Hereโ€™s how to make a poke cake with cake mix so you can create one at home with any flavor cake or filling you want. Start with our pineapple poke cake and then try this yummy ganache filling style we made today.

how to make a poke cake
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Whether you make a ganache poke cake like we did here or a tropical flavored one weโ€™re here to explain how to make a poke cake so you can create your own favorite dessert too. Think of your favorite flavors and a sweet sauce you love and get ready for the moistest cake ever. Just one of our easy dessert recipes. (affiliate links present)

How to Make a Poke Cake with Cake Mix

Why we love poke cakes is a long list of whys but I will narrow it down to a few. To start with my girls have always been fans. To get them involved in the kitchen is a goal so once they fell in love we went on a roll to make many variations of them over the years.

  1. They are easy to make
  2. You can create a bunch of combinations of cake easily
  3. It is super moist
  4. Itโ€™s filled with cream, caramel or chocolate which is just amazing
  5. Itโ€™s pretty topped with Cool Whip and chocolate shavings, fresh fruit, or anything else you could possibly imagine like what we added here with this smores poke cake

Let us show you how to make one of these OH SO Moist desserts. Let your imagination run wild with flavors and decorations.

how to make a poke cake 3

If you want to make a specific color for a birthday I would opt for strawberry for pink, boxed lemon for yellow or if you want homemade you can go for our purple cake recipe.

What you need to make a poke cake

  • Box of cake mix โ€“ Or you can make one from scratch but thatโ€™s not happening in my house. Letโ€™s just go with the basic yellow or white cake mix shall we.
  • Wide straws, Use the end of a spoon or if you have a cupcake injector you can use that.  You just need something to poke holes in the cake so the filling will seep in.
  • Filling โ€“ A can of sweetened condensed milk is typically used. You can use jar of caramel sauce, warmed jar of raspberry jam, vanilla pudding, ganache, the list goes on and on. These work great if you donโ€™t want to make your own filling.
    • Basically you want something sweet and warm that will ooze into the holes.
  • Topping โ€“ Cool Whip is typically used for a light fluffy topping but you can whip up some frosting yourself or use a tub of whipped frosting
  • Pretties โ€“ Anything and everything youโ€™d like to โ€œdecorateโ€ your cake or give it a unique flavor
  • Ideally a fridge โ€“ Youโ€™ll want to refrigerate it after adding your filling, then again after you add your topping(s). No need to cover the cake while chilling.
  • Pan โ€“ 13ร—9 baking dish is needed

How do you poke a cake?

You can see where the holes were made and โ€œinjectedโ€ with ganache for this poke cake recipe. You could also poke holes with a large straw to pour the warm filling inside if yours is more liquidy. When spots go all the way down to the bottom of the pan you can just pour your sauce on top so it seeps into the holes. Either way works.

how to make a poke cake 2

There is a recipe for homemade ganache style filling and frosting below. Iโ€™ve also provided alternatives if you are looking for a quicker dessert. Like I said there are TONS of different varieties. Hereโ€™s our tropical poke cake being made below.

Ok so there are steps to follow no matter what type of cake mix you choose, flavors or fillings. They are simple to follow and remember but should be followed in this same order. The temp of how itโ€™s done is important so donโ€™t rush things.

How to Make Poke Cake

  1. Bake your cake as directed on the box in a 13ร—9 pan
  2. Take out when it springs back when gently touched in the very center
  3. Set on a cooling rack to almost cool completely
  4. Poke holes in the top of your cake as you see in the video
  5. Warm your filling so it is liquidy
  6. Pour sauce on top of your entire cake so it seeps into the holes youโ€™ve created
  7. Put cake in your fridge for a good hour
  8. Take cake out and use a spatula to spread your whipped topping or whip frosting until it has stiff peaks and spread that on the top
  9. Add toppings on top of that
  10. Put cake back into the fridge to cool again (my preference, but you could immediately serve it)

And here it isโ€ฆโ€ฆThese are easy desserts that are great for any occasion, especially potlucks!

poke cake topped with chocolate sauce, strawberries, and blueberries on a white plate with a patterned napkin nearby, this delightful treat might inspire you to explore how to make a poke cake next time.

Other easy cake recipes youโ€™ll love

  1. Our coconut chocolate poke cake is oh so good.
  2. Strawberry poke cake is great for the summertime.
  3. Or use any other flavor to make a jello poke cake.

This banana pudding cake is always a winner. Less work than a poke cake but the same taste. This is how to make a surprise inside cake too. That is fun!

Does jello poke cake have to be refrigerated?
Can you freeze a poke cake?
A glass baking dish with a rich chocolate cake covered in glossy glaze showcases evenly spaced holesโ€”a hallmark of how to make a poke cake.
5 from 1 vote

How to Make a Poke Cake

By Justine
Hereโ€™s how to make a poke cake so you can create one at home with any flavor cake or filling you want like this yummy ganache poke cake we made today.
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Servings:

Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 1 box cake mix, and all ingredients to make as directed on box
  • 1.5 c chocolate chips
  • 1 c heavy whipping cream, or use a can of sweetened condensed milk instead of chocolate chips and whipping cream to fill holes
  • 8 oz whipped topping
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Instructions 

  • Make cake as directed on box, allow to completely cool on cooling rack.
  • Use a very wide straw or the end of a small spoon to poke holes all over the top of the cake going all the way down to the bottom of the  pan.
  • Pour can of condensed sweetened milk over top of cake and allow it to go into holes, if you want a chocolate ganache filling instead melt chocolate chips and heavy whipping cream above on stovetop and pour 1/2 of that on top instead.
  • Use a spatula to spread whipped topping on top of cake, if you want a chocolate topping use the rest of your ganache mixture that has been cooled and put it into your mixture. Whip until it is lighter in color and fluffier and spread that on top instead.
  • Top with candies, berries, or any other toppings.
  • Put into fridge for at least 1 hour to cool and solidify liquid that has been poured on top and then serve!

Nutrition

Serving: 1oz, Calories: 381kcal, Carbohydrates: 56g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 26mg, Sodium: 348mg, Potassium: 58mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 38g, Vitamin A: 356IU, Vitamin C: 0.3mg, Calcium: 144mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @thetypical_mom or tag #thetypicalmom!
how to make a poke cake
smores poke cake

About Justine

Justine is the creative mind behind The Typical Mom and The Typical Family on YouTube. She began blogging about easy recipes, budget friendly activities for kids, and fun family travel destinations in September 2012.

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5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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