Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake (Printable)
Moist cinnamon roll-inspired cake studded with gooey cinnamon pockets and finished with silky cream cheese frosting.
# 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 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 Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
02 - In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Beat with a hand mixer for 2 minutes until the batter is smooth. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and level the surface.
03 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean.
04 - While the cake is baking, mix the brown sugar and ground cinnamon in a small bowl. Stir in the melted butter to create a thick paste.
05 - After removing the cake from the oven, immediately use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes across the cake surface at 1-inch intervals. Spoon or drizzle the cinnamon filling over the hot cake, allowing it to soak into the holes. Let the cake cool completely.
06 - In a separate bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract, then beat until the frosting is light and creamy.
07 - Spread the frosting evenly across the cooled cake. Cut into portions and serve.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The gooey pockets of cinnamon filling are a treat I used to dream of as a kid but never found in bakery cakes.
- It gives you all the joy of cinnamon rolls without the work of kneading and rising dough.
02 -
- The filling needs to go onto the cake while it's still hot, or it won’t seep into the holes as beautifully as you'd like.
- Letting the cake cool just enough before frosting is crucial or the frosting will melt and run right off.
03 -
- For deeper cinnamon flavor, sprinkle a little extra cinnamon over the frosting right before serving.
- Use a measuring cup with a spout to drizzle the filling—it makes a huge difference getting it into the holes neatly.