Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake (Printable)
Moist cinnamon-swirl poke cake with gooey filling and cream cheese frosting, perfect for brunch or dessert.
# What You 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 packed brown sugar
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
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish to ensure easy removal and prevent sticking.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Beat on medium speed until the batter is smooth, approximately 2 minutes.
03 - Pour batter evenly into the greased baking dish and smooth the surface. 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. Mix in the melted butter to form a thick cinnamon paste.
05 - Remove cake from oven and, while still hot, use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes uniformly across the surface, spacing holes about 1 inch apart.
06 - Drizzle or spoon the cinnamon filling over the warm cake, ensuring the mixture fills the holes thoroughly. Allow cake to cool completely on a wire rack.
07 - Beat softened cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract, then continue beating until the frosting is creamy and spreadable.
08 - Once the cake is fully cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly across the surface. Slice and serve as desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Each slice hides pockets of gooey cinnamon, just like the best part of a cinnamon roll.
- Cream cheese frosting melts perfectly over the cake, making every bit feel special.
02 -
- If the cake is too warm, the frosting disappears into a puddle—learned after the impatience of my first try.
- Drizzling the cinnamon filling slowly coats each hole better than dumping it on in one go.
03 -
- Lining the pan with parchment paper makes for the breeziest cleanup ever.
- Microwaving the assembled cake (just a few seconds) revives that oozy, just-baked texture.