This Carrot Poke Cake recipe takes everything you love about carrot cake and adds a touch of magic with a rich, gooey caramel sauce that soaks into the moist cake.
Imagine fluffy carrot cake bursting with flavor, studded with nuts and spices, then drenched in a pool of decadent caramel. Each bite is an explosion of textures and tastes, making this cake the star of any potluck or special occasion.
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Why this Poke Cake Recipe is a Keeper
The pineapple adds another level of moister and the poke cake method with the drizzle that seeps into holes in the warm cake, makes it amazing. Really this cake with Pineapple is the best carrot cake recipe I have ever made. Perfect for birthday parties or any time of year.
- Easy Cake Recipe: You use a box cake mix and kick it up to make it amazing no need for hard work or fresh carrot, just combine cake mix.
- Easy Ingredients to Make the Cake: All pantry staples so it is so quick. We always have jello on hand and other easy ingredients.
- Family Friendly: All that gooey caramel gets them every time. Plus poke cake is one of the desserts that kids love to help make. You can make a cake every different holiday.
If you’re looking for more jello poke cake recipes, try these Patriotic Poke Cake, Coconut Poke Cake and Banana Cream Poke Cake.
How to poke holes and how many holes to poke?
Aim for 30-40 holes spread evenly across the surface. Holes that are ¾ to 1 inch deep. This depth allows the filling to reach the center of the cake without going all the way through.
Ingredient Notes to Make Poke Cake
My grandmother use to make poke cakes for every get together. A pumpkin poke cake for Thanksgiving, a banana pudding poke cake for summer and a cookies and cream one for birthday’s. It is why I love poke cake.
- Boxed Cake Mix: Use any brand that you prefer. Cake brands are always going on sale.
- Crushed Pineapple: Canned and drained works for this caramel carrot cake recipe. This cake is an easy dessert to assemble.
- Frozen Whipped Cream Topping: You will need to make sure that the cool whip is thawed. You can use store brand cool whip whipped topping too.
- Cream Cheese Frosting: Make your own or use canned cream cheese icing. It will be fabulous. There is something special about this caramel cream cheese frosting combination.
- Caramel Sundae Sauce: This makes the cake so moist and decadent.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions
It is so easy to customize this easy poke cake topped with cool whip. IT is also one of the prettiest poke cakes.
- Carrot Cake Spice Cake Mix: You can use a white cake mix or spice cake mix if you prefer.
- Nuts: Mix up the nuts, you can use your favorite nut or omit the nuts.
- Vanilla Pudding: Replace the caramel sauce with vanilla pudding or cheesecake pudding if you like extra flavor.
- Frosting: Use your favorite carrot cake frosting recipe.
Special Equipment Needed for this Easy Poke Cake Recipe
These tools will allow the filling to soak into the cake. It elevates this easy dessert.
- Wooden Spoon: Ot try a chopstick, straw or skewer to poke the holes.
Pro Tip
The best time to poke the holes in the cake is when it is warm. Not hot from the oven or when the cake has completely cooled.
How to Make Caramel Poke Cake
The recipe starts with a cake mix. Then cake is bakes, and the cake is filled with lush filling. This poke cake is an easy but elegant dessert.
These are the basic steps for making old fashioned carrot cake. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Prep
First, preheat your oven and then place the cake mix in a medium bowl or large bowl, adding the ingredients according to the package directions. Start at low speed then move up to medium speed and finish at medium high speed. Next, stir in drained pineapple. Finally add the coconut. Line pans with parchment paper before putting in the cake batter for easy clean up. Bake cake according to package directions.
STEP 2: Poke and Cover the Cake
Then, using a the handle of a wooden spoon, poke holes 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. Next, pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the top of the cake; allow the best cake to cool completely before the next step.
3. Carrot Cake Frosting
Finally, frost the cake, frosting for the delicious cake can be canned or homemade and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and lastly serve with the caramel sauce.
Recipe FAQs about Jello Poke Cake Recipe with Pudding
Expert Tips for Making This Condensed Milk Poke Cake Recipe
It’s so easy to change up these cakes. The poke cake only takes a few minutes to make and can really up your dessert.
- 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 it 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.
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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.
Such a moist, tasty carrot cake recipe. And the caramel sauce takes it to the next level!
This is a delicious, moist cake! Our new favorite carrot cake recipe.
Can I use 9in round pans?
Yes you can. Follow the bake time for these pans on your cake mix box.
I made two of these cakes. Sent one to my husbands work and it was gone in 15 minutes! Kept one for the family.
I followed the directions as written and the cakes turned out wonderful. I will be making these again for sure!
So glad you enjoyed it!
can I use Cream of coconut milk instead of coconut and sweetened condensed milk?
I have never tried that. If it’s too thin, it might not work.
Why can’t I get to the recipe. It keeps going to the one with pineapple. This is not the recipe I want. Better than Easter poke cake.
Favorite cake recipe ,simple easy instructions