This Caramel Apple Poke Cake is one of the best recipes using boxed cake mix! With tons of apples, and cinnamon, this from scratch apple cake will become an instant family favorite!
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.
In a large mixing bowl, combine yellow cake mix, water, vegetable oil and eggs. Mix until just combined.
In a separate mixing bowl, toss chopped apples with lemon juice and then sugar. Shake off excess sugar and fold into cake batter.
Pour into prepared baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes, or until cake passes the toothpick test.
Remove cake from the oven and poke with the end of a wooden spoon or a straw while still hot. Make many holes. The more holes, the more space for the delicious pudding to hide.
Allow the cake to cool slightly. Meanwhile whisk together French Vanilla pudding mix with milk. It will be liquidy, but will start to thicken as you whisk. It will take about 2 minutes. When you start to feel resistance allow to stand for 2 minutes. Fold in apple pie seasoning.
Pour pudding mix over cake, patting down into the holes. Use a toothpick and prick more holes into the cake and pudding. Tap the whole dish several times to allow the pudding to settle into the cake.
Top with broken Nilla Wafers and walnuts.
Cover with aluminum foil and allow to set in the refrigerator for at least one hour. Store refrigerated.
When ready to serve, drizzle with caramel sauce.
If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was!