You can’t go wrong with the easy, delicious nostalgia of one of these 37 decadent poke cake recipes!
With the help of a boxed cake mix and the tail end of a wooden spoon, families have noshed on decadently moist, positively scrumptious poke cake recipes for half of a century.
To make just about any poke cake, grab a box mix, pour batter into a 13×9-inch pan, then pop it into the oven.
Then, once you have a baked cake, leave it in the prepared pan while it is unceremoniously stabbed with the handle of a wooden spoon until it closely resembles Julius Caesar on the Ides of March.
After you poke holes, they are drenched with filling, like instant vanilla pudding, melted chocolate chips, or caramel sauce.
Finally, it’s finished with a layer of whipped topping.
We’ve got 37 recipes that are a piece of cake to whip up.
From the dreamy Rainbow Poke Cake to the fruity Key Lime Poke Cake and, of course, the decadent Toffee Poke Cake, you can’t go wrong with ANY of these!
What’s that in your oven?
Is it a croissant?
Is it a croquembouche?
No.
It’s a Coconut Cream Poke Cake here to save even the dreariest winters with its tropical flavors.
Serve up a mouth vacation in one creamy, all-inclusive package.
This recipe is easier than (coconut cream) pie to make from a boxed white cake mix.
This features a rich chocolate cake batter with little pudding pockets poked right in, then topped with fudge-infused Cool Whip and chocolate chips.
Of course, you can go even bigger with as much chocolate or toppings as you want.
M&Ms, Oreo cookies, sprinkles, chopped-up candy bars, the possibilities are endless.
You could even mix things up by swapping in a cherry poke cake and adding fresh berries to your candy accouterments.
The Toffee Poke Cake is treacly sweet and obnoxiously indulgent, with a German chocolate cake mix base absolutely smothered in condensed milk and butterscotch sundae syrup.
Resting on top of the cake is a crown of whipped topping and toffee bits, just in case the whole “cake filled with condensed milk and butterscotch” wasn’t sweet enough for you.
This is definitely a dessert you’ll want to savor in small doses, lest you give your sweet tooth a challenge it’s unprepared to handle.
Refreshing and citrusy, the Key Lime Poke Cake is another prime example of how pies and cakes are natural companions.
Instead of the traditional crust, all of that fruity flavor is contained within a vanilla poke cake filled with dreamy key lime condensed milk.
Finish it off with fresh strawberries and key lime zest for one of the prettiest poke cakes you’ve ever seen.
There’s something a little magical about the combination of rich, smooth chocolate with buttery caramel.
The Rolo Poke Cake capitalizes on that magic by transforming a simple candy into an entire cake concept.
Celebrate the delectable dynamic duo with a rich chocolate cake slathered in homemade condensed milk caramel and crushed Rolos.
The poke cake recipe also suggests a drizzle of hot fudge sauce, and who are we to argue with the experts?
Crisp, spiced apples, gooey caramel, and nutty toffee come together for quite the showing in this Caramel Apple Poke Cake recipe.
Your family and friends won’t believe that this delicious dessert started out as a can of apple pie filling and a vanilla cake mix.
There will be plenty of love in every luscious bite, even if you didn’t spend your time diligently breaking down apples to make it.
We’re big fans of poke cake ideas that combine two things we love, and this Coca-Cola Chocolate poke cake recipe is the perfect example.
Like a soda shop special, the mix of chocolate cake, whipped cream, Coke and chocolate frosting, and drizzle of chocolate syrup gives us serious poodle skirts and saddle shoe vibes.
You just might be tempted to stick a straw in it, but we definitely recommend a fork instead.
If you’ve been searching high and low for an excuse to eat easy poke cake variations for breakfast, here it is.
The tender crumb of white cake mix is practically begging to play host to holes filled with cinnamon sugar and drenched in spiced cream cheese frosting.
Leave it in an airtight container and enjoy it the next day with a glass of cold milk, though you might be too busy solving the mystery of who ate it all last night.
Sure, you could drink your pumpkin spice this fall, but why would you when this bounteous buffet of autumnal flavor combinations exists?
For major fans of pumpkin spice everything, you’ll love this cake taste a latte.
It’s got a crowd-pleasing ingredients list, including yellow cake mix, pumpkin puree, pumpkin spice, caramel sauce, sweetened condensed milk, whipped cream, and toffee bits.
Precariously balancing a large bowl with only plastic wrap to protect you from imminent disaster is no way to spend the road trip to Granny’s house.
Like a holiday hero, the Banana Pudding Poke Cake is here to save the day.
Skip the stress and roll up with the perfect dessert to impress even your pickiest loved ones.
Of course, we couldn’t leave out the true OG Jello cake in all of its jiggly glory.
Fans of vanilla poke cake and Jello flavor will love this one because of its versatility.
Strawberry is one of several great options because the best thing about this easy poke cake is that you can use any flavor of Jello you have hiding in your cabinet.
Mix and match your Jello mixture to create whatever fruity taste you’re craving, from Orange to Berry Blue.
Earthy peanut butter mingling with creamy chocolate sauce is our idea of a match made in heaven.
There is definitely a little bit of romance blooming in this Chocolate Peanut Butter Poke Cake.
The inspired addition of cream cheese in this poke hole cake dessert recipe cuts through the rich peanut butter cups with a much-needed tanginess that pairs delightfully with all that sweetness.
If we could give a physical form to how it feels when you get a nice, long hug from someone you love, it would look strikingly similar to a Red Velvet Peppermint Poke Cake.
Despite looking fancy enough to contribute to the company Christmas potluck, this is an easy cake for last-minute partygoers.
Mix a little peppermint extract into a boxed red velvet cake mix, bake, poke, and fill with white chocolate peppermint pudding mixture.
The piece de resistance is the Cool Whip topping mixed with hot cocoa powder, then drizzled with fudge sauce and crushed Andes Peppermint Crunch.
A cinnamon cake with a punch: that’s fireball cake.
Candied pecans roasted with whisky are out of this world.
And while the cinnamon-flavored Fireball liqueur guarantees a toasty-earthy taste, it infuses this treat with a spicy sting that is sure to surprise.
This recipe transforms a basic sweet into a lightly boozy, party-ready dessert instantly— wow!
15. Carrot Poke Cake
This carrot dessert has EVERYTHING you could want to be baked right in.
Crumbs are soft and supple, and the whole thing melts in your mouth.
It’s got lots of finely grated carrots for a nice sweetness and added textural depth.
For a tasteful sensation of warmth and spiciness on the palate, a frosting made of cinnamon and cream cheese is the way to go.
When we think of holiday treats, we tend to think of candy canes, fudge, and Christmas cookies, but this cake will change your mind.
The flavor and, well, sweetness and a hint of the peppery zing of this cake are through the roof.
Each morsel is an enticing medley of sugary filling and warming holiday spices like cinnamon and ginger.
There’s a lot of aromatics in every slice, and it would go nicely with a cup of hot coffee or a tall glass of Eggnog.
17. Lemon Poke Cake
For some reason, whenever spring arrives, I crave lemony sweets.
And this Lemon Poke Cake is just what I need.
What sets this dessert apart is the tart-sweet lemony pudding that has melted into the cake.
With its bright and zesty flavor topped with lush and smooth whipped cream, this treat is incredibly refreshing.
Boston Cream Poke Cake starts with a buttery yellow cake mix, poked and filled with a luscious pudding mixture, and finished with a generous layer of rich, dense chocolate glaze.
This pudding-oozing poke cake variant results in a super-moist cake throughout.
It tastes amazingly similar to a Boston Cream Pie, but just a fraction of the time and effort.
Indulgent, this S’mores Poke Cake captures the spirit of a summer campout minus the fire itself.
Layers upon layers of deliciousness are gooey marshmallows, intense chocolatey flavor, and toasty graham crackers.
All those parts come together in this S’mores Cake to form a deliciously delightful take on the classic snack.
Pink Champagne Poke Cake is exactly what it sounds like: buttery, sugary, and flavored with a touch of champagne.
It’s a vanilla cake layered with pink champagne and covered in fruity buttercream.
Pink champagne isn’t excessively powerful, but its flavor is undeniable.
No bubbling is required; this cake is cause for celebration.
21. Tres Leches Cake
Milk makes this cake recipe taste divine.
It uses not one but three types of milk.
After baking, a buttered sponge is covered in a rich milk mixture that must soak into the cake for a few hours.
That’s why the resulting milkiness and delicate texture of this classic Mexican dessert are so pleasing.
In this festive dessert, fresh, juicy peaches play a starring role.
Plus, there’s a dab of creamy batter in the middle.
As it bakes, the cake takes on a dense form set on the exterior but still velvety in the center.
This dessert is subtly sweet, which allows the ripe and plump peaches to take center stage.
I think one of the best combinations of fruit flavors is lemon and blueberry.
The tangy, crisp flavor of the lemon goes wonderfully with the berry’s zesty freshness.
Also, I love the variety of the blueberry’s purplish hue and the lemon’s bright yellow tone.
The sweetness, fruitiness and slight tartness of the combined blueberry puree and lemon juice make for an ideal moisturizing and flavoring mixture for this fantastic dessert.
All treats and no tricks are in this Halloween-themed Poke Cake.
I mean, seriously, have a look at it.
Orange Jell-O is used to flavor the cake, and a rich cream cheese icing in shades of black and orange serves as the finishing touch.
It’s too delicious for even the scariest of ghosts to pass up.
Though most poke cakes have a fruity flavor and are loaded with Jello, this takes a different approach.
Mixing coffee, Kahlua, and condensed milk— tastes amazing.
This poke cake in the tiramisu style features bold flavors of coffee and rum, which are balanced with cinnamon and sugary condensed milk.
High five, coffee lovers!
This dessert is the pinnacle of indulgence since it combines two classics: cake and ice cream.
When you fill a cake with a melty element, it amazingly changes from having the texture of “cake” to being pleasantly mushy and delectable.
It’s one of those sweets that rarely have leftovers since the kids and adults eat every last bite.
And I’ve got the best ice cream cake recipes for you, too.
Regarding caramel desserts, Dulce de Leche Cake is among the best.
Incorporating dulce de leche imparts a milky caramel flavor while using a butter pecan cake mix lends a hint of vanilla taste with nutty goodness.
Cool whip melds with dulce de leche smoothly, making it thicker and more indulgent, and the cake toppings of chopped nuts and toffee bits deliver a delightful crunch.
I think mint is the most hip of all the tastes.
Like an especially frosty flavor of ice cream, mint has a reputation for being the coolest of the bunch.
As such, this cake serves the same purpose.
The mint cuts through the decadence of the chocolate fudge, and the pairing is fresh and tasty.
It’s a non-chocolate treat that even chocoholics swoon over because it’s lightly fruity, incredibly soft, and smothered with a whipped cream frosting.
Canned fruit has been steeped in syrup or juice, making it mushy and blending nicely with the cake.
Cream cheese thickens whipped cream, which also lends a nice tang that goes well with the sugary cake.
Amaretto, an Italian liqueur, is usually served in warm and comforting cocktails but is also excellent when mixed with desserts.
The almond essence is so prominent in this cake because it calls for both amaretto and almond extract.
An Amaretto glaze covers this cake which adds a nuanced vanilla flavor and helps to keep in the cake’s superior moisture and aroma.
A snickers poke cake is a fancy take on a cake box mix, using the flavors of the popular candy bar that nearly everyone loves.
Enjoy the ultimate decadence with this simple poke cake recipe filled with oozing salty-sweet caramel and sumptuous chocolate.
It tastes exactly like a Snickers bar, only in cake form.
I have a sweet tooth, but every once in a while, it’s nice to step out and try something other than chocolate.
That’s why I am presenting the fruit that reigns supreme among summertime treats: the pineapple.
Its zesty, cloying, and crisp flavor make it the ideal ingredient for delectable, soothing treats like this tropical dessert.
Maybe you don’t see a lot of root beer cake around, but trust me when I say this one rocks.
I appreciate that the filling isn’t cloyingly sweet and that the cream adds a layer of smooth, airy pleasure to the dish.
You may wonder how to make root beer, so here’s a recipe to get you started.
This Italian-style cake has layers of lusciously soft cake covered by a mixture of Italian cheese filling like ricotta, which has a gentle nutty taste.
The mixture of ricotta and mascarpone as a filling is delicate and luscious, and the little dark chocolate chips sprinkled throughout add to the fantastic depth of taste.
Plus, if sugar-free and low-carb desserts are your thing, this one fits the bill.
35. Oreo Poke Cake
Anyone who enjoys either cake or cookies ‘n’ cream Oreos will enjoy this delicious fusion of the two.
You get the very best of both worlds.
This Oreo poke cake recipe uses a cookies ‘n creme instant pudding mix to perfectly recreate the famous cookie.
It’s delightfully moist because of the vanilla pudding, and the Oreo cookies toppings provide a satisfying crunch.
Some cheesecakes are too dense and stiff for my taste, but this one yields a magnificent melt-in-your-mouth cheesecake and will surely be a hit at the holiday table.
This cheesecake is silky smooth and crowned with a mountain of beautiful, plump red cherries.
Cream cheese’s velvety texture on the inside is contrasted perfectly with the chewiness of the cherry topping.
Every kid deserves to have this lovely Rainbow poke cake on their birthday.
You can’t deny how stunning that color combination is.
It’s almost like making a tie-dye cake, and in this case, the more colors, the better and more exciting it will be.
Since it’s only a mix of different jello colors, you don’t even have to be an artist to pull this off— easy peasy.
The bottom line
Thanks to the quick bake times and easy ingredient lists, the poke hole cake has been a family favorite since we considered bell bottoms and fringe vests haute couture.
We sincerely hope that our list of 37 poke cake recipes inspires you to look at your favorite wooden spoon in a whole new light and serves as time well spent not making a homemade cake.
Find more cake recipes here.
37 EASY Poke Cakes 🍰
You can’t go wrong with these easy 37 decadent poke cake recipes!
Ingredients
- Coconut Cream Cake
- Chocolate Pudding Poke Cake
- Toffee Poke Cake
- Key Lime Poke Cake
- Rolo Poke Cake
- Caramel Apple Poke Cake
- Coca-cola Chocolate Poke Cake
- Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake
- Pumpkin Spice Poke Cake
- Banana Pudding Poke Cake
- Strawberry Jello Poke Cake
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Poke Cake
- Red Velvet Peppermint Poke Cake
- Fireball Poke Cake
- Carrot Poke Cake
- Gingerbread Poke Cake
- Lemon Poke Cake
- Boston Cream Poke Cake
- S'mores Poke Cake
- Pink Champagne Poke Cake
- Tres Leches Cake
- Peaches & Cream Poke Cake
- Lemon Blueberry Poke Cake
- Halloween Poke Cake
- Tiramisu Poke Cake
- Ice Cream Poke Cake
- Butter Pecan Dulce De Leche Poke Cake
- Mint Chocolate Poke Cake
- Fruit Cocktail Poke Cake
- Amaretto Poke Cake
- Snickers Poke Cake
- Pineapple Poke Cake
- Chocolate Root Beer Float Cake
- Cannoli Poke Cake
- Oreo Poke Cake
- Cherry Cheesecake Poke Cake
- Rainbow Poke Cake
Instructions
- Have a look at our list of Poke Cake Recipes.
- Choose the cake you want to recreate.
- Start baking your newly found dessert recipe!
- Share your insights on our Facebook Page!