Description
If you love the warm, comforting flavor of cinnamon rolls but want something easier to prepare, this Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake is the perfect dessert. Soft vanilla cake is baked until fluffy, then poked and soaked with sweetened condensed milk and a buttery cinnamon-sugar mixture that mimics the gooey filling of classic cinnamon rolls.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cake
- 1 box vanilla cake mix
- Ingredients listed on the cake mix box (typically eggs, oil, and water)
For the Cinnamon Filling
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- ½ cup melted butter
For the Soaking Layer
-
1 can sweetened condensed milk
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Bake the Cake
Prepare the vanilla cake batter according to the package instructions. Pour into a greased 9×13-inch baking pan and bake as directed. - Prepare the Cinnamon Mixture
In a bowl, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter. Stir until well blended and slightly thick. - Poke the Cake
Once the cake is baked, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool slightly. Use the back of a wooden spoon or a straw to poke holes evenly across the entire cake. - Add the Condensed Milk
Slowly pour the sweetened condensed milk over the cake, making sure it seeps into the holes so the cake becomes moist and flavorful. - Add the Cinnamon Butter
Drizzle the cinnamon-sugar butter mixture evenly across the cake, letting it soak into the holes for that classic cinnamon roll flavor. - Make the Frosting
In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and fluffy. Add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk, then continue mixing until creamy. - Frost the Cake
Once the cake has completely cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly across the top. - Chill Before Serving
Refrigerate the cake for at least 30 minutes before slicing to allow the flavors to set and the frosting to firm up slightly.
Notes
- Make sure the cake is still slightly warm when you poke the holes and add the condensed milk. This helps the liquid absorb more effectively into the cake.
- Use evenly spaced holes across the cake to ensure every bite has the sweet cinnamon filling.
- Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting to prevent the cream cheese frosting from melting or becoming too soft.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 32 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
Keywords: cinnamon roll poke cake, cinnamon cake dessert, easy poke cake recipe, cinnamon cream cheese cake, cinnamon roll inspired cake