each bowl and stir until color is consistent.
- Spray the 13 x 9 inch pan with non-stick spray and spoon the batters into it switching colors between each spoonful. Take the spoon and smooth out the top when finished.
- Bake for 28- 30 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let cool.
- Once cooled, use the bottom of a wooden spoon to gently poke holes throughout the cake.
- Make your pudding. Add a box of pudding powder to cold milk and stir until it begin to set up. Immediately pour the pudding over cake. Smooth out the top.
- Set the cake in fridge for at least 30 minutes to chill.
Whipped Cream Frosting
- As the cake is chilling, place the beaters and a mixing bowl into freezer.
- Once the beaters and bowl are chilled, assemble the hand or stand mixer and start the frosting. Beat the heavy whipping cream and confectioners sugar for 3-5 minutes. You want a stiff peak to form where when you lift the beaters, the frosting will stand straight up with a slight curl.
- In a small bowl, add 6 Tablespoons hot water and 1 Tablespoon unflavored gelatin. Mix together until dissolved. Add the mixture to the whipped cream frosting and beat again.
Finishing Touch
- Frost the cake with the whipped cream frosting and smooth the top.
- Add sprinkles! Refrigerate until serving.
I hope this cake gets the unicorn inside you super excited! Let me know in the comments below about the gathering you will be mixing this cake up for!
Hey Amber,
Thank you for this amazing recipe. Just wanted to let you know that your recipe is featured on our new series here:
https://www.impilos.com/unicorn-cake-recipes/
We have listed some of the best unicorn cake recipes. Congrats!
Please keep posting delicious recipes as always.
Love.
I’m making this for our granddaughter next week….it looks perfect and very easy. . Thank you !
I think you meant to say vanilla pudding, not chocolate, in the recipe instructions #8 when making the pudding part.
Yes! Good eye Jackie. Must have had chocolate on the mind. This cake is so easy to make. I think your granddaughter will really enjoy it!
This is such a fun and festive cake! My daughter, who loves unicorns, will really enjoy this…can’t wait to make it!!
That is so cute! My little sister would be obsessed!
My daughter would LOVE this cake! It looks amazing!
Little girls seem to love all things rainbows and sprinkles!
What a blessed little girl! So cute!
That she is 🙂
I love this cake! It is so adorable!
Thanks Lisa!