This German chocolate poke cake is the easy dessert that looks fancy but requires minimal effort. Chocolate cake poked with holes, soaked in sweetened condensed milk and caramel, then topped with coconut pecan frosting creates this decadent treat. Takes about 45 minutes total. I make German chocolate poke cake whenever I need a german chocolate poke cake recipe that feeds a crowd without spending all day in the kitchen.
Why You'll Love This German Chocolate Poke Cake Recipe
Real talk, this german chocolate poke cake recipe is one of the most requested desserts I've made and people always ask if I bought it from a bakery.
What Actually Works: This recipe bakes a chocolate cake from a mix, pokes holes all over while still warm, pours sweetened condensed milk and caramel into the holes, lets it soak and chill, then spreads homemade coconut pecan frosting on top. Simple ingredients, about 45 minutes from start to finish plus cooling time. Tastes like a german chocolate poke cake with caramel from a specialty bakery but uses a box mix and requires no fancy decorating skills.
The thing that changed everything: Understanding that you need to poke while warm and not oversaturate with liquid for German chocolate poke cake. My first attempt I let the cake cool completely before poking because I thought warm cake would fall apart and dumped in the entire can of condensed milk plus a whole jar of caramel because more seemed better. The cooled cake was too firm to poke properly and cracked everywhere while the excess liquid pooled at the bottom and made everything soggy. Some bites were dry and plain while others were swimming in sticky sweetness that was too much.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This German Chocolate Poke Cake Recipe
- What You'll Need for German Chocolate Poke Cake
- How to Make German Chocolate Poke Cake
- Top Tip
- Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
- Storage and Reuse Instructions
- What to Serve With German Chocolate Poke Cake
- My German Chocolate Poke Cake Journey
- FAQ
- More Recipes You'll Love
- German Chocolate Poke Cake
- Related
- Pairing
What You'll Need for German Chocolate Poke Cake
Basic ingredients you probably already have. This is the easiest german chocolate dump cake recipes style you'll make this month.
For the Cake
- German chocolate cake mix
- Eggs
- Vegetable oil
- Water
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Caramel sauce or dulce de leche
For the Coconut Pecan Frosting
- Evaporated milk
- Granulated sugar
- Egg yolks
- Butter
- Vanilla extract
- Shredded coconut
- Chopped pecans
Optional Add-Ins
- Chocolate chips
- Extra caramel drizzle
- Whipped cream
- Chocolate shavings
- Sea salt
- Coffee extract
Exact measurements in the recipe card.
How to Make German Chocolate Poke Cake
Let's get this german chocolate poke cake in the oven.
Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13 inch baking pan with butter or cooking spray, then lightly flour it so the cake releases easily.
Mix the cake batter: Prepare the German chocolate cake mix according to package directions, combining the mix with eggs, vegetable oil, and water in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer for 2 minutes until smooth and well combined.
Bake the cake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly to the edges. Bake for 28 to 32 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs, not wet batter. The cake for recipe for german chocolate poke cake should spring back when lightly touched.
Poke the warm cake: Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool for just 5 minutes while still in the pan. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes all over the cake, spacing them about 1 inch apart and going almost to the bottom. The warm cake for german chocolate recipes accepts the liquid better than cold cake.
Pour the condensed milk: Slowly pour the sweetened condensed milk over the warm cake, concentrating on the holes and letting it soak in gradually. Use about three-quarters of the can, not the whole thing. The milk for chocolate poke cake with condensed milk creates sweet pockets throughout every slice.
Add the caramel: Warm the caramel sauce slightly in the microwave for 20 seconds so it pours easily, then drizzle it over the cake, again focusing on the holes. The caramel for german chocolate poke cake with caramel adds richness and deeper sweetness that complements the coconut frosting.
Chill the cake: Cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight, so the liquids absorb completely and the cake sets properly. This chilling time for german chocolate desserts is essential for the right texture.
Make the frosting: While the cake chills, combine evaporated milk, sugar, egg yolks, and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, for 10 to 12 minutes until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon. It should look like pudding consistency.
Add coconut and pecans: Remove the frosting from heat and stir in vanilla extract, shredded coconut, and chopped pecans until well combined. Let this cool to room temperature before spreading. The coconut pecan mixture for german chocolate cake mix recipes is the signature element that makes this taste authentic.
Frost the cake: Spread the cooled coconut pecan frosting evenly over the chilled cake, making sure to get it into all the corners. The frosting for easy german chocolate cake should cover the entire surface in a thick layer.
Serve: Cut into squares and serve cold or at room temperature. Drizzle extra caramel on top if desired for chocolate caramel poke cake presentation.
Top Tip
Poke holes while cake is still warm for perfect German chocolate poke cake:
- That warm poking technique is what makes best german chocolate cake recipe versions actually work
- Made this mistake twice letting the cake cool completely before poking
- The cold firm cake cracked and broke apart when I tried to poke it
- The holes didn't go deep enough and the liquid just sat on top
- Started poking after only 5 minutes of cooling while still warm
- The holes went cleanly through without cracking or crumbling
- Suddenly got perfect chocolate poke cake recipes texture every time
- The liquid soaked in evenly and created moist pockets throughout
Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
The base German chocolate poke cake is perfect but you can customize for different occasions.
From Scratch Version
Make your own chocolate cake from scratch instead of using a mix for old fashioned german chocolate poke cake from scratch that's more authentic. The homemade cake has deeper chocolate flavor and better texture than boxed versions.
Extra Chocolatey
Stir chocolate chips into the batter before baking and drizzle melted chocolate over the frosting for german choc cake that's intensely chocolate. The extra chocolate makes it richer for serious chocolate lovers.
Coffee Enhanced
Add 1 tablespoon instant coffee to the cake batter for deeper chocolate flavor in your german chocolate sheet cake 12 tomatoes style. The coffee enhances the chocolate without making it taste like coffee.
Storage and Reuse Instructions
Yeah, German chocolate poke cake keeps great actually.
Refrigerator: Cover the cake tightly with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for up to 5 days. The cake stays moist and actually tastes better after a day because the flavors meld together. Serve cold or let it sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving.
Freezing: This german chocolate birthday cake freezes okay for up to 2 months but the coconut frosting texture changes slightly. Freeze unfrosted cake, then add fresh frosting after thawing. Or freeze the whole thing and accept slightly different texture.
Make Ahead: You can bake and soak the cake up to 2 days ahead, keep it refrigerated, then add the frosting the day of serving. This makes pioneer woman german chocolate poke cake style meal planning easier for parties.
Serving: This cake tastes best served cold straight from the fridge. The chilled temperature makes the texture perfect and the flavors more pronounced than room temperature.
What to Serve With German Chocolate Poke Cake
This german chocolate dump cake recipe is rich enough to stand alone but pairs well with simple additions.
Classic Pairings
Serve with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or a glass of cold milk. The simple additions for german chocolate desserts balance the rich sweet cake without competing for attention.
Coffee Service
Pair with hot coffee or espresso for afternoon dessert. The coffee cuts through the sweetness and makes the bakers german chocolate cake recipe feel more sophisticated.
Party Presentation
Serve alongside fresh berries or a fruit platter for contrast. The fresh fruit for 8 x 8 cake recipes scaled up balances the rich chocolate and provides color on the dessert table.
My German Chocolate Poke Cake Journey
First time I made German chocolate poke cake I let it cool completely before poking because I thought warm cake would fall apart. The cold firm cake cracked everywhere when I tried to poke holes and the condensed milk just sat on top in puddles. Used the entire can of milk and whole jar of caramel because I wanted maximum flavor and the bottom turned into soggy pudding while the top stayed dry. My guests ate one bite and left the rest.
Tried again poking the cake after only 5 minutes of cooling while still warm. The holes went cleanly through without cracking and the liquid soaked in beautifully. Used only three-quarters of the condensed milk and the texture was perfect. My neighbor who bakes professionally asked for my recipe.
Then I made the coconut pecan frosting and spread it on the warm cake because I was impatient. The frosting melted into liquid and slid right off the cake into puddles at the edges. Started cooling both the cake and frosting completely before assembly and got perfect results that looked bakery quality.
Now I make this german chocolate poke cake recipe for every celebration because I know the tricks: poke while warm, don't oversaturate, cool before frosting, and refrigerate properly.
Similar Easy Poke Cake Recipes Worth Making
Chocolate Tres Leches Cake: Chocolate cake soaked in three milks topped with whipped cream for ultra moist Mexican inspired dessert.
Oreo Poke Cake: Vanilla cake with chocolate pudding poked in and crushed Oreos on top for cookies and cream lovers.
Strawberry Poke Cake: White cake soaked with strawberry jello and topped with whipped cream and fresh berries for summer dessert.
These chocolate poke cake recipes all use similar soaking techniques and deliver that same satisfying moist texture as German chocolate poke cake.
FAQ
What is German chocolate poke cake?
German chocolate poke cake is a chocolate cake with holes poked throughout that's soaked with sweetened condensed milk and caramel, then topped with coconut pecan frosting. The german chocolate poke cake with condensed milk technique creates ultra moist cake with pockets of sweetness. It combines traditional German chocolate cake flavors with the easy poke cake method for dessert that's simpler than layer cakes.
What is Kamala Harris' favorite cake?
Kamala Harris has mentioned loving German chocolate cake, though this question isn't specifically about the poke cake version. The easy german chocolate poke cake uses similar flavors to traditional German chocolate cake that many people including public figures enjoy. The coconut pecan frosting is the signature element that makes it distinctly German chocolate style.
What is the point of a poke cake?
The point of a poke cake is to add extra moisture and flavor by pouring liquid into holes throughout the cake. For old fashioned german chocolate poke cake recipe with condensed milk, this creates pockets of sweetness and makes every bite incredibly moist. The technique for betty crocker german chocolate poke cake is easier than making layer cakes because there's no splitting, filling, or stacking required.
What makes a cake a German chocolate cake?
What makes a cake German chocolate cake is the coconut pecan frosting, not the chocolate itself. The pioneer woman german chocolate poke cake with condensed milk uses regular chocolate cake with that signature sweet coconut pecan topping. German chocolate cake originally used a specific sweet baking chocolate, but modern versions for luxurious german chocolate poke cake can use any chocolate cake as the base.
More Recipes You'll Love
Once you've nailed this German chocolate poke cake recipe, try my Winter Fruit Salad for fresh colorful side dish with seasonal fruits and honey lime dressing. My Crispy Black Bean Tacos make baked vegetarian tacos with golden shells. And my Scalloped Potatoes layer thin potato slices in creamy cheese sauce for comfort food everyone devours.
German Chocolate Poke Cake
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13 inch baking pan with butter, then lightly flour it so the cake releases easily.
- Prepare German chocolate cake mix according to package directions, beating with an electric mixer for 2 minutes until smooth.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 28 to 32 minutes until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with just a few moist crumbs.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes, then use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes all over the warm cake, spacing them 1 inch apart.
- Slowly pour three-quarters of the sweetened condensed milk over the warm cake, concentrating on the holes and letting it soak in gradually.
- Warm caramel sauce in microwave for 20 seconds, then drizzle it over the cake, focusing on the holes for maximum absorption.
- Cover pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight, so the liquids absorb completely.
- Combine evaporated milk, sugar, egg yolks, and butter in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly for 10 to 12 minutes until thickened.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, shredded coconut, and chopped pecans until combined, then let cool to room temperature.
- Spread cooled coconut pecan frosting evenly over chilled cake, then cut into squares and serve cold or at room temperature.
Nutrition
Notes
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with German chocolate poke cake :
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