Get dozens of unique Poke Cake Recipes - these flavorful ideas use cake mix for an easy dessert shortcut with major wow-factor!
Today, I'm featuring one of my favorite ways to make a dessert that's both memorable and delicious - a poke cake! This easy dessert with a funny name is going to have everyone at your party asking for seconds.
What's a Poke Cake?
A poke cake is an easy and fun way to really jazz up a boring old boxed cake mix. The basic premise is simple: bake the cake, allow it to cool, then poke holes all over the cake (hence "poke cake").
Fill it with just about anything you'd like! Some of the most popular fillings...
- sugar glaze
- jello mix
- instant pudding
- fruit jams, jellies, and preserves
- pie filling
This filling makes for a super moist, rich cake. It's a great way to integrate several different flavor elements into one dessert. Add everything from fresh fruity flavors to luscious elements like chocolate...the possibilities are endless.
I've got some of those great flavor combos below!
Poke Cake Recipes with Chocolate
Boston Creme Poke Cake
Get all of the flavors of a classic Boston Creme Pie in this easy-to-make poke cake. It uses yellow cake mix for a buttery golden base, with vanilla pudding and a chocolate ganache that make the cake so rich & velvety.
Boston Creme Poke Cake
Cannoli Poke Cake
If you love the rich flavors of a cannoli, you've got to try this cake from Baking Beauty. Get a rich, moist cake covered in a cannoli cream frosting and chocolate chips.
Cannoli Poke Cake
Photo credit: Baking Beauty
Turtle Poke Cake
This Turtle Poke Cake from Homemade Interest has a phenomenal flavor combo. Try a chocolate cake filled with rich caramel, topped with chocolate frosting, more caramel, and pecans. Totally decadent!
Turtle Poke Cake
Photo credit: Homemade Interest
Chocolate Peanut Butter Poke Cake
Chocolate and peanut butter has to be one of the best dessert combos on the planet - so why not try it in a poke cake? This Chocolate Peanut Butter Poke Cake from The Slow Roasted Italian is loaded with peanut butter, peanuts, and even mini peanut butter cups!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Poke Cake
Photo credit: The Slow Roasted Italian
Butterfinger Poke Cake
Speaking of great flavor combos - this Butterfinger Poke Cake from Yum in the Kitchen combines chocolate, caramel, whipped topping, and Butterfinger pieces for a rich but light poke cake your guests will love.
Butterfinger Poke Cake
Photo credit: Yum in the Kitchen
Death by Chocolate Poke Cake
Chocolate lovers - this Death by Chocolate Poke Cake from Easy Budget Recipes is made just for you. It has a chocolate fudge cake base that's filled with sweetened condensed milk & hot fudge sauce, then topped with a chocolate whipped cream. A chocolate lover's dream!
Death by Chocolate Poke Cake
Photo credit: Easy Budget Recipes
Chocolate Coconut Poke Cake
This Chocolate Coconut Poke Cake from Temecula Blogs has such a knockout flavor combo. Get a chocolatey cake base that's covered in sweetened condensed milk, caramel sauce, and even Heath bar bits and covered in coconut. So many great flavors!
Chocolate Coconut Poke Cake
Photo credit: Temecula Blogs
Poke Cake Recipes with Fruity Flavors
Strawberry Banana Poke Cake
If you love the classic combo of strawberries and bananas, give this Strawberry Banana Poke Cake a try. It has a strawberry cake base filled with rich banana pudding filling and topped with fresh strawberries and banana slices.
Strawberry Banana Poke Cake
Mixed Berry Jello Poke Cake
Dancing Through The Rain has a yummy poke cake for those berry lovers out there. With this Berry Jello Poke Cake, you have the choice of using strawberry or raspberry jello in a white cake. Top it with frozen mixed berries for an easy, fruity dessert!
Mixed Berry Jello Poke Cake
Photo credit: Dancing Through the Rain
Caramel Apple Poke Cake
The Slow Roasted Italian is bringing us another great poke cake recipe - Caramel Apple Poke Cake! Make a sweet apple cake and fill it with a caramel pudding mix. Then, top it off with brown sugar cream cheese and more apples. Save this one for fall!
Caramel Apple Poke Cake
Photo credit: The Slow Roasted Italian
Banana Pudding Poke Cake
It's banana pudding in cake form! With Banana Pudding Poke Cake, you're getting banana flavor in a moist cake that's filled with banana pudding and topped with whipped cream and fresh bananas.
Banana Pudding Poke Cake
Coconut Raspberry Poke Cake
Who loves a snowball? You know, those snack cakes that are filled with fruit and covered in a sugary coconut? That's the flavor profile you'll get with this Coconut Raspberry Poke Cake from Semi Homemade Kitchen. Enjoy a white cake filled with raspberry jam and topped with whipped cream and sweetened coconut flakes.
Coconut Raspberry Poke Cake
Photo credit: Semi Homemade Kitchen
Black Forest Poke Cake
With one of the best flavor matches of all time, this Black Forest Poke Cake features a chocolate cake filled with chocolate cherry pudding mix and topped with cherries.
Black Forest Poke Cake
Photo credit: The Dish Next Door
Pineapple Poke Cake
It's summer in a poke cake! This Pineapple Poke Cake from Cooking with Carlee is soaked in sweetened condensed milk and topped with almost a pineapple fluff for such a great texture combo.
Pineapple Poke Cake
Photo credit: Cooking with Carlee
Lemon Marshmallow Poke Cake
Get that bright, lemony flavor in this Lemon Marshmallow Poke Cake from 365 Days of Baking - it's a fluffy white cake filled with lemon jello and topped with a light marshmallow frosting.
Lemon Marshmallow Poke Cake
Photo credit: 365 Days of Baking & More
Caramel Pumpkin Spice Poke Cake
Definitely adding this Caramel Pumpkin Spice Poke Cake to the fall dessert rotation. It has a spicy pumpkin cake base that's filled with caramel and topped with a fluffy cream cheese frosting.
Caramel Pumpkin Spice Poke Cake
Photo credit: Mommy Evolution
Pina Colada Poke Cake
Turn your favorite party drink into a cake with this Pina Colada Poke Cake from Belle of the Kitchen! Get a moist coconut pineapple cake topped with Coconut Buttercream Frosting.
Pina Colada Poke Cake
Photo credit: Belle of the Kitchen
White Raspberry Poke Cake
The secret to the amazing flavor in this White Raspberry Poke Cake is a hint of almond flavor - it brings out the best in all of the ingredients! Features a soft white cake filled with raspberry and topped with a cream cheese frosting.
White Raspberry Poke Cake
Photo credit: I heart eating
Orange Creamsicle Poke Cake
This Orange Creamsicle Poke Cake from Busy Family Recipes is another fun dessert idea for summer! With an orange vanilla combo in a light and fluffy cake, this one is so easy and full of bright, fresh flavor.
Orange Creamsicle Poke Cake
Photo credit: Busy Family Recipes
Cranberry Poke Cake
I'm thinking this Cranberry Poke Cake from Maria's Mixing Bowl would be such a fun twist on a dessert for Thanksgiving. Get that little bit of a bite from the cranberries in a moist white cake, all topped off with a cranberry whipped topping.
Cranberry Poke Cake
Photo credit: Maria's Mixing Bowl
Key Lime Poke Cake
Love a key lime pie? Make it into a poke cake! This yellow cake is soaked in a rich key lime sweetened milk and even has raspberries for an unexpected flavor element.
Key Lime Poke Cake
Photo credit: Quiche My Grits
Strawberry Shortcake Poke Cake
The bright and fruity flavors of this Strawberry Shortcake Poke Cake from Semi Homemade Kitchen just jump out of the picture! Make a fun twist on a traditional dessert, with a white cake filled with a thick strawberry glaze.
Strawberry Shortcake Poke Cake
Photo credit: Semi Homemade Kitchen
Unique Poke Cake Ideas
Fireball Poke Cake
How fun would this Fireball Poke Cake be for a party? Get that classic cinnamon whiskey flavor in a rich, filled poke cake!
Fireball Poke Cake
Photo credit: Yum in the Kitchen
Sweet Dreams Layer Poke Cake
This Sweet Dreams Layer Poke Cake from Arts & Crackers is gorgeous, with vivid colors and a really fun sprinkle filling. This would be so perfect for a special birthday party!
Sweet Dreams Layer Poke Cake
Photo credit: Arts & Crackers
Red, White, and Blue Patriotic Poke Cake
With the 4th of July coming up, this Red, White, and Blue Patriotic Poke Cake from The Short Order Cook would be a great dessert to serve at a party! It's filled with blue (berry blue) and red (cherry) Jello and topped with a light Cool Whip, making it perfect for warmer weather.
Red, White, and Blue Patriotic Poke Cake
Photo credit: The Short Order Cook
Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake
Who says you can't have cake for breakfast? With this Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake, get the best of both worlds - a fluffy white cake filled with a rich cinnamon glaze and topped with a cream cheese frosting.
Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake
Photo credit: I heart eating
Butter Pecan Praline Poke Cake
I can't imagine a cake that sounds more decadent than this Butter Pecan Praline Poke Cake - a rich buttery cake base that's soaked in a buttery pecan glaze. Sounds like it would be perfect with a cup of coffee!
Butter Pecan Praline Poke Cake
Photo credit: Planted in Arkansas
Holiday Red & Green Poke Cake
We've got another fun holiday cake with this Red & Green Poke Cake from CopyKat. Use a lime jello mix and cherry jello to make a festive cake that's both pretty and yummy!
Holiday Red & Green Poke Cake
Photo credit: CopyKat
Kentucky Butter Poke Cake
This Kentucky Butter Poke Cake is incredibly rich and buttery, with a cream cheese cake base covered in a sweet, thick glaze and covered in pecans and shredded coconut.
Kentucky Butter Poke Cake
Photo credit: Fat Dad Foodie
Graveyard Poke Cake
I've got one more festive holiday poke cake for you - this Graveyard Poke Cake from Homemade Hooplah. The colors filling this rich chocolate cake definitely give it a spooky but fun feel!
Graveyard Poke Cake
Photo credit: Homemade Hooplah
I hope you find your next dessert idea in this collection! If you have another favorite I didn't feature in this list, drop it in the comments below. 🍰
Leslie Lambert is a lifestyle writer and content creator specializing in home organization, family recipes, and intentional living. With 16 years of experience in blogging and digital storytelling, she helps busy women create calm, purposeful homes they love.
