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Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake is everything that you love in those splendid chocolate candies but in the form of a moist and decadent chocolate cake. Since it’s made as a poke cake it’s even easier to prepare than you can imagine.
This Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake is amazingly indulgent. It is really simple to make, but the end result is so moist, gooey, and topped with even more delicious flavors. We’re adding a caramel sauce, pecans, and chocolate chips to the mix just to make sure this recipe is as delicious as chocolate turtles! These cakes, invented by the Jell-O company have come a long way, find out the history of these 70’s classics.
Serve them with a delicious Salted Caramel White Russian for a delicious and indulgent treat!
MORE POKE RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE
Pina Colada Poke Cake | Oreo Poke Cake | 36 Pumpkin Poke Cake Recipes
What We Love About This Chocolate Poke Cake Recipe
One of the great things about using a boxed cake mix to start off any dessert recipe is that it takes a lot of the stress and preparation time out of the equation. That means we can spend a little more time having fun with the recipe part. This cake has a rich texture that all will enjoy.
- 30 Minutes: It truly is so easy, even if you never thought you could bake, everyone will be so impressed with this candy bar cake.
- Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry or fridge, it will be one of your favorite cakes with the smooth caramel and chocolate.
- Family Friendly: If they are a fan of chocolate and caramel then they will love this cake! It will be a huge hit.
- Adaptable: Can make it lower-calorie and dairy free.
Ingredient Notes for Chocolate Caramel Cake
- Cake Mix: One box of Devil’s food cake plus the large eggs, water and oil you will need to make it
- Caramel Sauce: Two jars of sauce, usually found in the ice cream aisle. You can use sugar free sauce here if you wish.
- Chocolate Butter Cream Icing: 1 cup butter, room temperature,1 tsp. Vanilla 3 ½ cups powdered sugar, ¾ cup cocoa powder
- Chocolate Chips: The mini chocolate chips work best
- Pecans: Chopped Pecans for this easy recipe
Equipment Needed for Moist Chocolate Cake
- KitchenAid Classic Mixing Bowls
- Cooptop Silicone Spatula Set
- OCTAVO 5 Speed Hand Mixer Electric
- Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Commercial Baker’s Half Sheet
- Silicone Baking Mat – Set of 2
- DI ORO Designer Series Flexible 3-Piece Silicone Turner Spatula Set
- Wilton Recipe Right Non-Stick 9 x 13-Inch Oblong 2 Cake Pan Multipack
How to Make Turtles Chocolate Cake
These are the basic steps for making chocolate poke cake recipe. Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions for this delicious cake.
STEP 1: PREP
Begin by preheating the oven and preparing your baking pan with cooking spray. Then, prepare your chocolate cake mix per the package directions, pour your cake batter into the pan, and bake.
STEP 2: POKE CAKE
Remove cake from the oven and let cool for about 10 minutes. Then with the handle of a wooden spoon poke holes throughout the cake. While the cake is still warm, take one jar of the caramel sauce and pour it all over the top of the whole cake. Then set to the side and let cool completely.
STEP 3: Chocolate Icing
Meanwhile, make the chocolate buttercream frosting by whipping all the frosting ingredients together. Next, when the cake has cooled completely, frost with the chocolate frosting and then sprinkle on the chocolate chips and the pecans. Lastly, drizzle the remaining jar of caramel sauce on top of the cake and serve.
Prep and Storage Tips for this Indulgent Chocolate Cake
HOW TO MAKE THIS HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE CAKE RECIPE AHEAD OF TIME
Make this cake ahead of time and keep in the fridge for a day or two, but not too long or it may get soggy.
HOW TO STORE THIS RECIPE
Always store this cake in the refrigerator.
HOW TO FREEZE THIS BEST CAKE RECIPE
Freeze this cake unfrosted in the freezer wrapped well in plastic wrap or foil, or in an airtight container. It will maintain its texture for up to three months.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Chocolate Lovers Cake
Sugar Free cake mix and sugar free caramel sauce can lower the fat and calories in this Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake.
Of course, you can use walnuts or macadamia nuts if you wish. You can also omit them all together if you prefer.
Too much of a good thing can make this cake too moist. Make sure the holes aren’t too close together or too far apart with the wooden spoon handle—if they’re too close together, your cake could be too moist; if they’re too far apart, there may not be enough filling throughout the cake.
Expert Tips for Making This Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake Recipe
- Add Caramel chips: Along with the chocolate chips or toffee bits, try using some caramel chips over the baked cake.
- Short cut tip: Use a premade chocolate frosting for this recipe.
- Tip: If the caramel sauce is too thick, microwave it for a few seconds before pouring in the poked holes.
- Decorate: Place Chocolate Turtles on the cake as a decoration and also so people know what the cake is.
- Dietary consideration tip: Sugar free chips, sauces and frosting can make this cake a better option.
- Salted Caramel: Try using salted caramel sauce or a homemade caramel sauce for a change.
What to Serve with Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake
- Ice Cream
- Caramel Latte
- Hot Chocolate
Did you try this recipe?
⭐ Click below to leave a review and rating! ⭐
Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Chocolate Devils food cake mix
- 24 ounces caramel ice cream topping sauce, 2 jars
- 1 Chocolate buttercream frosting
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
- 1 ½ cups chopped pecans
Instructions
- Follow the instructions on the back of the cake box to make the cake mix and bake it.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for about 10 minutes. Then with the handle of a wooden spoon poke holes throughout the cake.
- While the cake is still warm take one jar of the caramel sauce and pour it all over the top of the cake. Then set to the side and let cool completely.
- While the cake is cooling make the chocolate buttercream frosting.
- Then once the cake is cooled completely, spread the frosting over the cake.
- Sprinkle the mini chocolate chips on top of the frosting. Then sprinkle the chopped pecans on top of the mini chocolate chips.
- Drizzle the second jar of caramel sauce on top of the nuts.
- Now you are ready to serve this delicious dessert.
Expert Tips
- Add Caramel chips: Along with the chocolate chips or toffee bits, try using some caramel chips over the baked cake.
- Short cut tip: Use a premade chocolate frosting for this recipe.
- Tip: If the caramel sauce is too thick, microwave it for a few seconds before pouring in the poked holes.
- Decorate: Place Chocolate Turtles on the cake as a decoration and also so people know what the cake is.
- Dietary consideration tip: Sugar free chips, sauces and frosting can make this cake a better option.
- Salted Caramel: Try using salted caramel sauce or a homemade caramel sauce for a change.
1 cup butter, room temperature,
1 tsp. vanilla,
3 ½ cups powdered sugar,
¾ cup cocoa powder Cream the butter and vanilla and then add your powdered sugar and mix well. Then add the cocoa powder and mix well.
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
Easy and delicious. Thanks for a great recipe!
This had delicious flavor and so easy to make! Loved it.
So good! We are big chocolate lovers here and this was perfect!
Is it wrong that I totally ate this for breakfast? It is so good I couldn’t resist. This recipe is a keeper.