Description
This Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake is a gooey, cozy, easy dessert that brings all the warm cinnamon roll flavor into a soft vanilla cake. It is perfect for brunch ideas, holiday food ideas, potluck desserts, easy cake recipes, quick breakfast-style sweets, and simple dessert ideas when you want something rich, creamy, and crowd-pleasing without making dough from scratch.
Ingredients
1 box vanilla cake mix
3 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 can 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons heavy cream
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. In a large bowl, mix the vanilla cake mix, eggs, milk, and vegetable oil until smooth.
3. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and spread it evenly.
4. Bake for 28 to 32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
5. Let the cake cool for 5 to 10 minutes, then poke holes all over the top using the handle of a wooden spoon.
6. In a bowl, stir together melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until smooth.
7. Whisk in the sweetened condensed milk until the cinnamon filling is creamy and pourable.
8. Slowly pour the filling over the warm cake, spreading it gently so it sinks into the holes.
9. Beat the cream cheese until smooth, then mix in powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and heavy cream until creamy.
10. Spread the glaze over the cake once the top is no longer hot.
11. Chill for at least 1 hour before slicing, or serve slightly warm for a gooier texture.
Notes
Do not overbake the cake, because a slightly tender crumb absorbs the cinnamon filling better.
Pour the filling slowly and evenly so every slice gets those gooey cinnamon pockets.
Chill the cake before slicing if you want cleaner pieces, or warm individual slices briefly for a softer cinnamon roll texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 43g
- Sodium: 360mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake, cinnamon roll cake, easy dessert, poke cake recipe, brunch ideas, holiday dessert, potluck dessert, easy cake recipe, food ideas