How to Make Hawaiian Pineapple Coconut Poke Cake – A Tropical, No-Bake-Style Dessert That’s Light, Creamy & Bursting with Island Flavor!

Close your eyes and take a bite: sweet yellow cake soaked in juicy pineapple juice, filled with creamy coconut pudding, and topped with fluffy whipped topping, fresh fruit, and toasted coconut. This Hawaiian Pineapple Coconut Poke Cake tastes like vacation in every spoonful — bright, refreshing, and impossible to resist. Inspired by the flavors of the islands, this easy dessert combines a boxed cake mix with real tropical ingredients to create something that feels fancy but comes together in minutes. The secret? Poking holes in the warm cake and pouring over a pineapple-coconut milk mixture so it soaks deep into every layer. Perfect for summer parties, potlucks, or whenever you need a little sunshine on a plate. Let’s bring paradise to your kitchen — one poke at a time. Why You’ll Love This Poke Cake No baking skills needed – Just bake, poke, pour, chill Tastes like a piña colada in dessert form Creamy, juicy, and lightly sweet – Not overly rich Crowd-pleasing favorite – Kids and adults both adore it Make-ahead magic – Tastes even better after chilling overnight This isn’t just cake — it’s a tropical escape you can eat with a spoon

Hawaiian Pineapple Coconut Poke Cake

Serves 12 | Prep: 20 min | Bake: 25–30 min | Chill: 4+ hrs | Total: ~6 hrs (mostly hands-off)

Ingredients

For the Cake Base:

1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix (plus ingredients listed on box: eggs, oil, water)

1 (8 oz) can pineapple tidbits in juice, drained (reserve ½ cup juice)

For the Poke Filling:

½ cup reserved pineapple juice

½ cup coconut milk (canned full-fat for creaminess, or light for lighter version)

Optional: 1 tsp rum extract or 1 tbsp dark rum (for grown-up flavor)

For the Creamy Layer:

1 (3.4 oz) package instant vanilla pudding mix

1 cup cold milk

1 (8 oz) container whipped topping (Cool Whip), thawed (or 1½ cups homemade whipped cream)

For the Topping:

½ cup toasted coconut flakes

½ cup drained pineapple tidbits

½ cup chopped maraschino cherries (optional, for color)

Fresh mint leaves (optional, for garnish)

Optional Upgrade: Add diced mango or kiwi for extra tropical flair!

Step-by-Step Instructions