Luscious Chocolate Poke Cake Recipe

Irresistible Luscious Chocolate Poke Cake Recipe For Sweet Tooths

Decadent chocolate cake meets sweet surprise in this mouthwatering chocolate poke cake that will make dessert lovers swoon.

Rich chocolate layers promise an indulgent experience for anyone with a sweet tooth.

The creamy filling seeps perfectly into every delicious bite, creating a magical texture that melts in your mouth.

Each forkful brings a delightful combination of soft cake and silky pudding-like goodness.

Chocolate lovers will appreciate the deep, intense flavor that makes this dessert truly irresistible.

The simple technique transforms an ordinary cake into an extraordinary treat that looks impressive but requires minimal effort.

Prepare to wow your guests with this crowd-pleasing dessert that guarantees smiles and second helpings.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25-30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Calories: 280 kcal

Servings: 12

Chocolate Poke Cake: Inside the Ingredients

For Cake Base:
  • Chocolate Cake Mix: Provides rich, moist foundation with deep chocolate flavor, choose premium brand for best taste.
  • Vegetable Oil: Ensures cake's tenderness and helps distribute moisture evenly.
  • Eggs: Binds ingredients and creates smooth, consistent cake texture, use fresh room temperature eggs.
For Filling and Moisture:
  • Instant Chocolate Pudding Mix: Adds intense chocolate layer and helps create signature poke cake texture, select high-quality brand.
  • Milk: Activates pudding mix and enhances overall cake moisture, use cold whole milk for creamiest result.
For Topping and Garnish:
  • Whipped Topping: Creates light, creamy finish and balances chocolate intensity, choose fully thawed topping for smooth spreading.
  • Chocolate Syrup: Provides extra decadent drizzle and visual appeal, select rich dark chocolate syrup for gourmet touch.

Tools to Bake a Moist Chocolate Poke Cake

  • 913-inch Baking Pan: Essential for baking the chocolate cake base.
  • Wooden Spoon Handle or Straw: Perfect for creating uniform holes in the cake surface.
  • Whisk: Needed to blend pudding mix and milk smoothly.
  • Medium Bowl: Used for mixing pudding ingredients.
  • Spatula: Helps spread pudding and whipped topping evenly across the cake.
  • Refrigerator: Chills and sets the cake.
  • Serving Knife: For slicing and serving the cake.

How to Prepare Chocolate Poke Cake Layers

  • Create Chocolate Base

Grab your favorite chocolate cake mix and whip up a delectable base in a 9×13 pan. Bake according to package directions and let it cool down for a quick moment.

  • Puncture Tasty Holes

Grab a wooden spoon handle and playfully poke holes throughout the cake, creating little pockets of deliciousness. Space the holes about an inch apart to ensure even coverage.

  • Flood with Chocolate Goodness

Whisk chocolate pudding mix with milk until silky smooth. Pour this creamy mixture generously over the cake, making sure it seeps into every single hole. Use a spatula to spread it evenly across the surface.

  • Chill and Set

Cover your cake and tuck it into the refrigerator for a couple of hours. This allows the pudding to settle and infuse the cake with rich, chocolatey moisture.

  • Crown with Fluffy Topping

Once chilled, spread a layer of cool whipped cream across the entire cake. Create soft, billowy peaks for an extra touch of indulgence.

  • Final Drizzle and Serve

Before serving, add a delicate chocolate syrup drizzle. Slice into this decadent treat and watch everyone’s eyes light up with excitement.

Tweak the Flavor of Chocolate Poke Cake

  • Chocolate Magic Maximizer: Use instant pudding mix to create ultra-moist cake layers that soak up creamy chocolate goodness perfectly.
  • Creamy Texture Trick: Allow cake to cool slightly before poking holes, ensuring pudding penetrates deeply without making cake soggy.
  • Dietary Flex Options: Swap regular pudding mix with sugar-free version for lower-calorie dessert. Use gluten-free cake mix for celiac-friendly treat.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare cake up to 24 hours in advance and store refrigerated for stress-free entertaining. Keeps fresh and develops richer flavor overnight.
  • Topping Transformation: Experiment with different chocolate syrup varieties like dark, milk, or caramel drizzle to personalize cake's final presentation and taste profile.

Serve Chocolate Poke Cake with Elegance

  • Sweet Chocolate Haven: Sprinkle mini chocolate chips across the whipped topping for extra crunch and rich chocolate bursts.
  • Dessert Pairing Perfection: Serve alongside a cold glass of milk or a steaming cup of coffee to complement the cake's rich chocolate flavor.
  • Festive Presentation Twist: Garnish with chocolate shavings or colorful sprinkles to make the cake visually appealing and add a fun decorative touch.
  • Elegant Serving Style: Cut into neat squares and place each slice on a small dessert plate with a light dusting of cocoa powder for an elevated presentation.

Store Chocolate Poke Cake Properly

  • Refrigeration Strategy: Store the cake covered in the refrigerator for optimal freshness, keeping it sealed tightly to prevent moisture loss and absorb other food odors.
  • Freshness Window: Consume within 3-4 days for the best taste and texture, ensuring maximum flavor and soft consistency throughout storage.
  • Smart Portioning: Cut cake into individual servings before storing in sealed containers, which helps maintain moisture and makes grabbing a quick dessert slice super convenient.
  • Freezing Option: Wrap individual cake slices in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and store in freezer-safe containers for up to 2 months, allowing easy thawing whenever chocolate craving strikes.
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Luscious Chocolate Poke Cake Recipe

Luscious Chocolate Poke Cake Recipe


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 13 reviews

  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 13 1x

Description

Rich chocolate poke cake brings moist, indulgent layers of chocolate delight to dessert tables. Creamy pudding filling and fluffy frosting complete this irresistible treat you won’t be able to resist.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 box devils food chocolate cake mix
  • Ingredients called for on the cake mix box
  • 2 boxes (3.9 oz / 110 g) instant chocolate pudding mix
  • 4 cups (950 mL) milk
  • 1 tub (8 oz / 226 g) whipped topping, thawed
  • Chocolate syrup, for drizzling

Instructions

  1. Cake Preparation: Prepare chocolate cake in a 9×13-inch pan following package directions. Cool for 10 minutes after baking.
  2. Creating Texture: Systematically perforate cake surface with wooden spoon handle, creating evenly spaced holes approximately one inch apart.
  3. Pudding Integration: Blend chocolate pudding mix with milk until smooth, creating a liquid mixture designed to infiltrate cake’s interior.
  4. Moisture Infusion: Pour pudding mixture across cake, ensuring complete coverage by guiding liquid into perforated channels using a spatula for uniform distribution.
  5. Chilling Process: Refrigerate cake, tightly covered, allowing pudding to thoroughly penetrate and set for minimum two hours.
  6. Finishing Touch: Apply thawed whipped topping as a delicate, cloud-like final layer, spreading gently to create an elegant surface.
  7. Presentation: Artfully drizzle chocolate syrup across the cake moments before serving, creating an enticing visual and flavor enhancement.

Notes

  • Hole Precision: Create evenly spaced, uniform holes for consistent pudding distribution throughout the cake’s interior.
  • Cooling Strategy: Allow cake to cool slightly before adding pudding to prevent excessive liquid absorption and maintain structural integrity.
  • Pudding Consistency: Whisk pudding mix thoroughly to eliminate lumps and achieve a smooth liquid that easily penetrates cake layers.
  • Refrigeration Technique: Cover cake completely during chilling to prevent moisture loss and ensure optimal pudding integration.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 13
  • Calories: 270
  • Sugar: 23 g
  • Sodium: 380 mg
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 38 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 4 g
  • Cholesterol: 15 mg
Jenna Hartley

Jenna Hartley

Founder & Recipe Creator

Expertise

  • Recipe development with a focus on single-dish meals.
  • Fusion of traditional and modern Australian cuisines.
  • Food styling and photography for digital platforms.​

Education

Box Hill Institute, Melbourne

  • Degree: Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management
  • Focus: Specialized in practical food and beverage service, responsible alcohol and hygiene compliance, legal risk management, and hands‑on experience in a simulated restaurant environment.

William Angliss Institute, Melbourne

  • Program: Certificate IV in Patisserie
  • Focus: Specialized in pastry and bakery techniques, cookery and specialty food preparation, recipe planning and costing, commercial kitchen operations, sustainable and inclusive work practices, food safety and hygiene compliance, and workplace health and safety.

Jenna is the heart of Picture Perfect Meals, turning simple ingredients into beautiful, easy‑to‑make dishes. 

Growing up around family meals in Melbourne, she trained at Box Hill Institute and then perfected her pastry skills at William Angliss Institute. She loves mixing classic Australian flavors with fresh ideas to keep cooking fun and stress‑free.

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