This White Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake is a great way to end the meal. Chocolate, caramel, and white chocolate...it's the perfect trio of flavors.
When our kids have tests, we have them study, and then we will quiz them to see how much they really studied. Nothing like a good study session to make you realize how much school stuff you have forgotten and how dumb you have become. That was me the other night. My son had a biology test that he wanted me to quiz him for. Biology is one of those classes I learned at the time, and then promptly forgot as soon as school was over.
Yikes! It has been way too many years since being in school. My brain does not remember things like ATP energy, autotrophs, chloroplasts, adenosine, thylakoids. Shoot! I can't even remember how to pronounce some of those. My son had a good laugh at me as I was asking him some of the things on his papers. The sad thing is that I just went over all those things with him the other day, and I couldn't tell you what any of those are now. Well, maybe chloroplasts...I think those are some sort of plant cell where the color is stored...or something like that. The other ones I have no clue. Obviously I forgot again!
I think it is safe to say that I need to stick to studying things like chocolate, caramel, and candy bars. That is definitely a test I would ace. Bio bad...baking good!
So a few weeks ago I was "studying" the aisles at the store. (confession: I lose more time wandering the grocery store aisles than anywhere else) I took a turn down the coffee aisle and checked some of the instant coffee flavors. My eye landed on a white chocolate caramel coffee, and I knew right away that I wanted to bake something with those flavors. After a few more aisles of wandering/studying I came up with this White Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake idea.
If you are wondering what a poke cake is...it is just what it sounds like. You bake a cake, and then "poke" holes all over the top of the warm cake for the caramel and sweetened condensed milk to soak into. Then cover it with a Cool Whip topping.
This cake actually has a white chocolate pudding Cool Whip on top of it to give it even more white chocolate flavor. I found some Hershey's white chocolate pudding while I was aisle wandering and decided to give it a try on this cake. I also used some white chocolate Hershey bars for the topping! I don't know about you, but I can't resist something that decadent looking.
Chocolate, caramel, and cake...I think all my studying paid off! 🙂
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White Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake
A chocolate cake drizzled with caramel and topped with a white chocolate pudding Cool Whip and candy bars is a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Ingredients
- 1 chocolate cake mix + ingredients from back of box
- 1 ½ cups cooled coffee (substitute this for the water in the cake)
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz.)
- 1 cup caramel ice cream topping + extra for drizzling (Hershey's)
- 1 cup milk
- 1 box instant white chocolate pudding (3.4 oz. Hershey's)
- 2 cups Cool Whip
- 2 cups chopped Hershey's White Chocolate Bliss Bars
Instructions
- Preheat oven according to the cake package directions.
- Mix up the cake mix according to the package directions. Substitute cooled coffee for the water. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan and bake for 28-30 minutes.
- While the cake is baking stir together the sweetened condensed milk and caramel topping.
- When the cake is done, remove from the oven. Take a wooden spoon and use the round handle to poke holes all over the cake. It doesn't matter how the cake looks at this point.
- Slowly drizzle the sweetened condensed milk mixture all over the cake. Fill every hole and go slowly so it can soak in. Cool the cake completely.
- Whisk together the milk and pudding. Fold in the Cool Whip. Spread over the top of the cooled cake. Sprinkle with the chopped candy bars. Drizzle with extra caramel topping before serving.
- Makes 24 pieces of cake. Keep the cake covered and refrigerated.
Other fun white chocolate recipes that we enjoy:
White Chocolate Oreo Brownie Parfaits
White Chocolate Funfetti Chip Cake
White Chocolate Goo Goo Cluster Brownies
DORIS
OH, my gosh!! This sounds like HEAVEN in a cake. Thanks for the recipe. Will be trying this soon!!
Shelbi November
Is there a way to get the coffee without actually having a coffee maker? We don't drink coffee and I'd love to try this but don't want to go out and buy a coffee maker. Is there an instant coffee or something that you know of that would be easier for me to use? Or a substitute?
Jocelyn Brubaker
Yes, you can instant coffee and water in place of the coffee. I hope you like the cake 🙂
Lindsay
My best friend's husband just brought back some Nestle Caramel Treat from South Africa for me to use in her 30th b-day cake tomorrow, so I'm making this as cupcakes…just going to poke a hole in each cupcake then use a ziplock baggie with the corner cut off the fill the cupcakes w/ the caramel…and I used coconut oil in place of veg oil…the batter is TO DIE…I can't imagine how amazing the finished product is going to be!!! Thanks so much for the recipe!
capturing joy with kristen duke
That cake looks amazing!! Pinning!
Trish - Mom On Timeout
This cakes looks amazing Jocelyn and I love the flavor combo! Yummy 🙂
Linda @ With A Blast
White chocolate and caramel ! Two of my favorites combined with a poke cake 🙂 Looks delicious !
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Linda!!
Claire
omg. yum! I need this in my life
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Claire!!
Chels R.
I was studying Science with Gracie yesterday and she was learning about plants and trees and the annual ring, chlorophyll, and other words I know I learned at some point. Ugh! I just know she is never going to need this information, lol! This cake looks super moist and totally perfect!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Chels!!
Elizabeth @ Confessions of a Baking Queen
I think this is one of those cakes that I would leave a fork in so every time I walked past the fridge I could sneak a bite! My parents used to quiz me like that too, I swear it makes a world of difference!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha!! A girl after my own heart! 😉
Beth @ bethcakes
This sounds like my kind of studying! 🙂 After just graduating from college, I am constantly surprised by how much I've forgotten already. Oops! Haha. Aside from chocolate and caramel being amazing, that white chocolate pudding Cool Whip sounds incredible!!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction
Oh, I love a good poke cake! Great idea to use coffee as the liquid ingredient!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Jessica!!
Dina
it looks yummy!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Dina!!
patsy
I can totally relate to studying with the kids! I'm re-learning everything as they go through school! This poke cake looks so fun and what a treat after all of that hard work studying!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Patsy!!
Renee @ Awesome on $20
This cake has two of my husband's favorite flavors. He's going to love this.
Jocelyn Brubaker
That's great!! It really was SO good! 😉
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel
Oh, I KNOW I would pass your science class, Jocelyn! Especially when you teach us how to make incredible things like this poke cake! Caramel + white chocolate sounds like a dream come true. Chloroplasts or whatever, not so much. But hey, more plant color for them, and more cake for me!
Jocelyn Brubaker
You would most definitely pass my class, girl!! Thank you!!
Brenda @ SweetSimpleStuff
Can I be your study partner ... this is my kind of subject! I do believe that the coffee aisle is the best smelling aisle in the store 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Yes, you can be!! 😉 It's definitely my kind of subject too!
Jenn@eatcakefordinner
Yum - I love this version. Anything with coffee has got to be amazing, right?
Jocelyn Brubaker
Right!! 🙂 Thanks Jenn!!
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain
I'm telling you, if Alton Brown taught me science via food, I could've been a chemist right now lol. But since he didn't, I will focus on the science of chocolate too. Here's my experiment: how quickly can I inhale this poke cake?! 😀
Jocelyn Brubaker
Now that's my kind of experiment!! Thanks Jess!
Eat Good 4 Life
I have never made any type of poke cake before but it sounds great. Maybe I can do that with booze? Biology is right up my alley but it can be a bit overwhelming 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
You really need to make one girl!! 😉
Lindsay @ Life, Love and Sugar
Mmmm, your studying definitely paid off! Can't go wrong when you combine chocolate, caramel and coffee 🙂 That looks like the moistest chocolate cake - yum!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Lindsay!!
Melanie @ Carmel Moments
Oh my. That looks so decadent and moist. Sounds fabulous!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Melanie!!
Aimee @ ShugarySweets
Ha! I found a difference...I LOVE Biology. And Chemistry. Those are two subjects I CAN help with! And spelling, I'm a pretty good speller (when my fat fingers aren't getting in the way)! But this cake...yes, reward yourself. It looks amazing!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
You mean we aren't identical twinkies?? 😉 Hehe
ThisBakerGirlBlogs
These look delicious!! And, I get what you mean about not remembering stuff from school. I'm still at university and I've been studying the human body for the past 5 years, so you can imagine my jaw dropping to the ground when they assigned me a dissertation to write on plants. I remember NOTHING! Yikes.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Oh no! Poor you! You need this cake to make things just a bit better!! 😉
Julianne @ Beyond Frosting
oh yum! White chocolate and caramel! I love a good Poke cake!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Julianne!! 🙂
Marcie
This looks so delicious, Jocelyn! I just love poke cakes, and this flavor combo sounds like a winner!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Marcie!!
Tieghan
I love coffee and cake and caramel!! This one is a true winner! Oh and I agree with Dorothy, This is so breakfast now! 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Tieghan!!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust
I love that you used coffee! That means this is breakfast. 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Exactly 😉 Thanks girl!
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet
Can I start my meal with this instead?? I want a piece!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
That sounds like a great idea!! 😉
Laura @ Lauras Baking Talent
Love poke cakes and love the flavors of this one 🙂 Yum! I have the same issue in the grocery store. My husband is always asking why it takes me so long to shop 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Laura!!
Mary Frances @ The Sweet {Tooth} Life
One of my favorite things to do is brainstorm flavor combos, but I never thought to peruse the coffee aisle! I'll have to use that as an excuse next time:) I'm making my way through physics, but I'd prefer caramel and white chocolate any day! SCM, white chocolate, cool whip - the white and sweet trifecta!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Mary Frances!! 🙂
Megan - The Emotional Baker
This cake looks so moist and delicious! I hate how we forget what we study so quickly, but I won't be forgetting this cake anytime soon 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
That's what I like to hear! 😉 Thanks Megan!!
Gloria @ Simply Gloria
Yep, I'm right there with you on the homework/biology thing. Had great grades, but could not help my boys once they hit HS.
You definitely had me at the caramely stuff....very decadent!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Gloria!! 🙂