Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake

If you love warm, gooey cinnamon rolls but don’t want to spend hours making dough from scratch, this Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake is about to become your new favorite dessert. 🍰✨

This soft white cake is baked, poked, and soaked with a rich cinnamon-butter sweetened condensed milk filling that seeps into every bite. It’s then topped with a smooth, creamy cream cheese frosting that tastes just like classic cinnamon roll icing.

Perfect for holidays, potlucks, family gatherings, or anytime you’re craving cozy comfort dessert!

Ingredients

For the Cake

• 1 box white cake mix (prepared according to package directions)

For the Cinnamon Filling

• 5 tablespoons butter
• ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
• 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2½ teaspoons clear vanilla extract
• 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup butter, softened
• 2 teaspoons clear vanilla flavoring (or regular vanilla extract)
• 2½ cups powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons half and half

Instructions

Step 1: Bake the Cake

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with baking spray.
3. Prepare cake mix according to box instructions.
4. Pour batter into prepared dish and bake.
5. Watch closely — cakes often bake faster than box directions suggest.
6. Allow cake to cool until slightly warm.

Step 2: Poke the Cake

7. Using the handle of a wooden spoon or silicone spatula, poke holes about ½ inch apart.
8. Poke while cake is slightly warm for best results.

Step 3: Make the Cinnamon Filling

9. In a heat-safe bowl combine butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and sweetened condensed milk.
10. Microwave 1 minute, stir.
11. Microwave another minute, stir.
12. Continue heating in 30-second increments until sugar is fully dissolved and smooth.
13. Slowly ladle mixture evenly over cake, allowing it to seep into holes.

Step 4: Make the Frosting

14. Beat softened cream cheese and butter until smooth.
15. Scrape down bowl.
16. Reduce speed and add vanilla and half and half.
17. Add powdered sugar ½ cup at a time.
18. Increase speed and beat until smooth and fluffy.

Step 5: Frost & Serve

19. Spread frosting evenly over cake.
20. Serve immediately or chill before serving.

Serving and Storage Tips

Serving Tips

• Serve slightly warm for extra gooey texture.
• Chill before slicing for cleaner cuts.
• Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon or chopped pecans.
• Serve with vanilla ice cream for an extra indulgent dessert.

Storage Tips

• Store covered in refrigerator up to 5 days.
• Let sit at room temperature 20 minutes before serving.
• Freeze (without frosting) up to 2 months.
• Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil for best freshness.

Variations

1. Caramel Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake

Drizzle caramel sauce over frosting before serving.

2. Maple Cinnamon Cake

Replace vanilla with maple extract in frosting.

3. Pumpkin Cinnamon Version

Use spice cake mix and add ½ cup pumpkin puree to filling.

4. Apple Cinnamon Poke Cake

Add sautéed diced apples into the filling mixture.

5. Chocolate Cinnamon Twist

Use chocolate cake mix and reduce cinnamon slightly.

6. Pecan Cinnamon Roll Cake

Sprinkle chopped pecans between filling and frosting layers.

7. Snickerdoodle Style

Use yellow cake mix and add cinnamon sugar on top.

8. Coffeehouse Version

Add 1 teaspoon espresso powder to filling.

9. Holiday Eggnog Twist

Replace half and half with eggnog in frosting.

10. Brown Butter Version

Brown the butter before mixing into filling for deeper flavor.

11. Cinnamon Roll Tres Leches

Add ½ cup heavy cream to the filling mixture.

12. Orange Cinnamon Roll Cake

Add orange zest to frosting.

13. Nutella Swirl

Drizzle Nutella over filling before frosting.

14. Mini Cupcake Version

Bake in cupcake tins and poke individually.

15. Extra Gooey Version

Double the filling ingredients for ultra-moist texture.

FAQs

1. Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes! It’s even better the next day after chilling.

2. Can I use yellow cake mix?

Absolutely. It gives a slightly richer flavor.

3. Do I have to use clear vanilla?

No, regular vanilla works fine — clear keeps frosting white.

4. Why poke holes while warm?

It helps the filling soak in better.

5. Can I freeze this cake?

Yes, preferably without frosting.

6. Can I use homemade cake instead of box mix?

Yes, any white or vanilla cake works.

7. Can I reduce sweetness?

You can slightly reduce powdered sugar in frosting.

8. How do I know when cake is done?

Insert a toothpick — it should come out clean.

9. Can I add nuts?

Yes! Pecans or walnuts work great.

10. Is this good for potlucks?

It’s PERFECT for potlucks — easy to transport and slice.

This Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake delivers all the warm cinnamon roll flavor with half the effort. The rich filling seeps into every bite, keeping the cake ultra moist, while the cream cheese frosting adds the perfect creamy finish.

It’s simple, indulgent, and guaranteed to impress every time.

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