This Lightened Up Chocolate Peppermint Poke Cake is a delicious chocolate cake that is infused with a sugar free peppermint chocolate pudding and topped with fat free cool whip and crushed candy canes. This chocolate peppermint poke cake has all the flavors of the holiday season!

Makes 20 servings

This Lightened Up Chocolate Peppermint Poke Cake has all the classic looks, feels, and flavors of the holidays! This Peppermint Poke Cake is a such a fun way to celebrate the holidays and can be baked in advance, which means it’s perfect for those busy days of holiday parties!

What is a poke cake?

A “poke cake” is a cake recipe that calls for holes to be poked in it after baking, usually with the handle of a wooden spoon or a wooden skewer. Then a liquid or pudding is then poured over the baked cake to soak into the cake holes.

Our family loves a good poke cake, be sure to try these other variations as well:

• Pumpkin Poke Cake
• Patriotic Poke Cake
• Lemon Poke Cake
• Easy Lightened Up Strawberry Poke Cake

What ingredients do I need to make this Lighted Up Chocolate Peppermint Poke Cake?

• Pillsbury zero sugar devil’s food chocolate cake mix – used for the base of the poke cake. You can find this at most grocery stores or HERE on Amazion.
• Eggs– these are used in the cake mix battter.
• Unsweetened applesauce – used in place of oil.
• Sugar free chocolate fudge instant pudding– you can find this at most grocery stores or HERE on Amazon.
• Fairlife skim milk or chocolate premier protein shake – you could use skim milk or premade protein shake. Keep in mind unsweetened almond milk will NOT work. The pudding will not set with almond milk.
• Pure peppermint extract-this is important to get that yummy peppermint flavor.
• Mini peppermint candy canes– crushed. 
• Fat free cool whip topping 

How do I make this Lighted Up Chocolate Peppermint Poke Cake?

Preheat oven to 350º degrees. Spray a 9″x13” baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large mixing bowl combine, cake mix, eggs, unsweetened applesauce, and water.

Mix until well combined.

Pour batter into prepared baking pan.

Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 22-25 minutes.

Let it cool for 20 minutes. Then poke cake all over with the bottom of a wooden spoon. 

In a small bowl, combine Fairlife milk and instant pudding mix. Stir until pudding sets.

Stir in peppermint extract. 

Pour pudding mix all over cake, spreading it around to ensure the pudding is in the poked holes.

Top the cake with whipped topping.

Garnish with remaining crushed candy canes.

Serve cold. 

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Freeze for up to 2 months.

Ingredients: 

• 1 box Pillsbury zero sugar devil’s food chocolate cake mix 
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce 
• 1 1/4 cup water 
• 1 ( 1.4 oz.) sugar free chocolate fudge instant pudding 
• 2 cups Fairlife skim milk or chocolate premier protein shake 
• 1 tsp. pure peppermint extract
• 6 mini peppermint candy canes, crushed 
• 8 oz. fat free cool whip topping 

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350º degrees. Spray a 9″x13” baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a large mixing bowl combine, cake mix, eggs, unsweetened applesauce, and water. Mix until well combined.
3. Pour batter into prepared baking pan.
4. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 22-25 minutes.
5. Let it cool for 20 minutes. Then poke cake all over with the bottom of a wooden spoon. 
6. In a small bowl, combine Fairlife milk and instant pudding mix. Stir until pudding sets. Stir in peppermint extract. 
7. Pour pudding mix all over cake, spreading it around to ensure the pudding is in the poked holes.
8. Top the cake with whipped topping and garnish with remaining crushed candy canes. Serve cold. 
9. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Freeze for up to 2 months.

Makes 20 ( 1/20 of 9×13 baking dish) servings 

4 WW points per serving 

How do I track this recipe in my WW app? 

Click the link below to go to the recipe builder. You’ll first need to sign into your WW account and then the recipe builder will upload. The recipe builder is the most accurate way to create, obtain, and track the Points®

The recipe builder link only works for WW members located in the United States. If you are located outside of the United States, you’ll need to access the WW app manually to create the recipe in the recipe builder.