This Ultimate Carrot Cake Poke Cake is one of my favorite easy poke cake recipes. The tender cake is full of traditional carrot cake flavors and drizzled with a topping that seeps into holes poked in the warm cake. It’s decadent, delicious and very easy to make.
If you love carrot cake, you are going to want to make this recipe. Like NOW! Stop what you’re doing, get the ingredients and whip this baby up. It’s easy to make and incredibly delicious!
Best Carrot Cake Recipes
Those of you that know me, know that I *heart* carrot cake. I mean really *heart*. Really, really *heart*. If carrot cake is offered, I’ll take a slice. Or, if it’s on a menu, I’m ordering it. Plain and simple. It’s non-negotiable.
My best carrot cake recipes include this Best Carrot Cake ever and this Pumpkin Carrot Cake. I’m also loving these Carrot Cake Energy Bites, too. Now I have another recipe to add to the collection. This Carrot Poke Cake is fun twist on my favorite dessert.
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Carrot Cake Cake Mix
One of my favorite things about this quick easy dessert recipe is it starts with a boxed Carrot Cake cake mix. I love how all of my favorite carrot cake flavors are already in the mix. I simply add a few ingredients, like eggs, water and oil, and it’s done.
But, if you have the time or if you prefer a scratch recipe, you could always use the homemade cake from my Best Carrot Cake ever. It would be equally as good.
Or, if you can’t find a cake mix Carrot Cake cake at your grocery store, you could always use a spice cake mix and add grated carrots and the other ingredients in this recipe to the boxed cake mix. I think it would work just as well.
Carrot Cake Poke Cake
One of my favorite thing about poke cakes are the different flavor combinations. You start with the flavor of the cake, then drizzle some sort of liquid over the holes that you poke in the cake and top it with a delicious frosting.
I love how the cake soaks up all of the liquid and becomes super moist. And, this cake mix carrot cake recipe is no different. Moist and flavorful with an easy fluffy cream cheese frosting. And, caramel. And, nuts. *swoon*
Tips for Making this Cake Mix Carrot Cake Recipe
- Make sure you start with a preheated oven. It saves time having your oven ready to go.
- Grease your cake pan the easy way – use a non-stick cooking spray.
- I use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes in the cake – the size of the holes are just perfect for this recipe.
- Let the cake cool slightly before poking the holes and drizzling on the topping. A warm (not hot) cake will absorb the liquid best.
- Let the cake cool completely before adding the frosting. You don’t want it to melt.
More Easy Poke Cake Recipes
Supplies You Need for Carrot Cake Poke Cake
- Carrot Cake cake mix
- Glass baking dish
- Rubber spatula – this my favorite one!
- My favorite Poke Cake cook book
- Looking for more? Check out all of the easy no bake dessert recipes on It Is a Keeper.
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Carrot Poke Cake
Ingredients
- 13.25 ounces Carrot cake mix, 1 box
- 8 ounces Crushed pineapple, drained
- ¼ cup Coconut, shredded
- 14 ounces Sweetened condensed milk
- 8 ounces Whipped topping, frozen, thawed
- 10.6 ounces Whipped cream cheese frosting
- ½ cup Caramel sundae sauce
- 1 cup Pecans, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the cake mix according to the package directions.
- Stir in drained pineapple and coconut.
- Bake cake according to package directions.
- Leave the cake in the baking dish and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
- Using a the handle of a wooden spoon, poke about 20-25 holes in the cake making sure to evenly distribute them and being careful not to go all the way through to the bottom of the cake.
- Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the top of the cake; allow cake to cool completely before the next step.
- Add the frosting to a large bowl; fold in Cool Whip until thoroughly combined.
- Spread frosting over top of the cake.
- Sprinkle chopped pecans over the top of the cake
- Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
- Drizzle caramel sauce over the top of the cake before serving.
Expert Tips
- Cool: Let the cake cool slightly before poking the holes and drizzling on the topping. A warm (not hot) cake will absorb the liquid best.
- Nutty: If you would like to up the nutty flavor add chopped pecans to the cake mix with the pineapple and coconut or on top of cake. Maple Syrup adds some great flavor too.
- Decorate: When you are going to serve, add a little drained chopped pineapple to the top of the frosting on top of the cake or use cute sugar baby carrots.Then add the caramel sauce.
- Homemade Salted Caramel: By making it yourself here will be no artificial flavor. Make with brown sugar. This is great for a chocolate poke cake too.
- Bundt Pan: A bundt pan would be a fun way to make this carrot cake too.
This cake looks delicious in the pictures. Thanks for the recipe. I will definitely try it.
I have made this and it is as easy and good as can be.all of Kristina’s recipe are good.I used her ham recipe this Christmas and it was the best.
I’ve never ate a carrot cake and it looked and sounded so good I decided to make it for Easter and this I fell in love with! So did the other 15 guys I made it for and now I have to make it again for them 3 days later! 😀
I’m so glad it was a hit! Thank you so much for letting me know! Enjoy!
Carrot cake is my husband’s absolute favorite cake but I’ve always been too intimated to make it. This recipe I can do! Thanks for the easy directions! I know he’ll love it!! — Susanne
Goodness, this looks and sounds incredible! I love carrot cake but this recipe takes it to a whole new level. I love the idea of adding caramel sauce. Bookmarking this to make very soon!
Oh my goodness this is so decadent, and so easy to whip together. Love it
So truthfully, I wasn’t a fan of of carrot cake growing up. BUT, I think it’s the addition of caramel in this one that draws me in and changed my heart about carrot cake! Such a tasty dessert!
What a delicious poke cake recipe. This would be perfect for my Aunt’s birthday party coming up…can’t wait to try it!