Chocolate Poke Cake From Scratch

Chocolate Poke Cake From Scratch is one of the most amazing and moist cakes you’ll ever have!

A secret ingredient brings out the chocolatey goodness in the cake while adding a rich layer of homemade pudding keeps it extra moist! It’s all topped off with a simple one minute chocolate frosting!

A Tip For Enhanced Chocolate Flavor

This is one of the most amazing chocolate cakes of all time! My son calls this his favorite cake hands down!

Making a chocolate poke cake from scratch is easier than you think and it’s so worth the extra time!

If you love a great chocolatey flavor, I have a little secret to share with you! Adding just a little bit of coffee to the batter brings out the rich chocolate flavor (but don’t worry, you don’t taste a coffee flavor). This even works in place of water if you’re making a boxed mix!

Originally I made this cake for my son’s 18th birthday…but of course when you have a house full of teenage boys and a chocolate cake, getting photos is kind of challenging.  *Sigh* … so I had to make the cake AGAIN, oh the hardships, more chocolate cake! And it was just as amazing!

Pourable Poke Cake Topping

The cake itself is decadent and moist with an amazing rich chocolate flavor…even without the pudding on top, it is excellent!!

The homemade pudding is super easy and quick and takes this cake to the next level! The whole thing is topped with my absolute favorite one minute easy chocolate frosting. This “poured frosting” is quick to make and requires not spreading, just pour over the cake and tilt to spread!

Items you’ll need for this recipe:

•  9 x 13 pan 
• chocolate chips  
• cocoa powder 

After trying this Chocolate Poke Cake From Scratch, you may never want to use a boxed recipe again!

4.77 from 77 votes

Review Recipe

Chocolate Poke Cake From Scratch

Prep Time 45 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Servings 15 servings

Author Holly Nilsson

This Chocolate Poke Cake From Scratch is one of the most amazing and moist cakes you’ll ever have! A secret ingredient brings out the chocolatey goodness in the cake while adding a rich layer of homemade pudding keeps it extra moist! It’s all topped off with a simple one minute chocolate frosting!

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Ingredients

Cake

• ▢ 1 ¾ cups flour
• ▢ 1 ¾ cups sugar
• ▢ ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ▢ 2 teaspoons baking soda
• ▢ 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ▢ 2 eggs
• ▢ 1 cup brewed coffee cooled
• ▢ 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ▢ 1 cup milk
• ▢ ½ cup vegetable oil
• ▢ ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Chocolate Pudding Layer

• ▢ ⅔ cup sugar
• ▢ ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ▢ 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• ▢ pinch of salt
• ▢ 2 ¼ cups milk
• ▢ 1 tablespoon butter

Frosting

• ▢ ⅓ cup milk
• ▢ ⅓ cup butter softened
• ▢ 1 ¼ cups sugar
• ▢ 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

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Instructions

Cake

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease & flour a 9x13 inch pan.
• Combine milk & lemon juice and set aside. (The mixture will thicken slightly)
• Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda & baking powder in a large bowl.
• Add eggs, coffee, soured milk, oil and vanilla. Beat medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour into prepared pans. (Your batter may seem runny at this point but it will bake up beautifully.)
• Bake 30 to 40 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean. Be sure to check the cake at 30 minutes so it doesn't over cook.

Chocolate Pudding

• In a saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch and salt, mix well. Add in cold milk, stir until combined.
• Turn heat to medium high stirring constantly until mixture comes to a boil.
• Allow to boil for 1 minute while stirring, remove from heat and stir in butter.
• Allow to cool for 5 minutes stirring occasionally. Poke the cake all over with the end of a wooden spoon. Pour warm pudding over warm cake. Tap the pan allowing the pudding to seep into the cake.
•  Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. (Frost after slightly cooled, about 30 minutes)

Poured Frosting

• In a saucepan, combine milk, butter, & sugar over medium high heat. 
• Bring to a rolling boil and allow to boil 45 seconds. 
• Remove from heat and add chocolate chips. 
• Whisk until smooth and shiny and immediately pour over the cake. Refrigerate until set.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 471, Carbohydrates: 74g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 38mg, Sodium: 225mg, Potassium: 304mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 56g, Vitamin A: 295IU, Vitamin C: 0.4mg, Calcium: 104mg, Iron: 2.4mg

(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

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Cake adapted from allrecipes.com