Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake (Printer-friendly)
Moist cinnamon-roll poke cake with gooey cinnamon pockets and cream cheese frosting, great for brunch or dessert.
# What you'll need:
→ Cake
01 - 1 box (15.25 oz) vanilla or white cake mix
02 - 3 large eggs
03 - 1 cup milk
04 - 1/3 cup vegetable oil
05 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
→ Cinnamon Filling
06 - 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
07 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
08 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
→ Cream Cheese Frosting
09 - 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
10 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
11 - 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
12 - 2 tablespoons milk
13 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
# Method:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, blend cake mix, eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract until a smooth batter forms, about 2 minutes. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared baking dish.
03 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean.
04 - While the cake bakes, combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Incorporate melted butter to create a thick paste.
05 - Once baked, remove cake from the oven. Immediately use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes across the surface, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
06 - Distribute or drizzle the cinnamon filling over the warm cake, ensuring the filling seeps into the poked holes. Allow cake to cool completely.
07 - Beat softened cream cheese with softened butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla, continuing to beat until creamy.
08 - Evenly spread the frosting over the cooled cake. Cut into squares and serve.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- This cake is pure comfort, with swirls of cinnamon hidden in every slice you serve.
- You can whip it up with pantry staples and zero yeast anxiety—it&aposs nearly foolproof!
02 -
- Poking the holes while the cake is still warm makes all the difference—wait too long and the cinnamon filling sits on top instead of seeping in.
- If you try to frost before the cake cools, you&aposs in for a melty mess—worth the patience to wait!
03 -
- If you start with room-temperature ingredients, your cake and frosting will come together without lumps.
- For extra gooey magic, reserve a few spoons of cinnamon filling and swirl them just under the frosting.