Paula Deen Is it Really Better than Sex? Cake is yellow cake soaked in pineapple syrup, topped with vanilla pudding, whipped cream, and toasted coconut. It feeds 15 and comes together in about 3 hours with chill time. Bring it to a church supper or potluck and watch it go first.
The whole recipe depends on those fork holes. Poke them while the cake is still hot, then pour the pineapple syrup over right away. The heat opens the crumb so the syrup soaks to the bottom. If the cake cools first, the syrup pools on top instead of pulling through.
Make this the night before you need it. The pudding and pineapple layers taste better after sitting overnight. Hold off on the whipped cream until a few hours before serving so it stays tall. Toast the coconut in a dry skillet and pull it the second it turns golden.
Paula Deen Is it Really Better than Sex? Cake
Course: DessertCuisine: American, SouthernDifficulty: Easy15
servings25
minutes35
minutes420
kcalA soft yellow poke cake pierced with a fork and drenched in boiled pineapple and sugar syrup, then covered with a smooth layer of french vanilla pudding. Chilled until set, finished with sweetened whipped cream and toasted coconut flakes.
Ingredients
1 (3.4 oz) box french vanilla pudding, plus ingredients to prepare
1 1/3 cups sugar
1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple
1 (18.25 oz) box yellow cake mix, plus ingredients to prepare
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut, toasted
Directions
- Preheat: Preheat oven to 350 °F.
- Bake and prepare syrup: Prepare yellow cake mix as directed using a greased 13x9x2-inch pan and bake for 30 to 35 minutes. While cake is baking, combine the pineapple,1 cup of sugar in a saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium heat stirring constantly. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
- Poke and soak: Remove cake from oven and using a fork, pierce holes into cake. Pour pineapple mixture over hot cake and set aside.
- Layer and chill: Prepare pudding according to package directions. Spread pudding over cake and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled. Whip heavy cream and remaining sugar until stiff. Cover top of cake with whipped cream and sprinkle toasted coconut on top.
FAQs
Can you use Cool Whip instead of fresh whipped cream?
You can, and a lot of people do. Cool Whip holds up longer and does not deflate the way real whipped cream can. The texture is lighter and sweeter, so the cake tastes a little different. If you want something in between, fold a few tablespoons of Cool Whip into real whipped cream to stabilize it.
How long does this cake last in the fridge?
It keeps well for 3 to 4 days covered with plastic wrap. The cake gets better on day two because the pudding and syrup have more time to soak in. After day four, the whipped cream starts to break down and the cake gets too wet.
Can you make this cake the day before?
Making it the day before is the best way to go. Bake the cake, pour the pineapple syrup over, spread the pudding on top, and refrigerate overnight. Add the whipped cream and toasted coconut the morning you plan to serve it so they stay fresh.
Why is my poke cake soggy on the bottom?
Too much liquid running straight through is usually the problem. Make sure you cook the pineapple and sugar mixture down to a boil first so it thickens. The fork holes should go about three-quarters of the way down, not all the way through the cake.
Do you have to toast the coconut?
You do not have to, but toasting brings out a nutty flavor that plain coconut does not have. Spread it in a dry skillet over medium heat and stir constantly for about 3 minutes. It goes from white to burned fast, so stay at the stove.
