Peppermint Poke Cake Recipe (2024)

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Rich chocolate peppermint cake moistened with sweetened condensed milk, smothered in whipped cream and topped with candy cane bits.

Peppermint Poke Cake Recipe (1)

This cake recipe has been a reader favorite for years. Do you know how I’ve been trying to update some of my older photos and recipes? Well, I pulled this one a couple of months ago for some re-vamping. And on Thanksgiving Dayon the dotmy inbox started filling up with readers wanting to know where the recipe had disappeared to.

I can’t believe what Christmas rule-followers you all are! I didn’t get a single question about this peppermint recipe until Thanksgiving day. I guess that’s when Christmas “officially” begins. Although, when it comes to my house we don’t mind starting a little early with the tunes. I don’t decorate until after Thanksgiving though (and since we just barely moved, it won’t be until waaaaaaaaay after Thanksgiving this year) and we don’t start eating peppermint until after Thanksgiving either.

I’m too busy cramming in as much pumpkin and pecan pie as I can right up until the last Turkey-day minute.

But now that it isofficially the holiday season, allow me to re-introduce you to my famous Christmas Poke Cake.

aka Peppermint Poke Cake

aka Candy Cane Poke Cake

aka Better Than Christmas Poke Cake

It’s got a lot of aliases.

Peppermint Poke Cake Recipe (2)

There are a lot of different ways you can piece this gem of a recipe together. In this post, I’m going to give you the basic version:

Chocolate Cake

Normally, I say you can go from scratchorbox mix in most of my recipes that call for a baked cake. But in this particular recipe, I really think you should be using a box mix cake.

Why?

A box mix always yields a softer more tender cake than a homemade cake. That’s just the fact. I’m not saying you can’t make a mean, moist chocolate cake from scratch. I’m just saying that I seriously doubt it will be asairy as a box cake mix. And when it comes to a poke cake, airy = absorbent = ☺️.

Sweetened Condensed Milk

This is the magic maker. If you’ve ever had a poke cake, you know that the SCM fills the holes poked in the cake and seeps into every nook and cranny, making an incredibly moist and delicious dessert.

Cool Whip

Goes on top, obviously. People always ask, “can I use homemade whipped cream?” Suuuuuuuuure. If you must.

But here are my rules for subbing homemade whipped cream in a poke cake:

  1. Either make stabilized whipped cream, or
  2. Don’t add it to the cake until the very last moment before serving,
  3. Most importantly: don’t email me complaining that it didn’t turn out the way my pictures look!!!!

Got it? Good.

Andes Peppermint Bits

Okay, so here’s something really important to know about this cake!! I’m not using actual candy cane peppermint bits here.

Maybe it’s just me, but I’d rather not break my teeth whilst enjoying my dessert. So I almost always default to Andes Peppermint Bits anytime I’m making a recipe that needs “candy cane” pieces. They are white chocolate peppermint candy bits, and they are DELICIOUS. And you won’t break your teeth eating them.

I never have a problem finding them at Walmart or Target in the baking aisle or in the seasonal foods section. Trust me, this is something your sensitive-teeth friends are going to appreciate!

You’re welcome!

Here’s the cake I originally posted a few years ago. You can see that it looks alittle bit different than the basic cake recipe I described above.

That’s because this one includes crushed Candy Cane OREOS on top (YUM!!) and about a 1/4 cup – 1/2 cupof hot fudge saucein addition to the sweetened condensed milk poured over the cake (and I whisked in a couple of tablespoons of peppermint creamer into the SCM). If you’re looking to amp up this recipe a bit, that’s the way to go, let me tell you!

No matter how you make it, ENJOY!

And happy Christmas season!

Peppermint Poke Cake Recipe (4)

Peppermint Poke Cake Tips

  • A box mix always yields a softer more tender cake than a homemade cake.
  • Use stabilized whipped cream, or don’t add it to the cake until the very last moment before serving.
  • I never have a problem finding Andes Peppermint Bits at Walmart or Target in the baking aisle or in the seasonal foods section.
  • If you’re looking to amp up this recipe a bit, crushed Candy Cane OREOS on top and about 1/4 cup – 1/2 cup hot fudge sauce in addition to the sweetened condensed milk poured over the cake are great additions!

Peppermint Poke Cake FAQ

Can I make this poke cake in advance?

Yes, you can make it up to 3 days in advance. Just store it covered in the fridge.

Will this recipe work with a different size cake pan?

I have only ever made this recipe in a 9×13 cake pan. I cannot say for certain that it will work with a different size cake pan, but you can give it a try and let me know in the comments how it turns out.

Can I use a different flavor of cake mix?

Yes, you can use a different flavor of cake mix. I would recommend using a chocolate cake mix or a red velvet cake mix.

Peppermint Poke Cake Recipe (5)

Peppermint Poke Cake

Rich chocolate peppermint cake moistened with sweetened condensed milk, smothered in whipped cream, and topped with candy cane bits.

Ingredients

  • 1 - 9x13 chocolate cake, prepared
  • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk

Optional:

  • 8 ounces Cool Whip
  • 1 package (about 2 cups) Andes Peppermint Bits

Instructions

Once cake is baked and still warm, poke holes all over the top of the cake using the handle of a wooden mixing spoon.

Pour the sweetened condensed milk (and optional hot fudge) over the cake, aiming to fill the holes as best as possible.

Cover and chill for about an hour.

Spread Cool Whip on top and sprinkle the peppermint bits (and optional OREOS) over the Cool Whip. Cover and chill for an additional 3 hours (or longer).

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Peppermint Poke Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my poke cake soggy? ›

Make sure the holes aren't too close together or too far apart—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.

What's the best way to poke holes in a cake? ›

A clean wooden spoon handle is the best tool and gives you nice big holes to fill with liquid gelatin, but in a pinch a chopstick or even a fork could work. Holes about 1½ inches apart in a grid pattern are ideal, but poke cakes are forgiving; it'll be delicious regardless of the spacing.

Why is it called poke cake? ›

Both cakes called for hole-poking action long before the 1970s. Even though Jell-O isn't quite the potluck-table staple it once was, there are still plenty of home bakers poking holes in their cakes and filling them with sugary semi-liquids.

How to stop cake from going soggy? ›

Use baking strips to avoid a wet cake

Baking strips are just strips of fabric or insulated foil that wrap around the edge of your cake tin and stop the edges of the tin from getting too hot too quickly. This stops the edges of your cake from cooking faster than the middle, therefore avoiding a wet middle.

How do you keep a cake super moist? ›

I promise you SOFT & MOIST cakes!
  1. Use Cake Flour. Reach for cake flour instead of all-purpose flour. ...
  2. Add Sour Cream. ...
  3. Room Temperature Butter / Don't Over-Cream. ...
  4. Add a Touch of Baking Powder or Baking Soda. ...
  5. Add Oil. ...
  6. Don't Over-Mix. ...
  7. Don't Over-Bake. ...
  8. Brush With Simple Syrup/Other Liquid.
Aug 25, 2019

Do you let a cake cool before poking holes in a cake? ›

It's best to make the holes in the cake while it is still slightly warm, because as it cools the crust on top of the cake will crumble more easily.

Can you take a poke cake out of the pan? ›

Bake cakes according to box directions! Let cakes cool for 15 minutes. Remove from pans and cool for an additional 15 minutes. Place them back in the pan so that you can pour the jello over the top.

How long is poke cake good for in the fridge? ›

Store the Jell-O poke cake, tightly covered with storage wrap or foil, in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Why is it called Elvis Presley cake? ›

Before it's served, you'll add a layer of cream cheese frosting and sprinkle candied pecans on top for some crunch. Internet lore would have you believe this pineapple-topped concoction was Elvis Presley's favorite cake, that he even asked his grandmother to make it for him as a kid.

What is the most popular style of poke? ›

The most traditional version is the fish poke bowl, typically made with raw, marinated fish. The two most common fish poke bowls are the tuna poke bowl, made with sushi-grade yellowfin tuna, and the salmon poke bowl.

Why is it called dump cake? ›

A dump cake is an American dessert similar to a cobbler but with a cake-like topping. It is so named because it is prepared by "dumping" ingredients (typically canned fruit or pie filling, followed by a boxed cake mix) into a cake pan without mixing.

Why did my cake turn out soggy? ›

Odds are you didn't bake it long enough, or you added too much leavening. Underbaking is easy if you don't know what temperature your oven is at. Home ovens can vary a bit from the temperature shown on the display. Always use a tester to check that the midfle of a cake is done.

How do you fix a soggy cake top? ›

You can also place your baked items in the fridge for a half hour, and this should cool and dry the surface as well. The fridge is known to be a dry environment as it naturally dehumidifies air by cooling the insides. Just don't leave it in there too long uncovered because it will completely dry out your baked goods!

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