Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake
Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake is a dream come true for all lovers of cinnamon rolls. This melt in your mouth recipe starts with a simple box of yellow or white cake mix, followed by a creamy, cinnamon sugar filling and then topped with a scrumptious cream cheese frosting. This super easy cake will be a highly requested family favorite and is a delicious dessert that goes with every season.
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cinnamon roll poke cake
Here’s what you’ll need:
Cake
- 1 box vanilla (yellow or white) cake mix, prepare as directed on the box
Filling Mixture
- 5 Tbsp butter
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 3 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2½ tsp vanilla extract
- 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
Frosting
- 8 oz of cream cheese, softened
- 8 Tbsp (½ cup) butter, softened
- 2 tsp vanilla flavoring
- 2½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 tsp half and half cream
Let’s make a cinnamon roll poke cake!
Bake the cake as directed on the box. While the cake is still warm (not hot), take the end of a wooden spoon and poke holes in the cake about 1 inch apart. As you can see in the pic above, mine are further apart, but for my next one, I’ll make them closer together.
the filling
Using a heat-safe bowl, add the softened butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract and sweetened condensed milk. Then you whisk together all the ingredients are until they are combined. Put the bowl in the microwave and heat on high for 1 minute, remove and stir. Then, heat for another 30 seconds and stir well, making sure all brown sugar clumps have been removed. However, if you still have some lumps, you can return the filling to the microwave for 30-seconds more until all lumps are removed.
The frosting
Next, using a hand or stand mixer on low to medium speed, cream together the butter and cream cheese. Scrape the sides of the mixing bowl.
Now, reduce the mixer speed to low and add the vanilla flavoring, half & half and the powdered sugar, a ½ cup at a time.
Return mixer speed to medium and continue mixing until the frosting is smooth & creamy.
Spoon the frosting on top of the cake using a silicone spatula and smooth the frosting. Once I smooth it onto the cake, I create little swirls in the frosting to make it look pretty, but this step is totally optional.
Serve & enjoy!
This cake is great for potlucks, holidays or when you have guests coming to visit AND it also goes great with a cup of coffee or a big glass of cold milk! I think I could even eat this one for breakfast! It’s a crowd pleaser, for sure!
**Tips**
- If you can, make ahead of time. This will give the filling time to really soak into the and all the delicious flavors to meld.
- Set your butter and cream cheese out at least 2 hours before making, allowing them to come to room temperature and soften.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
here are a few other great recipes to try:
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Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake
Ingredients
- CAKE - 1 box vanilla yellow or white cake mix, prepare as directed on the box
- FILLING - 5 Tbsp butter
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- 3 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2½ tsp vanilla extract
- 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
- FROSTING - 8 oz of cream cheese softened
- 8 Tbsp ½ cup butter, softened (for frosting)
- 2 tsp vanilla flavoring for frosting
- 2½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 tsp half and half cream
Instructions
- Bake the cake as directed on the box.
- While the cake is still warm (not hot), take the end of a wooden spoon and poke holes in the cake about 1 inch apart.
- FILLING - In a heat safe bowl, add the 5 tablespoons of butter, light brown sugar, ground cinnamon, vanilla extract and sweetened condensed milk. You'll whisk until all the ingredients until you have them all combined.
- Place the bowl in the microwave and heat on high for 1 min, remove and stir. Heat for another minute and stir. Make sure all brown sugar clumps have been removed. If not, return to the microwave for 30 second more and stir until all lumps are removed.
- Carefully ladle the butter mixture evenly over the top of the cake.
- FROSTING - Using a stand mixer or a handheld mixer and a medium size mixing bowl, (on medium speed) cream the butter and cream cheese together. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl until fully incorporated.
- Reduce mixer speed to low, then add the vanilla flavoring, half & half and the powdered sugar, a ½ cup at a time.
- Return the mixer speed to medium and continue mixing until the frosting is smooth and fluffy.
- Spoon all of the frosting onto the cake and smooth it out evenly with a silicone spatula or a knife.
- Serve & enjoy!
