Grasshopper Poke Cake

This Grasshopper Poke Cake is super easy and over-the-top delicious. Just boxed cake mix and a few ingredients to make an incredible fudge mint cake for dessert!

Love poke cake recipes? Me too. Make sure to add this Coconut Cream Poke Cake and my favorite Lemon Poke Cake to your “to bake list” next!

Grasshopper Poke Cake: a delicious chocolate cake topped with chocolate pudding, hot fudge, and minty Cool Whip!


Why This Cake is Best

Grasshopper Poke Cake is what happens when you look at a chocolate cake and think, “Okay, but what if there was more chocolate?”

After baking, the cake gets poked with holes and topped with creamy chocolate pudding.

  • The fudgiest cake ever.
  • Perfect creme de menthe flavor.
  • Minty whipped topping.
  • Easy to make with a boxed mix!

If you think that sounds decadent: just wait.

From there, I topped with a layer of hot fudge sauce and and mint Cool Whip, plus chocolate chips. Because, why not?

Did I mention there’s actual Andes mint chocolate in every bite? Yeah. We’re talking pure chocolate mint paradise!

If you love minty grasshopper desserts, our Grasshopper Pie recipe is perfect. No bake cheesecake filled with Oreos and mint flavor!

Ingredient Notes

  • Chocolate cake mix. Bake it according to package directions OR use our homemade chocolate cake recipe.
  • Andes mint baking chips. Fold these morsels into the cake batter before baking.
  • Chocolate pudding. A package of instant pudding mixed with milk is perfect.
  • Hot fudge sauce. Any jarred fudge sauce is perfect. No need to heat it first!
  • Cool whip. Adds lightness to the rich, fudgy cake. Use our homemade cool whip or whipped cream if you prefer.
  • Mint extract. It’s added to the Cool Whip for mint flavor.
  • Green food gel. Optional but adding a single drop gives the cake its pale “grasshopper” color.

Easy Instructions

Start by baking the Andes mint chocolate cake. While it’s baking, prepare the pudding and the Cool Whip topping.

Take the cake out of the oven and poke holes all over the top. Pour the pudding over the warm cake.

Immediately spread hot fudge sauce over the top of the cake. Add the Cool Whip topping, then sprinkle with mini chocolate morsels.

Chill the cake for 4 hours in the refrigerator. Slice and enjoy COLD!

Tips and Tricks

  • How to poke holes: I use the handle of a wooden spoon or a meat thermometer. A wooden skewer or chop stick would be perfect too!
  • The more holes the better. It doesn’t matter how big they are, but the entire top should be dotted with holes as much as possible. This allows the hot fudge and pudding to soak into every bite of the rich cake.
  • Use a 13 x 9 pan. Boxed mixes will often have instructions for baking the cake in different shapes and sizes. Follow the guide for this size pan for best results.
  • Make the night before. Prepare the cake in advance, then chill it overnight for a delicious easy dessert the next day.

Recipe FAQ

Why is it called grasshopper cake?

Grasshopper desserts are named after a popular after-dinner drink that uses creme de menthe as its primary flavor.
The pale green color and refreshing minty taste inspired grasshopper pie and grasshopper cakes like this one.

What can I substitute for Cool Whip?

If you don’t want to use Cool Whip, or don’t have access to it where you live, you can make your own with this Stabilized Whipped Cream recipe. It works perfectly as a 1:1 substitute for topping poke cakes of all kinds.

Does the pudding have to set before adding the fudge?

No, it does not. You can add the fudge sauce right away after pouring on the pudidng.

How do I store leftover poke cake?

Leftover cake is a rarity in my family! If you do end up with some remaining slices, you can store them tightly covered in the fridge for about 5 days.

Grasshopper Poke Cake: a delicious chocolate cake topped with chocolate pudding, hot fudge, and minty Cool Whip!

More Easy Cake Recipes 

Grasshopper Poke Cake

4.75 from 27 votes
By: Aimee
Grasshopper Poke Cake: minty delicious fudgy cake recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 26 minutes
Chill Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 36 minutes
Servings: 16 servings

Ingredients 

  • 1 box chocolate cake mix with ingredients
  • ¾ cup Andes creme de menthe baking chips
  • 1 box instant chocolate pudding mix 3.9 ounce
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 ¼ cup hot fudge sauce
  • 16 ounce Cool Whip thawed
  • ½ teaspoon mint extract
  • green food coloring
  • ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
Save this Recipe?
Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe straight to your inbox!

Instructions 

  • Bake chocolate cake according to package directions for a 13×9 cake. Before baking though, fold in the Andes baking chips!
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the pudding mix with milk. Remove cake from oven and poke holes over the top immediately. I use a wooden skewer for this.
  • Pour the pudding mix over cake while warm (no need to let pudding set). Spread hot fudge sauce over the top of the cake. Some of the pudding and hot fudge will settle into the holes of the cake, it's a good thing!
  • In a large bowl, fold the Cool Whip with mint extract and a drop of green food coloring. Spread over cake and sprinkle with mini chocolate chips.
  • Refrigerate cake for 4 hours or overnight. Slice and serve!

Notes

  • Prepare a chocolate cake in a 13×9 or use our favorite easy chocolate cake recipe.
  • How to poke holes: I use the handle of a wooden spoon or a meat thermometer. A wooden skewer or chop stick would be perfect too!
  • The more holes the better. It doesn't matter how big they are, but the entire top should be dotted with holes as much as possible. This allows the hot fudge and pudding to soak into every bite of the rich cake.
  • Use a 13 x 9 pan. Boxed mixes will often have instructions for baking the cake in different shapes and sizes. Follow the guide for this size pan for best results.
  • Make the night before. Prepare the cake in advance, then chill it overnight for a delicious easy dessert the next day.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1piece of cake, Calories: 299kcal, Carbohydrates: 39g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 5mg, Sodium: 246mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 29g
Course: Cake
Cuisine: American
Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!

Creme de menthe, chocolate cake and fudge come together in this easy Grasshopper Poke Cake recipe. Make it tonight and you’ll be set for dessert tomorrow!



Avatar photo

About Aimee

Aimee is a dessert lover (specifically rice krispie treats), workout enthusiast, self-taught foodie, and recipe creator.

Learn more about Aimee.

Affiliate Disclosure:**There may be affiliate links in this post! By clicking on them, or purchasing recommended items I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I love! Thank you for supporting Shugary Sweets! See my disclosure policy for more info**

Learn How To Become a Better Home Baker
Sign up for the Shugary Sweets FREE Email Course Today—soon you’ll say, "I made it from scratch!"

Categories: ,


Posted on March 6, 2019

Comments & Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    Made this for my husband’s birthday and it was amazing! It just get better every day the more the fudge, pudding, and cake sets in the fridge. It’s like a mint brownie, but better! Will be making again.

  2. 5 stars
    I made this for the first time, for a work potluck and everyone loved it! I brought a big piece home to share with my husband and he loved it too. I’ll definitely be making it again!

  3. This cake is awesome! You have assembled a cake that is not hard to decorate and resulting in such a unique cake!! Everyone will love this recipe!

  4. Do you heat the fudge sauce first or use cold from the jar? Making this now, so not sure if you’ll see in time. Thanks!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating