Chocolate cake with caramel and sweetened condensed milk

This easy Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake will be a huge hit at your next party!  Each bite is filled with creamy caramel, crunchy toffee, and moist and sticky chocolate cake. A total crowd-pleaser that everyone will want seconds of… and thirds….

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There is a reason I call this easy Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake the BEST…  It’s the best cake I have ever had, hands down, in my life!  My friend made a version of this for a Super Bowl party this year, and I had to recreate the recipe.  The texture and flavor were seriously out of this world!  If you love the combination of chocolate and caramel together in a dessert, this recipe is right up your alley!

This Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake is:

• Sweet
• Rich & moist
• Soft & Gooey
• Sticky
• Crunchy from the toffee
• Absolutely decadent #TreatYoSelf dessert
• A crowd-pleaser
• A great dessert for a potluck or party
• Can be made gluten free or vegan (see modifications below)

What’s In This Caramel Chocolate Poke Cake Recipe?

• Boxed Cake Mix: I use a devil’s food box cake mix for this which makes this cake super decadent and fudgy!  You can use vegan or gluten free cake mix too to fit in with any dietary needs for your family.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk: makes this cake suuuper moist and sweet. By poking the cake and creating holes, you can fill it with delicious condensed milk.
• Caramel Sauce– to drizzle over the top, making this an amazing and totally lush cake!
• Toffee Candy – to top!  I crushed up chocolate toffee candies (like these!) to double down on the chocolate caramel flavor combo.

One of the BEST Pantry Poke Cake Recipes

This pantry poke cake with chocolate and carmel recipe is a fantastic pantry-staple meal!  It uses almost all ingredients you would have in your dry pantry or cupboards – most of which you probably have on hand. Keeping a well-stocked pantry makes it easy to come up with delicious and healthy meals using a few staples you can rotate.  I made a list of my Top 125 Plant-Based Pantry Staples that always keep stocked. And you can check out all my favorite pantry staple ingredients in my Amazon shop here.  By stocking up on healthy whole ingredients you can cook delicious recipes without a trip to the store!

How To Make a Poke Cake

• Step 1: Bake a box cake mix, allow to cool
• Step 2: With the end of a wooden spoon poke holes throughout the cake
• Step 3: Pour your choice of filling: caramel, chocolate sauce, homemade jam, sweetened condensed milk… the possibilities are endless!

I love how this cake has a ton of flavor in each bite.  After adding the caramel to the cake, the cake begins to thicken while staying really moist.  The result is a totally gooey caramel-drenched cake you will never forget.

This poke cake is really sweet, but making a healthier version of this would be easy!  Instead of caramel or condensed milk, you could fill the cake with Easy 4 Ingredient Homemade Blackberry Jam, or a fruit puree of choice.

And I will definitely be making this easy Caramel Poke Cake again for my next party, gathering, or brunch.  It would be great as a birthday cake… or just for a weeknight treat!

Dietary Modifications

• This recipe can easily be made vegan by substituting applesauce instead of eggs in the boxed cake mix, and using a royal icing in place of the condensed milk.  A vegan date caramel sauce or chocolate sauce can also be used.
• And to make gluten-free, make sure you use a gluten free devil’s cake mix like this and certified gluten free caramel!
• For a nut-free option, ensure the toffee or caramel is made without peanuts or tree nuts.

More Dessert Recipes for Entertaining Everyone Will Love!

• White Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats Recipe (Vegetarian, Gluten Free)
• Brownie S’mores in the Air Fryer (Vegetarian, Summer Treat)
• Crinkle Chocolate Chip Cookies (Pantry Staples, Vegan & GF Options)
• Instant Pot Chocolate Rice Pudding Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free)
• Triple Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats Recipe (Gluten Free, Vegan)

Get the Same Ingredients for this Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake Recipe:

As always, if you make this chocolate caramel poke cake recipe be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe, and tag me @theherbeevore on Instagram so I can feature you.  I love seeing all your photos of my recipe recreations!

Let’s keep in touch – make sure to sign up for my newsletter to get fresh recipes weekly. And don’t forget to follow over on Pinterest, Instagram , & Twitter– I’d love to connect with you there! 

Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake

The Herbeevore

This easy Caramel Poke Cake will be a huge hit at your next party! Filled with creamy caramel & crunchy toffee in each bite!

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 25 mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 12 slices

Calories 260 kcal

• 1 box Devil’s Food Cake Mix plus any ingredients that are required for cake mix on package… eggs, vegetable oil, water, etc.
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk or non-dairy alternative
• 1 (12 ounce) jar caramel sauce or non-dairy alternative
• 8 ounces toffee crushed

• Prepare cake mix according to packaging instructions.  Once baked, set aside to cool for 20 minutes.

• With the end of a wooden spoon, poke holes evenly throughout the cake.

• Pour the condensed milk over the cake, making sure it drips into the holes.  Add the caramel on top of the condensed milk.

• Over in foil, and refrigerate for one hour, allowing the cake to set.

• Once cool, crush toffee and sprinkle over the top.

• Serve cool, or slightly warm, with ice cream, and enjoy.

Dietary Modifications

Vegan

This recipe can easily be made vegan by baking a cake with applesauce instead of eggs, and using a royal icing in place of the condensed milk.  A vegan caramel sauce or chocolate sauce can also be used.

Gluten Free

And to make gluten-free, make sure you use a flourless cake mix!

Nut Free

For a nut-free option, ensure the toffee or caramel is made without peanuts or tree nuts.

Calories: 260kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 2gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 323mgPotassium: 129mgFiber: 1gSugar: 26gVitamin A: 219IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 61mgIron: 2mg

Keyword caramel, Caramel Cake Recipe, chocolate cake, chocolate caramel poke cake, Easy Poke Cake, Easy Poke Cake Recipe, Poke Cake, sweetened condensed milk, toffee

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This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the brands that support The Herbeevore and our beehives!

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