8 Easy Poke Cake Recipes (2024)

Home Recipes Course Desserts Poke Cakes 8 Delicious Poke Cake Recipes

Jenn

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A poke cake is an easy way to doctor up a boring box of cake mix. These 8 delicious poke cake recipes all start with a box of cake mix, but you won’t believe the upgrade! Everything from a Cinnamon Roll Cake to an easy Red Velvet Cake to the ultimate Death By Chocolate Poke Cake!

8 Easy Poke Cake Recipes (2)

Table of Contents

  1. What is a Poke Cake?
  2. What do you use to make the holes in a poke cake?

What is a Poke Cake?

A poke cake is a basic sheet cake literally with holes poked into it after it has baked. The cake is then poured over with either a pudding, frosting, Jell-o mix – basically something sweet and creamy. That liquid then fills the holes that were “poked”. The result is an extra moist delicious cake with a burst of creamy flavor in every bite.

What do you use to make the holes in a poke cake?

You can use any type of kitchen tool to make the holes in a poke cake, however, we found the end of a wooden spoon or spatula works the best for us! If you want to make smaller holes, you can also use a skewer. Personally, I prefer the larger holes and the handle of a wooden spoon end works perfectly for that!

8 Delicious Poke Cake Recipes

Poke cakes may have a funny name but they are no joke! These cakes made their fame in the 70's but have grown up to be some of the most moist, delicious, and easy cake recipes out there!

All you need to get started is your favorite flavor of cake mix. Here are some of our most popular Poke Cake recipes!

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Strawberry Shortcake Poke Cake

Strawberry Shortcake Poke Cake is easy to prepare in 10 minutes! Bake, poke, fill, and cover for a delicious fruity dessert

8 Easy Poke Cake Recipes (4)

Hot Chocolate Poke Cake

Hot Chocolate Poke Cake turns your favorite cup of hot cocoa into a moist decadent dessert--no mug needed

8 Easy Poke Cake Recipes (5)

Chocolate Mint Poke Cake

Chocolate Mint Poke Cake is perfect combination of moist cake, milk chocolate filling, creamy pudding, and whipped topping in every poked piece.

8 Easy Poke Cake Recipes (6)

Fireball Poke Cake

Bake, poke, fill with pudding, and top for an easy Fireball Poke Cake with a boozy bite!

8 Easy Poke Cake Recipes (7)

Boston Cream Poke Cake

Boston Cream Poke Cake is a buttery yellow cake base is poked and filled with creamy pudding mixture, then topped rich, thick chocolate glaze

Eggnog Poke Cake is made from a box mix, poked with holes, filled with a sweet eggnog pudding, and covered with whipped topping. So quick and easy to prepare, this delicious dessert has eggnog in both the cake batter and pudding mixture

8 Easy Poke Cake Recipes (9)

Raspberry Poke Cake

Raspberry Poke Cake, just bake, poke, fill, cover, and top. Enjoy this simple yet delicious treat with white chocolate curls and berries

8 Easy Poke Cake Recipes (10)

Strawberry Crunch Poke Cake

This Strawberry Crunch Poke Cake is moist and soft with a cool whipped topping and crunchy cookie crumble. Light and fluffy with pretty pink stripes, it has the perfect sweet taste and creamy texture in every poked piece

8 Easy Poke Cake Recipes (11)

Rainbow Jello Poke Cake

Rainbow Jello Cake is unbelievably simple to make using a box of cake mix and jello for an effortless treat that is full of flavor and color.

8 Easy Poke Cake Recipes (12)

Strawberry Cheesecake Poke Cake

Strawberry Cheesecake Poke Cake is easy to make by baking a cake mix from a box, poking it with holes, filling them with pudding, and covering it with Cool Whip and sliced strawberries

8 Easy Poke Cake Recipes (13)

Oreo Poke Cake

Oreo Poke Cake is easily made using a box cake mix as the base, then filled with pudding and topped whipped cream and crushed cookies.

8 Easy Poke Cake Recipes (14)

Banana Pudding Poke Cake

Banana Pudding Poke Cake has a moist yellow cake base, is poked and filled with creamy pudding, then topped with bananas and covered with Cool Whip

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Cookies And Cream Poke Cake

Cookies and Cream Poke Cake is the perfect combination of chocolate cake infused with a light cream flavor, just like the classic sandwich cookie. Easy to make with a box mix, pudding, and whipped topping

8 Easy Poke Cake Recipes (16)

Strawberry Poke Cake

Incredibly light and super refreshing, Strawberry Poke Cake is a moist vanilla cake that’s oozing with delicious white chocolate and strawberry filling in every bite.

8 Easy Poke Cake Recipes (17)

Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake

Every bite of this Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake is bursting with delicious flavor. The cake is moist and soft. The homemade frosting is the perfect way to top it all of.

8 Easy Poke Cake Recipes (18)

Death By Chocolate Poke Cake

This Chocolate Poke Cake is easily made using a box cake mix as the base, then filled with rich chocolatey filling and topped off with homemade chocolate whipped topping. A must-make for the chocolate lover!

8 Easy Poke Cake Recipes (19)

Christmas Red Velvet Poke Cake

Christmas Red Velvet Poke Cake is a delicious, moist holiday cake that is easily made with a boxed cake mix, pudding, and whipped topping. Swap out the sprinkles and colored frosting to enjoy this cake all year long.

8 Easy Poke Cake Recipes (20)

Red White and Blue Poke Cake

This 4th of July Poke Cake is the perfect, patriotic dessert for your family gathering or holiday cookout. Super easy to make - it starts with a box of cake mix!

8 Easy Poke Cake Recipes (21)

Butterfinger Cake

This Butterfinger Cake is a poke cake that is oozing with delicious caramel flavor and topped with crunchy Butterfinger’s candy. It’s super simple to make and ready in less than 30 minutes!

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Jello Poke Cake {Use ANY Flavor!}

Jello poke cake is one of the most refreshing and light poke cakes, topped off with smooth and creamy Cool Whip! Pick your favorite flavor and change it up every time you make it!

8 Easy Poke Cake Recipes (23)

Rainbow Poke Cake

Rainbow Poke Cake is fun, flavorful, and filled with vibrant colors. This quick and easy recipe is the best way to bake a beautifully bright dessert.

8 Easy Poke Cake Recipes (24)

Red Velvet Poke Cake

This red velvet poke cake is moist, light and fluffy with a cream cheese poke filling and almond cream cheese frosting on top.

8 Easy Poke Cake Recipes (25)

About Jenn

Jenn is a mom to three beautiful boys, wife to an amazing husband, social influencer and blogger. I love all things easy recipes, easy crafts, all things hacks, traveling EVERYWHERE and feeding my Pinterest addiction!

Learn More About Me!

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Comments

  1. this looks to be a rewarding site, so interested.

    Reply

  2. I have been making “Polk Cakes” since the 70’s – they were a big hit then & still are today.!! . 😃 👍..
    Thank-You for sharing these different recipes.!! . 👍.. 😋Yum.!! 😃 💖..

    Reply

  3. Interesting

    Reply

  4. Pretty cool changing up the taste. I have yet to try. Don’t mind me asking for the recipe for your cream.

    Reply

  5. can’t wait to make

    Reply

  6. I want all poke cakes

    Reply

  7. Looks delicious 😋 can’t wait to try them!

    Mae

    Reply

  8. All your desserts looks Yummly love the poke cakes make a lot of them love the rainbow ones and the red white and blue poke cakes

    Reply

    1. Awwww thank you Pam!

      Reply

  9. Looks yummy 🤤

    Reply

  10. HI, seen your recipes on facebook. they all look so good ty.

    Reply

8 Easy Poke Cake Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is poke cake made of? ›

So, what's a poke cake? True to its name, it's a cake that you poke holes in after baking. The holes are then filled with a liquid or filling — like condensed milk, pureed fruit, chocolate cream, or pudding — to infuse extra flavor into every bite. Here are our favorite ways to make one.

Why is my poke cake soggy? ›

This can happen when you pour too much liquid into the holes of your cake. This can occur when the holes are less than an inch apart from each other and this is why instant pudding is such a game-changer — its thick consistency won't drench the cake sponge too quickly, resulting in a soggy mess.

How long to bake an 8 cake at 350? ›

On average, most cakes take around 25 to 45 minutes to bake at a temperature of 350°F (175°C).

Why is it called poke cake? ›

Poke-and-pour cake (also called poke cake) is a cake recipe that calls for holes to be poked in it after baking, usually with the handle of a wooden spoon or a wooden skewer. Then a liquid is poured over the baked cake to soak into the cake holes.

How is poke made? ›

Traditionally, poke is made from ahi tuna or octopus (tako) that has been roughly cut into bite sized pieces and marinated with whatever was on hand. Many traditional pokes feature sesame oil, various types of dried and fresh seaweed, soy sauce and spring onions.

When was the first poke cake made? ›

According to Lynne Galia of the Kraft Heinz Company, the Jell-O gelatin poke cake, developed by General Foods Kitchens, first appeared in print advertising and in Jell-O recipe booklets in 1976.

Do you poke holes in cake when hot or cold? ›

It's best to make the holes in the cake while it is still slightly warm, because as it cools the crust on top of the cake will crumble more easily.

What does adding pudding to a cake do? ›

Put some pudding in the mix: Add a small box of pudding mix in with the cake mix. (Don't make the pudding.) The mix adds additional flavor, moistness, and a denser texture.

How long is poke cake good for in the fridge? ›

To keep jello poke cake on hand for up to a week, store it in an airtight container in the fridge.

How do you keep a cake super moist? ›

Seven Bakery Secrets to Incredibly Moist Cakes Every Time
  1. Use Buttermilk Instead of Milk.
  2. Add Vegetable Oil.
  3. Use Instant Clearjel or Instant Pudding Mix.
  4. Use the Right Recipe.
  5. Don't Overbake.
  6. Bake in Sheet Pans Instead of individual Cake Pans.
  7. Use a Simple Syrup or Glaze.
Apr 23, 2021

Why is my cake tough and chewy? ›

Overworking the batter, especially if it contains gluten, will result in a tough, chewy cake. You'll often see the instructions, “mix until just combined,” in cake recipes. This means to stop mixing as soon as you see that all ingredients are evenly incorporated.

Why is my cake hard and chewy? ›

Toughness in cakes is caused by over-mixing, or the wrong type of flour. Solution: Mix your cake according to the recipe. There is a function to the order in which ingredients are added to create the right texture. As soon as you begin mixing flour with a liquid and a fat, gluten is developed.

How to bake a cake step by step? ›

How To Bake a Cake in 7 Easy Steps
  1. Prepare the pan. Start by turning on your oven and setting it to preheat to 350°F. ...
  2. Cream the butter and sugar. ...
  3. Combine dry ingredients. ...
  4. Combine ingredients. ...
  5. Add batter to pan. ...
  6. Bake the cake. ...
  7. Cool and frost.
Jan 20, 2023

How to bake a cake in 7 steps? ›

Baking Cake
  1. Introduction: Baking Cake. ...
  2. Step 1: Get a Clean Bawl.
  3. Step 2: Simply Place All the Ingredients in the Bawl.
  4. Step 3: Then Mix All the Ingredients.
  5. Step 4: Get a Clean Pan.
  6. Step 5: Pure the Mixture Into a Pan.
  7. Step 6: Bake at 350 Degrees F. ...
  8. Step 7: Let the Cake Cool for 5 Minutes.

What are the 10 steps of baking a cake? ›

What are the 10 Steps of Baking a Cake at Home?
  1. Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients. ...
  2. Step 2: Prepare the Cake Pans. ...
  3. Step 3: Measure and Sift Dry Ingredients. ...
  4. Step 4: Combine Wet Ingredients. ...
  5. Step 5: Gradually Add Dry Ingredients. ...
  6. Step 6: Pour Batter into Cake Pans. ...
  7. Step 7: Bake in Preheated Oven. ...
  8. Step 8: Cool and Remove from Pans.
May 13, 2023

How to cake step by step? ›

How to Make Cake
  1. Step 1: Things You Will Need. First get all of your ingredients together. ...
  2. Step 2: Mix Cake Flour. ...
  3. Step 3: Step 3-egg White. ...
  4. Step 4: Add Rest of Sugar. ...
  5. Step 5: Add Flour Mix. ...
  6. Step 6: Put in Tube Cake Pan. ...
  7. Step 7: Turn Cooked Cake Up-side Down. ...
  8. Step 8: Sift Over Cake.

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