Coconut Cream Pudding Cake

Hiding in this from-scratch chocolate bundt cake is a tunnel of coconut cream pudding. This Coconut Cream Pudding Cake with simple chocolate drizzle makes a beautiful dessert cake presentation.

pudding tunnel chocolate cake on a plate with a slice cut

Coconut Cream Pudding Cake

If there’s one thing my husband loves, it’s pudding. It’s a dessert I can leave behind, but pudding has his top vote every single time. What makes pudding better? Cake. Pudding baked inside cake. And for my husband, that had to be coconut pudding. It’s like an Mounds bar cake!

overhead view of a chocolate bundt cake

Chocolate Bundt Cake

Bundt cakes always win for the prettiest desserts. There are so many bundt cake pans out there with gorgeous designs. If I only had a place to store one of each! This cake shows the classic bundt cake shape and is made from scratch. Don’t let “from-scratch” scare you off. This is a one bowl, throw everything in and mix type of cake. Easy as can be.

Chocolate Cake with Melted Chocolate

This cake gets its chocolate flavor from unsweetened melted chocolate instead of cocoa powder. I normally keep unsweetened baking chocolate squares in my cupboard, but if you don’t there’s a substitution! To replace melted chocolate for cocoa powder, here’s the ratio (according to this source):

One ounce of unsweetened chocolate = 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder plus 1 tablespoon butter, shortening or oil.

So this recipe would need 9 tablespoons of cocoa powder and 3 tablespoons of butter (or shortening or oil if you prefer).

I have *not* tried this substitution in this cake recipe and highly recommend using melted chocolate. But if you’re in a pinch, this is an option!

Tunnel Cake

What is a tunnel cake?

Tunnel cakes are sneaky, but so fun! They look like a traditional cake on the outside, but cut it open and it is party on the inside!

Tunnel cakes can be filled with creamy pudding, jelly, custard…or even frosting. They also make great gender reveal cakes since the color is hidden inside!

Coconut Cream Filling

This coconut cream filling uses a shortcut of boxed pudding mix. I recommend using coconut cream pudding, but you can use vanilla if you can’t find coconut. What makes it even faster? Buy pre-made refrigerated pudding cups. Super easy!

Add some shredded coconut and almond extract for a boost of flavor. If you’d like, you can leave the almond extract out and keep all of the flavor on the coconut.

How to Serve the Coconut Cake

This cake is delicious served warm. The amount of pudding inside will make it a “messier” cake if you decide to cut into it when it is warm. With the full two cups of pudding, it will have to cool at least 2 hours in the pan before you remove it to a plate. Then it should cool for an additional 2-3 hours before slicing.

If you’d like to serve the cake warm and make cleaner slices, use only half of the pudding filling and allow the cake to cool at least 1 hour before serving.

a piece of chocolate cake with pudding filling on a plate

Tools to Make this Bundt Cake

  • Cocoa Powder: We love this raw cacao powder for baking. A guilt-free superfood.
  • Hand mixer: I don’t pull out my stand mixer for this recipe. It makes a small amount so a hand mixer works perfectly.
  • Classic Bundt Pan: A nice, heavy bundt pan is the start to any good bundt cake.
  • Bundt Cake Carrier: Store your cake in this carrier to keep it fresh and easy to transport!
Coconut Cream Pudding Cake
Coconut Cream Pudding Cake

Coconut Cream Pudding Cake

4.58 from 7 votes
Hiding in this from-scratch chocolate bundt cake is a tunnel of coconut cream pudding. 
Servings 12
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 48 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 8 minutes

Ingredients
 

Chocolate Cake

Coconut Cream Filling

Chocolate syrup for drizzling (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • Generously grease a 10" bundt cake pan with shortening and then dust it with flour. Set aside.
    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
    • In the bowl of a stand mixer, add all of the ingredients for the chocolate cake. Blend at low speed just until moistened.
    • Blend at medium speed for 3 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
    • Pour the batter into the greased and floured bundt pan.
    • In a small bowl, mix together the prepared pudding, coconut and almond extract.
    • Spoon the pudding onto the batter, around the center of the cake. Be careful to keep the pudding in the center so that the pudding is not touching the sides.
    • Bake for 45-50 minutes (our cake took 48 minutes). You can test that the cake is done by touching the top center of the cake. It should spring back when you touch it. 
    • Allow the cake to cool for two hours in the pan, then turn it out onto a cake plate to cool completely. 
    • This cake cuts best when it is completely cooled. 
    • If desired, drizzle the top of the cake with chocolate syrup or even melted chocolate.
    • Store the cake in the refrigerator.

    Notes

    *The calories shown are based on the cake being cut into 12 pieces, with 1 serving being 1 slice of cake. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate.
    *If you'd like less pudding inside the cake, feel free to cut the filling ingredients in half. This will allow the pudding to fully sink into the cake and the cake will be easier to cut.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 294kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 250mg | Potassium: 147mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 165IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 2.5mg
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Calories 294

    About Julie Clark

    We are Julie, Maddie, and Kinslee – a mother and daughter team sharing with you the best cakes to satisfy any need or sweet craving that you may have. Welcome to our family’s kitchen!

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