Description
This indulgent Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake combines a moist chocolate cake with luscious caramel sauce poured into holes poked throughout the cake, all topped with creamy cool whip or chocolate frosting and sprinkled with chocolate and caramel chips for a perfectly balanced, crowd-pleasing dessert.
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 13.25-ounce box Chocolate cake mix (prepared according to package directions, substituting milk for water)
- Milk (as required by cake mix package)
- Vegetable oil (as required by cake mix package)
- Eggs (as required by cake mix package)
Toppings and Filling
- ¾ cup caramel sauce
- 1 16-ounce container cool whip or chocolate frosting
- ¾ cup chocolate chips
- ¾ cup caramel chips
- Non-stick cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a 9×9” cake pan with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Mix Cake Batter: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the chocolate cake mix, milk (as per package directions), vegetable oil, and eggs. Whisk thoroughly until the batter is smooth and fully blended.
- Bake the Cake: Pour the prepared cake batter evenly into the sprayed cake pan. Bake for 33-38 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool the Cake: Remove the cake from the oven after baking and place it on a cooling rack or surface to cool.
- Poke the Cake: While the cake is still warm, use a skewer or fork to poke holes spaced about every ½ to 1 inch apart across the entire cake in both directions, reaching from the top to the bottom of the pan.
- Add Caramel Sauce: Pour the caramel sauce evenly over the cake, making sure it seeps into every hole for maximum flavor and moistness.
- Cool Completely: Allow the cake to cool completely to room temperature before proceeding to the next step.
- Frost the Cake: Spread the cool whip or chocolate frosting evenly over the top of the cooled cake. Some frosting may seep into the holes, adding extra richness.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle the chocolate chips and caramel chips evenly over the frosted surface of the cake.
- Serve: Slice the cake into 12 servings and serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Using milk instead of water as directed enhances the cake’s flavor and richness.
- Make sure the cake is warm when poking holes to make it easier to penetrate without breaking it.
- Allowing the caramel sauce to fully soak into holes adds a delightful gooey texture.
- The cake must be completely cooled before frosting to prevent melting the cool whip or frosting.
- Feel free to substitute cool whip with chocolate frosting depending on your preference.
- For extra decadence, serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
