If sunshine had a dessert form, it’d be this lemon pudding poke cake. It’s bright, smooth, and just the kind of treat that disappears fast at family potlucks, spring parties and summer backyard BBQs.

Cake is a carbolicious creation of flour, sugar, butter and eggs, with a top layer of extra calories in the form of sweet, creamy frosting. There’s nothing not to love about the whole ensemble. But if ...