Root Beer Float Poke Cake with Vanilla Pudding
A nostalgic dessert that captures the classic root beer float experience in cake form. Moist chocolate cake gets infused with concentrated root beer syrup, then layered with creamy vanilla pudding and fluffy whipped topping. The poke cake technique allows the root beer flavor to penetrate throughout, creating pockets of sweet, fizzy goodness in every bite. Perfect for summer gatherings, birthday parties, or whenever you want to bring back childhood memories with a fun twist on traditional cake.
Ingredients
- 1 15.25 ounce package Devil's Food Cake Mixany chocolate cake mix1:1gluten-free
use gluten-free mix
- 3 ¼ cups A&W TEN Root Beer, dividedany root beer1:1sugar-freediet
TEN is lower calorie
- ⅓ cup canola oil
- 3 large eggs
- 1 3.4 ounce package instant vanilla pudding
- 2 cups cold whole milk
- 1 8 ounce container whipped topping
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- 2
Beat cake mix, root beer, oil and eggs until well blended
- 3
Transfer to prepared baking dish and bake for 35-40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean
- 4
Cool cake for 5 minutes, then poke holes all over top with wooden spoon handle
- 5
Allow cake to cool to room temperature
- 6
Boil root beer in saucepan until reduced by half
- 7
Pour reduced root beer over cake and set aside
- 8
Whisk together pudding, milk and remaining root beer until thickening
- 9
Pour pudding mixture over cake and refrigerate for 15 minutes
- 10
Spread whipped topping over set pudding
- 11
Refrigerate until ready to serve
Tips
Make sure holes are deep enough for the root beer syrup to penetrate - go about 3/4 through the cake thickness.
Don't skip reducing the root beer - this concentrates the flavor and prevents the cake from becoming soggy.
Chill the cake for at least 2 hours before serving for best texture and flavor development.
Good to Know
refrigerate covered for up to 3 days
can be made 1 day ahead through pudding layer, add whipped topping before serving
serve chilled, cut into squares
Common Mistakes
don't skip cooling time to avoid melting whipped topping
poke holes while cake is still warm but not hot to prevent cracking
Substitutions
Gluten-Free Swaps
use gluten-free mix
General Alternatives
TEN is lower calorie
FAQ
Can I use diet root beer?
Yes, the recipe actually calls for A&W TEN which is a lower calorie option. Any root beer works but diet versions may reduce slightly differently.
How long will this cake keep?
Store covered in refrigerator for up to 3 days. The flavors actually improve after the first day as they meld together.
Can I freeze this cake?
Not recommended due to the pudding and whipped topping layers which don't freeze well and can separate when thawed.