Ghost Poke Cake – Ultimate Halloween Dessert with 5 Spooky Steps

Q: How do you make a Ghost Poke Cake ?

To make a Ghost Poke Cake , start with a boxed white cake mix. Add purple food coloring for a spooky twist, then bake it as directed. Once baked, poke holes across the surface and fill them with green-tinted vanilla pudding. Finish with green frosting and Halloween candy. You can also use decorations like piped ghosts, sprinkles, or chocolate drizzle for added flair. It’s one of the easiest Halloween cakes you’ll ever make, and a guaranteed showstopper.

Q: Can I make this poke cake ahead of time ?

Yes, absolutely! This Ghost Poke Cake is ideal for prepping in advance. Bake and poke the cake up to 24 hours early, and refrigerate after adding the pudding. Hold off on frosting and decorating until the day you serve. It stays moist and flavorful, thanks to the pudding soaking into every bite.

Posted on September 22, 2025

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If there’s one dessert that screams Halloween fun, it’s this Ghost Poke Cake. From spooky green pudding filling to ghostly toppings, this dessert is as fun to make as it is to eat. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to create a festive Halloween Jello Poke Cake that’s perfect for parties, potlucks, or just a cozy evening of scary movies. You’ll also discover decorating tips, ingredient substitutions, and how this version stacks up against other Halloween cakes like the classic Graveyard Dirt Cake. Let’s dive into a treat that’s spooky, sweet, and simple to bake.

Table of Contents

The Story Behind This Ghost Poke Cake

A Halloween Tradition in the Making

Every fall, my kitchen turns into a Halloween workshop. Growing up, I remember how my mom would bake a cake with some sort of creepy twist—eyeball candies, slimy gelatin layers, or oozing fillings. The first time I made this Ghost Poke Cake, I was simply trying to make something colorful and festive. What came out of the oven was more than just a dessert—it became a Halloween tradition.

The Ghost Poke Cake was born from a love of fun, easy-to-make recipes that don’t sacrifice flavor. It’s a fluffy white cake, dyed with a rich purple hue, then poked and filled with bright green pudding. But it’s not just about the color. That creamy pudding soaks into the cake, making every bite moist, sweet, and just a little eerie—in the best way.

What I love most is how versatile it is. You can switch up the colors, add themed candies, or even layer it with spooky cookie “dirt” for a twist on the Graveyard Chocolate Cake. But no matter how you dress it up, the core remains the same: a fun, ghostly treat that lights up the dessert table.

The Perfect Party Treat

This Halloween Poke Cake is ideal for parties. It can be made ahead of time, decorated last-minute, and sliced into neat squares for easy serving. Plus, the reactions you’ll get when people see that vivid green filling? Pure gold.

We’ve even served this alongside other party snacks like Halloween Harvest Snack Mix, and it always disappears first. Whether you’re hosting a spooky bash or just surprising the kids after dinner, this cake hits the sweet spot between playful and delicious.

A vibrant Ghost Poke Cake topped with green frosting and colorful Halloween candy, served on a white plate.

How to Make a Ghost Poke Cake for Halloween

Ingredients for the Ultimate Ghost Poke Cake

This Ghost Poke Cake starts with pantry basics and ends with Halloween magic. Here’s everything you’ll need to whip up this hauntingly good dessert:

1 box white cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil
1/3 cup water
4 drops purple gel food coloring
6 oz vanilla instant pudding
2 cups cold milk
4 drops green gel food coloring
1 can vanilla frosting
2 drops green gel food coloring (for frosting)
Ghoul mix M&M’s or any Halloween candies
Cooking spray

This easy base lets you add your spooky twist. From candy eyeballs to cookie tombstones, this Ghost Poke Cake is a blank canvas for fright-night creativity. If you’re going all out, pair it with themed snacks like Keto Halloween Deviled Eggs or a salty-sweet Candy Corn Popcorn Mix.

Step-by-Step Instructions for the Perfect Ghost Poke Cake

In a bowl, mix the white cake mix, eggs, oil, and water until smooth.
Add purple gel food coloring and stir to create a ghostly purple batter.
Spray a 9×11-inch baking dish and pour in the batter. Bake at 350°F for 35 minutes.
While baking, whisk together pudding and milk until creamy. Add green gel food coloring and chill.
Let the cake cool for 15 minutes. Poke 12 holes in the top using the handle of a wooden spoon.
Pour the green pudding over the cake, ensuring each hole is filled. Spread remaining pudding evenly.
Tint the vanilla frosting with green gel and spread it gently over the pudding layer.
Decorate your Ghost Poke Cake with ghoul mix M&M’s or festive sprinkles.
Slice into squares and serve chilled for a deliciously spooky surprise.

This moist, colorful Ghost Poke Cake is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. It holds up well overnight, making it a top choice for Halloween potlucks or after-school treats. Whether you’re serving it with witches’ brew punch or pumpkin-themed snacks, it’s a centerpiece your guests will remember.

Slice of Ghost Poke Cake with green glaze and Halloween candies, served on a white plate with bat decorations.

Ghost Poke Cake Variations and Decorating Ideas

Get Creative with Halloween Decorations

One of the best parts of making a Ghost Poke Cake is turning it into a spooky masterpiece. While the green pudding and purple cake base are already eye-catching, decorating it lets you add that final “wow” factor.

To stick with the ghost theme, pipe small mounds of white frosting on top and add mini chocolate chips as eyes—voilà, edible ghosts! Want to go creepier? Use crushed chocolate cookies as “dirt” and top with gummy worms or cookie tombstones, turning it into a hybrid between this and a classic Pumpkin Roll Cake Recipe.

Melted chocolate can also be drizzled over the frosting to create spider webs. Just use a piping bag or even a plastic sandwich bag with a snipped corner. The key is contrast: green and purple base, white ghosts, black webs—your cake becomes a Halloween centerpiece.

Flavor Twists and Make-Ahead Tips

The basic Ghost Poke Cake is super versatile. Swap the white cake mix for chocolate if you want a darker, more haunting interior. For a fruity twist, use orange gelatin instead of pudding and call it a “slime cake.” You can even flavor the pudding with mint extract for a cool surprise.

Need to prep ahead for a party? No problem. You can bake and poke the cake a day in advance. Just cover and chill overnight. Add frosting and decorations the next day to keep the toppings fresh. The pudding layer keeps the cake ultra-moist, even two days later.

If you’re serving it as part of a Halloween spread, this cake pairs beautifully with seasonal bakes like the Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake or a simple caramel apple platter.

Not only is this Ghost Poke Cake shockingly easy to make, but it’s also fun to personalize. Whether you go minimalist with sprinkles or create a full-blown graveyard scene, the result is always a hit.

FAQ About Ghost Poke Cake

How do you make a Ghost Poke Cake ?

To make a Ghost Poke Cake, start with a boxed white cake mix. Add purple food coloring for a spooky twist, then bake it as directed. Once baked, poke holes across the surface and fill them with green-tinted vanilla pudding. Finish with green frosting and Halloween candy. You can also use decorations like piped ghosts, sprinkles, or chocolate drizzle for added flair. It’s one of the easiest Halloween cakes you’ll ever make, and a guaranteed showstopper.

Can I make this poke cake ahead of time ?

Yes, absolutely! This Ghost Poke Cake is ideal for prepping in advance. Bake and poke the cake up to 24 hours early, and refrigerate after adding the pudding. Hold off on frosting and decorating until the day you serve. It stays moist and flavorful, thanks to the pudding soaking into every bite.

What’s the difference between a poke cake and a dirt cake ?

A poke cake involves poking holes in a baked cake and filling them with pudding, Jello, or sauces. A dirt cake, on the other hand, is typically no-bake and layered with crushed cookies and pudding. While the two are different, you can combine elements—like topping your Ghost Poke Cake with cookie crumbs for a graveyard effect, similar to a Graveyard Chocolate Cake.

Can I customize the colors or flavors ?

Definitely. While green and purple are traditional for Halloween, you can swap in orange Jello or red velvet cake mix for a blood-red theme. Use different candies, edible eyes, or black frosting to match your Halloween decor. The base recipe is forgiving, so you can get as creative as you want without affecting the texture or flavor.

Why This Ghost Poke Cake Belongs on Your Halloween Table

There’s something magical about desserts that double as decorations—and this Ghost Poke Cake does exactly that. It’s spooky, colorful, and surprisingly simple. Whether you’re baking it for your kids, a Halloween bash, or just a weekend treat, it always gets rave reviews.

Plus, it’s a fantastic make-ahead dessert, so you’re not scrambling on party day. Pair it with Halloween snacks, pipe on some ghostly details, and you’ve got the ultimate October dessert. If you’re building out a full spooky menu, try pairing it with Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Pumpkins for a fun savory option.

Whip up this Ghost Poke Cake once—and it just might become your new Halloween tradition.

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