Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake (Printable)
Moist vanilla cake with cinnamon swirls, gooey filling pockets and a creamy cream cheese topping—perfect for brunch.
# Ingredient List:
→ Cake Base
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
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, blend cake mix, eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract with a mixer for about 2 minutes until batter is smooth. Pour evenly into the greased dish and smooth the surface.
03 - Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean.
04 - While cake bakes, combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Stir in melted butter until a thick paste forms.
05 - Once baked, remove cake from the oven. While hot, use the handle of a wooden spoon to create holes approximately 1 inch apart across the surface.
06 - Spoon or drizzle cinnamon filling over the cake, ensuring mixture seeps fully into the holes. Allow cake to cool completely in the dish.
07 - In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and softened butter together until smooth. Add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract; continue beating until frosting is creamy.
08 - Spread cream cheese frosting evenly over the cooled cake. Slice into pieces and serve as desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Those tunnels of molten cinnamon filling feel like discovering hidden treasure in every slice.
- It’s shockingly simple—a cake mix base means you’re only minutes from cinnamon roll bliss, any day of the week.
02 -
- If you wait until the cake cools to poke holes, the filling won’t seep in as well (ask me how I know!).
- A thin layer of frosting looks neat, but a thicker slather is what makes this cake unforgettable.
03 -
- Use a chopstick or the handle of a wooden spoon for holes; they’re the perfect size for catching all that cinnamon filling.
- If you’re short on time, toss the cake mix, eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla in a stand mixer for 90 seconds and you’re good to go.