A graham cracker crust, chocolate pudding, and a marshmallow topping make this Chocolate S’mores Pudding Cake the perfect summer dessert for picnics and parties.
By now you know that I love all things s’mores, but I still do not love the sticky mess that comes from kids roasting marshmallows.
Even with older children comes the scariness of a pointy stick and fire. It must be the mom in me that cringes when those two things get together. I realize that I am not alone in this aversion to how s’mores are made when I talk with friends.
But there is something about the summer, and the need for all things s’mores. I have been having fun creating s’mores that do not need campfires to be enjoyed this summer.
These S’mores Cookie Cups were one sweet treat that I can’t wait to make again.
One of my favorite summer time desserts is the poke cake. Poke cakes have been around for quite a long time, but every so often I have a comment wanting to know what it means.
What is a Poke Cake?
A poke cake is exactly what it sounds like. You bake a cake and then while it is warm, you POKE it with a fork or the end of a wooden spoon.
This creates holes or pockets for a filling to collect. Sweetened condensed milk, Jell-O, or pudding are usually the three things you drizzle into those holes.
Since graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows are the three components of a good s’mores, I made sure this chocolate poke cake had plenty of each.
This cake starts with a graham cracker crust that you bake the cake on top of. I happen to like cake mixes, so that is all I ever use for poke cakes. If you want to make a homemade chocolate cake, feel free too.
How to make a pudding cake:
- Make and bake a chocolate cake mix. (full recipe at bottom of post)
- Let the cake cool about 10 minutes. Then poke it with the end of a wooden spoon. Be careful not to push through the crust on the bottom.
- Whisk together the pudding mix and milk and pour it into the holes in the cake before it sets up too much.
- Use the back of the spoon to gently smooth and press the pudding into the holes. Gently tap the cake pan on the counter to help the pudding settle into the holes.
- Let it cool for about 30 minutes on the counter, then place it in the refrigerator until chilled.
How to top a Chocolate S’mores Pudding Cake:
- Stir together a jar of marshmallow cream and one container of Cool Whip. Go ahead and taste a spoonful because I know you want to. I did too!!!
- Spread it on top of this Chocolate S’mores Pudding Cake. FYI it’s also amazing on this Peanut Butter Fudge Poke Cake.
- Top the cake with some chopped up Hershey’s candy bars, graham crackers, and marshmallows because more s’mores goodness is always a good idea.
Now enjoy your summer s’mores without the danger of getting your eye poked out or sitting on a sticky marshmallow-ed chair. It’s a summer win!!!
CLICK HERE TO PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!
More easy s’mores recipes:
- S’mores Cheesecake Fluff Salad – this easy fluffy dessert salad is loaded with marshmallows, chocolate chunks, and graham crackers
- Milk Chocolate S’mores Fudge – pockets of gooey marshmallows & crunchy graham crackers give this chocolate fudge a fun s’mores flair
- S’mores Coffee Milkshake from Shugary Sweets – coffee and marshmallow goodness turn this milkshake into a fun summer drink
- No Bake S’mores Mousse Jars from Love from the Oven – jars of pudding, graham crackers, and Cool Whip make a fun and easy dessert
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Chocolate S’mores Pudding Cake
A graham cracker crust, chocolate pudding, and a marshmallow topping make this Chocolate S'mores Pudding Cake the perfect summer dessert.
Ingredients
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 8 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 box chocolate cake
- 1 (3.9 ounce) box instant chocolate pudding
- 2 cups milk
- 1 (8 ounce) container Cool Whip, thawed
- 1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow cream
- 3 full size Hershey chocolate bars, chopped
- 1 cup graham cracker chunks
- 1 cup miniature marshmallows
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick baking spray.
- Combine the graham cracker crumbs and melted butter. Press into the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Prepare the cake mix according to the box directions. Spoon the batter on top of the prepared crust. Bake for 28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool for 10 minutes. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to gently poke holes all over the top of the cake. Use a napkin to keep the spoon clean while you do this.
- Whisk together the pudding mix and milk. Pour over the top of the warm cake, trying to get the pudding in the holes.
- Use the back of a serving spoon to smooth and press the pudding into the holes more. You can also tap the pan on the counter to help the pudding settle into the holes.
- Cool for 30 minutes on the counter, then refrigerate until chilled all the way through.
- Stir together the whole container of thawed Cool Whip and the whole jar of marshmallow cream gently. Spread over the cooled cake.
- Top with the chopped up candy bars, graham cracker chunks, and marshmallows. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 149Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 98mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 1gSugar: 9gProtein: 2g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
(original photo from June 2014)
*The post for Chocolate S’mores Pudding Cake was originally posted June 2014. The photos and post were updated July 2017 and then republished July 17, 2018.
My family preferred it without the crust, otherwise it was delicious!
Can you use cook and serve pudding instead of instant ??
I have never tried that one, but it should work. Make sure to spoon the warm/hot pudding into the holes before it sets up. You want it to cool and set up in the cake. You can also tap the pan gently on the counter to help the pudding settle into the holes before putting it into the refrigerator. I hope you enjoy the cake!
Did you use instant pudding mix or cook n serve
The ingredients list calls for 1 box of instant chocolate pudding. I hope you enjoy the cake.
Is the pudding size correct? 3.9 doesn’t sound correct.
It is correct…at least the one I bought said that size. It doesn’t matter what brand as long as it is the 4 serving box.
Pouring the pudding seemed a bit intimidating so I used a ziplock bag. I use this for frosting too. It worked perfect!
Does the cake need to stay refrigerated? If I make it the night before, should it stay refrigerated until i serve? Or, should i take it out in advance so it comes to room temp?
Yes, this cake needs to be refrigerated because of the pudding and Cool Whip, so I would serve it right from the fridge. I hope you enjoy it!!!
I don’t think it I supposed to 8 table spoons of butter way to much
The recipe is correct as written. One melted stick of butter (8 Tbsp.) stirred into the graham cracker crumbs makes a great crust!
Ever make this gluten free with GF graham crackers and a GF chocolate cake?
I haven’t tried it that way because no one in our family has a gluten free allergy. But I think it would work just fine if you substituted those ingredients instead. Let me know how it works for you if you try it!
Can’t get the recipe to print.
I just tried it and it printed fine on my computer. Make sure your printer is set to print from the browser window you are using.
Oh my! This cake looks fantastic.
Can you imagine that I’ve never had s’mores? I think I need to recreate this recipe asap. <3
E || OH LA LATKES
This was incredibly delicious and impressed my in laws friends! Thanks so much!
Could the frosting be torched for a little toasted-marshmallow flavor or does the cool whip not lend itself to that?
You could use a kitchen torch to very carefully toast the top marshmallows. I would be careful though because of the Cool Whip topping.
I made this today and my family loved it! Thanks for sharing!
This cake looks amazing…I want to make it for my son’s first birthday party tomorrow. One question, is the frosting really sweet from the marshmallow creme or does the cool whip chill out the sweetness? I don’t want it to be too sweet. Thank you!!
I didn’t think it was overly sweet. It has a good marshmallow topping flavor. I’m actually doing another variation of this cake tonight with the same topping 🙂 I hope you enjoy it!!
Can this be made as cupcakes instead? Looks delicious!
Yes, you could do cupcakes instead, but I would recommend baking them in the foil liners. Then gently make holes in each cupcake for the pudding. Cupcakes might be pretty messy though. Just an FYI. Let me know how you like them!
I made the chocolate s’more pudding cake today , was having a hard time getting the pudding into the holes ,hubby suggested I use a short Turkey baster , worked perfectly . Hope you like this little tip .
That’s an awesome tip! Give your husband a high five from me!
Can I make the chocolatepudding poke cake in a foil disposable pan?
Hi, Leslie. Yes, you can make the cake in a disposable pan as long as it is the 9×13 size. I hope you enjoy the cake 🙂
Hi again! Well the pudding may not have done exactly what it was supposed to, but I iced it and tried some with my husband and daughter. It was………amazing! !!!!!! My goodness, I guess you just can’t go wrong with these amazing flavors!!!! The cake is still very pretty, too! It will not last long in our fridge!
Hi there! I have this cake in my fridge now un-iced. I think I messed it up though. The pudding mix was a liquid when I poured it and did go all over to the sides and hardly in the holes!!!! Im going to go ahead and ice it since it still edible! im just not happy with how I made it turn out. Ill have to try it again after this one gets eaten!!!!! 🙂
You do want the pudding to be more liquid when you pour it so it does go into the holes. But yes, you almost have to very slowly pour it into each hole. Try using a spatula to press the pudding down into the holes gently before you put the topping in. Believe me, it will still taste amazing! 🙂
I’m on a totally s’mores kick and this looks amazing!!
This cake looks amazing. Just wondering… Do you think I could toast the marshmallow creme mixture on the top w/ a creme brulee torch? Would it toast?
I actually do not think that would work because the marshmallow cream is mixed with Cool Whip. The heat from the torch would melt the topping instead of toasting it.
Oh yes, hook me up with this!
Love this poke cake idea Jocelyn! It looks amazing! Combining s’mores and chocolate pudding sounds heavenly – pinning 🙂
I’m on a s’mores kick lately and this, ok all of the recipes in this post, looks delicious! Can’t wait to try it :).
Thanks Kat! 🙂
GAH Jocelyn I need to move into your neighborhood and eat all of your treats!! Are there any houses for sale?? 😉 This chocolate pudding cake looks SO good! And those gooey streaks inside… Seriously pure bliss right there. Yet another thing I want to try making — thanks for the inspiration!! 🙂
I’m a total sucker for S’mores AND Pudding cakes, so this is a win-win for me! PINNED!
Thanks Shawn!! 🙂
I just love high cakes! This looks so delicious! Chocolate and smores are my favourites!
Thanks Jessica! 🙂
LOVE pudding poke cakes! This one looks amazing and perfect for summer!
Loving this cake!! The graham cracker crust?! Yes please!!
Yum! I adore poke cakes. They are the dessert I remember making mostly all on my own as an older child and loving it! This Smores version sounds awesome!
Thanks Jaren! 🙂
Awesome poke cake idea, Jocelyn!! Look at the chocolate seeping through the cake…yum!
Oh, Jocelyn, this looks like one of the best s’more treats ever! I love poke cakes, especially with all that chocolate goodness!
Thanks Marcie! 🙂
Can’t get enough smores treats, Jocelyn – yum!
Look at that ooey gooey chocolatey goodness! I must eat it! I think you should just start selling your baked goods directly through my computer screen. 😉
Haha, wouldn’t that be awesome?! 😉 Thanks Jess!
Oh my gosh, yum!! All of your recipes look so delicious!! This cake is calling my name!
This has to be the best poke cake I have seen! Love the graham cracker crust!
Thanks Jessica!
This looks like smore heaven! And the cake looks so moist and fluffy! Pinned!
This cake looks absolutely divine!! I’m drooling over the pudding in the middle 🙂
Thanks Becca! 🙂
Oooh, I’m wishing I had a big slice of this cake now! Yay for no pointy sticks and fire! Right there with you 🙂
I agree… I love smores too, but I hate the sticky mess!! What a great alternative! YUM!
Thanks Betsy! 😉
This is amazing Jocelyn. And I’m with you – sticks + fire + kids = bad idea!
Thanks Dorothy! 😉
Yum! I love s’mores 🙂
Poke cake is by far the most fun dessert to make ever! Poking a cake, like how fun is that?? Double chocolate smores, now my tummy is thinking how fun this will be!
Thanks Mary Frances!
Not going to lie…I started to salivate when I saw this….holy cow I want that in my belly!
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
This recipe looks absolutely amazing! It’s the perfect summer cake and I bet all children would love it!
Thanks Lavender!
You were able to fit all of the yummy flavors of s’mores into this poke cake with the added bonus of creamy pudding! That top chocolaty photo is mouth watering!
Love how easy and delicious this looks! Love the idea to mix fluff with Cool Whip!
Thanks Mir!
I made a pudding cake for my birthday last week and the recipe that I used from another site said to wait till the cake was completely cool! My cake came out very crumbly and the pudding really didn’t spread well. I SO wish I had this recipe instead because I know it would of been a success!
For the love of God woman! You are killing me! This looks divine!!!!!!!!
Haha, thanks Meghan! 😉
Oh man this cake looks so good. I love S’mores. Who doesn’t? But this cake is fabulous with the chocolate all the way through. Next BBQ and this is dessert.
Can you believe I’ve never made a poke cake before? What is wrong with me? I love s’mores too, maybe this will be my first foray into poke cake-making!
That has to be remedied!! Make this cake ASAP! 😉
Lovin’ your s’mores cake Jocelyn!
I haven’t a poke cake in a long time. Love this S’mores Pudding Cake, Jocelyn! Very creative and looks absolutely delicious. Enjoy your weekend! 🙂
Thanks Chelsea!
Could you use a foil pan instead of a glass one? Grandson is making this for his classmates.
As long as the pan is a 9×13, you can use whatever you want. I hope he has fun making it!!!
How long does the cake need to be refrigerated before you put on the marshmellow and whip cream topping?
The cake needs to be completely chilled before you add the topping. I hope you enjoy the cake!