Easy Boston Cream Poke Cake

There are a lot of things I have learned as a parent of teens (and almost teens). I have learned that socks are a commodity that often disappear under couches and that forks and plates can often be found in the most random of places such as bathroom sinks and bedroom nightstands. I have learned that the best way to get your teen to open up to you is to take them somewhere with a long drive where no eye contact is required during conversation or to participate in his or her favorite activity with them–like basketball or painting. (yes, even if you’re terrible at both). I have learned that there is a particular type of loneliness that descends upon your life once your kids don’t need you as much anymore and that you’d better have a hobby, strong marriage, or fulfilling career to fill in the gaps or you’ll be lost.

But most of all, I’ve learned that I am terribly uncool and that spending time with me is, dare I say it, a total bore.

This is hard to swallow most of the time, especially considering that I am the coolest mom ever {in my own mind} and a witty, fun, and engaging companion. If I do say so myself. But it’s also hard to swallow because the minutes are ticking by faster and faster, the years whirring by like I’m on the bullet train express to an empty nest. All of that is to say, I’m keenly aware that I only have so many more summers left with my kids before they’re on to college and the next phase in their lives.

So sometimes, no matter how uncool I am, I force them to hang out with us and do family things.

Now any parent of teenagers will tell you that this in and of itself is no easy feat. When your kids are little you can just tell them, “Hey, we’re going here” and they really don’t have any choice but to go along with you because 1) it’s illegal for them to stay home alone and 2) they don’t understand the concept of mutiny yet. So they just go along for the ride. Sure, you sometimes have to navigate around complicated napping schedules and carry around a crap ton of extra gear like diapers, sippy cups, and an inexplicable amount of broken crayons in an old ziploc baggie. Just in case. But I promise it’s still much easier because they are a captive audience who, with the exception of those toddler tantrum moments, generally like you.

Teenagers are a whole different ball of wax. First of all, it’s not illegal for them to stay home alone. It’s just not. You can’t call upon the law for backup here. If they don’t want to go, it’s perfectly within the confines of what is right and good for them to stay home without your supervision. So there’s that. But also, they just don’t want to go unless there is something in it for them. So if you want the *ahem* pleasure of their company, you’re just going to have to get a little down and dirty with your parental authority (yes, you still have that until they’re 18) and make them.

Yes. You read that right. I make my kids spend time with me. Also Yes. I am aware of how pathetic that sounds.

Last weekend, I pulled out my parenting card and forced nicely invited my family to go with me to our local Double-A Baseball stadium for a game. It was a last-minute idea, one brought about from sheer boredom on my part and because I was tired of sitting around watching my kids disappear into their computers and Xboxes and group texts while Jeff and I stared at each other. I knew the opposition would be strong. But I was ready to fight it with every tool I have in my toolbox (read: we cut the wifi).

We were met with various levels of resistance. One child, the oldest, is surprisingly willing to do stuff with us right now and he was a good sport about it. This is a blessing beyond measure because for years he would make our lives a living hell if we made him do something he didn’t want to do. I spent many a dinner sitting outside of a restaurant in the car with a bratty kid while the rest of the family enjoyed their meal in peace. So his newfound cooperativeness is a joy.

The middle one, though, HOLY SMOKES.

Thirteen is hard, y’all. And he is every bit of it. The only thing he wants to do right now is hang out with his friends, online, in person, at the park, it doesn’t matter. They are his world, this is his life and he wants zero parental interruptions. Please and thank you. It’s highly annoying, especially when he gets extra flippant and says things like “Why would I want to hang out with you? You’re such a MOM.” (insert dramatic eye roll here).

And my youngest, well, she’s not quite a teenager yet so has less say in the matter of whether or not she has to do these forced family fun activities. But she’s more malleable and up for fun. Except, for this particular instance because she, like her mother, is not really a “sports” person and had no interest in going to watch a baseball game.

But we made them. All three of those wonderful children. We piled them in the car, threw some sunscreen on their necks, and made them go and spend three hours of good old-fashioned QT with their mom and dad.

And here’s what happened.

There was a lot of complaining. Like, a lot. There was a fair amount of bickering and “I’m not touching you moments.” There was a lot of saying “stop staring at your phone. You can text them later.” And there was one unfortunate incident in the car where I had to pull out that gritted teeth whisper yell moms are famous for. (you know the one).

Oh, and also there were chili dogs. Really good chili dogs.

The miracle, though, is that after the grumbling settled down and the phones were put away, we had fun. All of us. Every single one. (even the grumpy one). We owe this fact in part to the wonderful experience The Frisco Rough Riders put together, making it a family-friendly, fun night for everyone, even the non-baseball fans among us. {Side note: if you’re local, go to one of the games. They’re so fun.} But also, we just had fun as a family. We laughed. We did the wave. We reminisced about the games we used to go to when they were younger and how different the experience is now. We actually spent quality time together. There might have even been a few “Thank you, this was fun’s” in there. And it was wonderful.

I also might have shed a few low-key tears of gratefulness while we were there, too. Because, man, I love these people.

So, the point of this whole story, friends, is that sometimes you’ve got to push past the objections and the grievances and the annoyance and just do it. Force your people to hang out with you. Make the plans and enforce quality family time no matter how much pushback you get. If you’ve got littles and the days are long right now and you’re exhausted, you might not be able to see it yet, but the years really do fly by and time really is short with your kids before they leave the nest. We’ve also seen direct evidence in these last few weeks that life is fleeting and you never really know what’s around the corner, tomorrow is never guaranteed. So just book the tickets. Go to the baseball game, the circus, the movies. Take your big kids places just like you did when they were little. Yes, they smell worse and have crappy attitudes sometimes, but believe it or not, they need that time just as much as they did back then.

And I have a sneaking suspicion that they enjoy it just as much, too. They’ll just never show you because #teenagersarejerkssometimes. For real.

Easy Boston Cream Poke Cake

A few years ago I shared my recipe for Boston Cream Cupcakes and it has been by far one of my top performing recipes across the board. Easy boxed cake mix is fancied up with a pudding filling and topped with the most decadent chocolate ganache ever. I mean, I can’t even believe how good it is and I created the dang recipe. So that’s saying something.

But, the thing about those cupcakes is they are labor intensive. There’s a lot of poking and filling and icing and all steps involved with making them just right. And sometimes I’m just not up to lots of steps because I’m lazy and I want chocolate when I want chocolate. Not 10 hours from now.

That’s where this Easy Boston Cream Poke Cake Comes in.  Yes, there are still a few steps. But there’s a lot less steps than “individually spread ganache on 18 cupckaes” steps. So it’s still easier. And this one’s fun too.

The “poke” aspect of this recipe makes the cake extra moist (yup, I said it) so it’s not a pretty cake once it’s sliced. In fact, it’s downright messy. But what it lacks in inner beauty it makes up for in deliciousness and it’s so worth it.  I love that, for the most part, it’s made from boxed mixes and therefore easily accessible to even the most reluctant baker. You can always trick out the cake with extra eggs, milk, and butter, like I did with the cupcakes, but it’s not necessary in this recipe because the pudding permeates the cake with enough extra flavor and moisture. The best part, though, is the ganache. So rich and so decadent you’ll want to get lost in the bowl when you spread it. But don’t. Use it all on the cake. It’s worth it.

A few baking notes: This is a cake that likes to be cold, otherwise that ganache gets a bit slippery so be sure to refrigerate well before slicing. I have even been known to pop it in the freezer if I’m in a rush and it firms it up nicely. Do not skip on the pinch of salt in the chocolate. It balances the sweetness in an incredible way.

And finally, just enjoy this one. Make it for your teens. Make it for yourself. It’s so dang good. You will never regret it.

Peace, love, and teeangers,

Meg

Easy Boston Cream Poke Cake

June 3, 2022

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By: Meaghan Dawson

Ingredients

• 1 Boxed Yellow Cake Mix (and all ingredients required)
• 2 Boxes Instant Vanilla Pudding (and all ingredients required)
• 1 12 ounce bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 pinch of sea salt

Directions

• Step 1 Prepare cake in a 9×13 according to package directions.
• Step 2 Cool completely.
• Step 3 Once cooled, use the end of a wooden spoon (or a chopstick) to poke holes in the cake.
• Step 4 Make pudding according to package instructions but do not allow to completely set.
• Step 5 Pour almost set pudding over cake, making sure it’s covered completely but also allowing space at the top for the ganache (you may have a bit extra).
• Step 6 Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for an hour or so to allow it to set.
• Step 7 Remove from fridge and remove plastic wrap.
• Step 8 To make the ganache:
• Step 9 Place chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 1 minute.
• Step 10 Stir and then microwave for one more minute or until completely melted.
• Step 11 Add cream, vanilla, and salt, stirring until smooth and glassy.
• Step 12 Pour over pudding and spread evenly.
• Step 13 Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until ganache is set and firm.

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