Savor the flavors of fall with this Apple Pie Poke Cake recipe. Perfectly sweetened white cake meets homemade apple pie filling to help you transition from summer to autumn. Vanilla pudding and whipped cream make this simple apple cake even more decadent!
Have you ever made a poke cake before? From Chocolate Mint Poke Cake to Coconut Cream Poke Cake, we can’t get enough!
Why this Recipe is Best
If you haven’t jumped on the Poke Cake bandwagon, what are you waiting for?
Poke Cake recipes start with a simple cake mix. The cake becomes a sweet canvas for adding any kind of pudding flavor or colorful JELL-O you can imagine.
After poking holes all over a baked cake, you pour pudding (or gelatin, in some cases) over the whole thing. The pudding seeps into every bite of the cake making it super moist and sweet!
This Apple Pie Poke Cake is my favorite version of apple poke cake for a few reasons:
- It uses a homemade fried apples for an amazing depth of apple flavor.
- Sweetened condensed milk keeps the cake moist and rich even the next day.
- The whipped topping pairs perfectly with the cinnamon apple flavors.
- It’s easy to make with simple ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen.
Are you ready to try it yet?
Ingredient Notes
- Apples. You can use any kind of apples you like, but I find that tarter apples have the best flavor here. Think Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Honey Crisp etc. Make sure to peel and dice the apples before adding them to the recipe.
- White Cake. Use a boxed mix and bake the cake according to directions on the box. Or use our homemade white cake recipe.
- Pudding Mix. This recipe was tested using instant pudding mix, not the kind you have to cook first, so be sure to double check the label.
- Cool Whip. Feel free to use store bought, or make homemade cool whip instead! Whipped cream works great too.
Easy Instructions
First things first: prepare your white cake.
While it’s baking you can prepare the other components of the poke cake.
Make the apple pie filling:
Simmer the diced apples in a heated skillet with water, brown sugar, spices and salt. They’ll take about 12 minutes to cook down.
Assemble the poke cake:
When the cake is done baking, poke holes all over the top. Immediately pour a can of sweetened condensed milk over the whole thing.
Next, pour the apple pie mixture onto the cake. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
While the cake is chilling, whisk the pudding mix with milk and cinnamon. Cover and refrigerate until it’s time to top the cake.
Topping the cake:
Stir the chilled pudding mixture with thawed Cool Whip. Spoon over the top of the Apple Pie Poke Cake.
Slice into squares and serve!
Tips and Tricks
- Prefer a cake that’s made from scratch? My Vanilla Cake Recipe (without frosting) is a perfect swap for the cake from a box.
- Speaking of swaps, there’s no end to the flavor combos you can play with here! Try making the recipe with a yellow cake or spice cake mix to change up the flavors.
- Other pudding flavors are delicious too. Try making apple pie poke cake with caramel or butterscotch pudding! Yum.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, homemade whipped cream will work in the pudding topping. It may melt off the cake more quickly than stabilized whipped cream toppings, so make sure to keep the cake chilled if you’re not eating it right away.
It sure will! It’ll give the cake a slightly different texture but will taste great, nonetheless.
That all depends on the size of your apples. I’d approximate you’ll need about 2 medium apples or 3 smaller ones. Measure your apples after dicing to ensure consistent results.
You can certainly add it ahead of time. Keep it covered in the refrigerator until you’re ready to dig in!
More Easy Cake Recipes
- Carrot Cake Recipe
- Lemon Cheesecake Cake
- Italian Cream Cake
- Hummingbird Cake
- Apple Delight
- Pistachio Cake
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Apple Pie Poke Cake
Ingredients
- 1 white cake prepared in a 13×9 baking dish
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- 2 cups peeled & diced apples
- ¼ cup water
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
For the topping
- 1 box Instant vanilla pudding mix 3.4 ounce
- 2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 12 ounce whipped topping thawed
Instructions
- Prepare white cake according to box directions for a 13×9 cake.
- While cake is baking, work on cooking the apples. In a large skillet, whisk together the brown sugar with water, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Heat over medium high heat until bubbly, then add diced apples. Reduce heat to low and simmer apples about 12-15 minutes.
- When cake is done baking, poke holes all over (I use a meat thermometer, you can also use a wooden spoon handle or fork). Pour can of sweetened condensed milk over hot cake. Then pour apple mixture. Spread and smooth until apples are evenly disbursed over top of cake and liquids have drained into the poked holes of the cake.
- Refrigerate 3-4 hours or overnight.
- While cake is in refrigerator, whisk the vanilla pudding with milk and cinnamon until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- When ready to serve cake, combine pudding mixture with thawed Cool Whip. Spread over cake, slice and serve. ENJOY!
Notes
Nutrition
Spiced Apple Pie meets vanilla cake and whipped cream. What could be better? Apple Pie Poke Cake is just the recipe you need to welcome fall.
Hello Aimee, Came across your yummy recipe when going thru your delicious desserts. Wondering if I can mix the canned apple pie filling in the cake batter. Instead of putting onto of cake…
Thanks 🙂
I’m pre diabetic do I have to use the sweetened condensed milk or is there an alternative I can use ?
It does not seem that you are answering this question yet or that I just don’t see the answer. I would prefer to dice my own apples and I need to know how many apples it requires.
I’m not sure how many…
Hi Cathy,
I used three large Granny Smith apples. Hope this helps you!
Can you spread the whole cake with the cool whip mixture and leave in refrigerator until ready to serve ?
Sure thing 🙂
Can you spread the cool whip mixture on the entire cake even if it won’t all be eaten on the same day or should you just put in on one piece at a a time? Will it make the cake soggy if kept a few days?
What size bag of apples do you use?
Hey would you mind letting me know which webhost you’re working with? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot faster then most.
I use Orange Geek 🙂
For the apples, does this mean 4 cups total apples? Most of the ones I have looked at say 1 1/2 cups is a serving and that there are approx. 2.5 servings in a bag which would be approx. 3 3/4 cups per package.
Hi, can’t wait to try this yummy looking receipe! I see this was a previous question but didn’t see the answer, what kinds of apples and how many slices?
Thanks!
I used crunch pak apples which are pre-sliced. But you can use any variety you love!
What are crunch pack apples? Packaged pre sliced?
I also made this for one of my Easter desserts. It was beyond delicious and was a HUGE hit! =)
Haha, awesome!! Thanks for letting me know 🙂
This turned out great my family absolutely loved it!!
Sounds fabulously delicious! Just hope I can find crunch pak apples, which I have never heard of before. Thanks!
I have never heard of crunch pak apples could you use just reg granny smith apples
Can I also bake this apple poke cake recipe in a bunt pan?
Do u think a can of apple pie filling would work?
Absolutely!! Would give a different texture, but would still be quite delicious!
Where do I get the apple pie poke cake recipe?
Click on the link above that says “head over to Crunch Pak for the recipe”
Hi!
“CrunchPak” apples are not available in my area…..so…..
I’m assuming I can use any apples, slice them & cook them per the recipe?
Are “CrunchPak” apples just sliced frozen apples?
The recipe looks absolutely delicious, I can’t wait to try it, just wanted a little more info.!
THANKS!
Yep, any sliced apples will work. Crunch Pak are fresh, pre sliced apples. ENJOY.
How do I get the recipe for Apple pie poke cake can’t seem to find it anywhere?
I don’t see the recipe
If you click on the link where it says to see the recipe on the CrunchPak blog, it takes you right there! ENJOY
Making this this morning!!!!
ENJOY!!