Death by Chocolate Poke Cake Recipe (2024)

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This delicious Death by Chocolate Poke Cake Recipe has is super moist with the homemade chocolate pudding. I then topped it with a whipped cream and cream cheese frosting, chocolate ganache AND chocolate chips. I figured if I was going to call it a Death by Chocolate Poke Cake that meant there was no such thing as too much chocolate. Chocolate lovers this one is for you!

The Best Chocolate Poke Cake Recipe

This Death by Chocolate Poke Cake came together as my husband and daughter requested something chocolate. I've been doing a lot of chocolate and coconut recipes because I love chocolate and coconut. However hubby and my daughter wanted something all chocolate and I've been wanting to try my hand at another poke cake. I decided I would just use a store bought chocolate cake mix but you're welcome to do it from scratch.

My pan is a bit of a weird size so the cake was a little too high but that didn't stop me. I do suggest using a standard 9x13 baking pan and try it first with one cake mix for this recipe. You can add another half a box if you want more cake than topping. I tend to gather bits that I like from recipes and put it together with what I like. That's how this decadent dessert was born!

Does This Chocolate Poke Cake Use Instant Pudding Mix?

I thought about using an instant chocolate pudding but it's so easy to make your own. All you need is some milk, cocoa, sugar, and a bit of cornstarch and you can make your own chocolate pudding. I used the microwave to make the pudding so it didn't take very long at all. My husband and daughter were chomping at the bit waiting for cake to be finished.

What Should I Use to Poke the Holes in My Poke Cake?

My daughter loved doing the part of poking the holes in the Death by Chocolate Poke Cake. We did it with the end of a wooden spoon so that the chocolate pudding could seep down into the cake. I've seen some of these poke cakes with sweetened condensed milk, those would be good too we loved it with the chocolate pudding.

This is easy to do with the handle of a wooden spoon, a metal straw, or even a cleaned dowel. Of course, you can use a skewer and wiggle it a bit to make the holes larger if desired.

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Chocolate Cake Recipe Tip #1

If you have a large enough measuring cup, make the pudding in that and microwave it. It's so much easier to pour from the measuring cup once the pudding is thick enough. Don't worry if some of the pudding is still on top of the chocolate poke cake. It will set and you're going to be putting a whole bunch of goodness on top of that anyway.

How Do I Make a Chocolate Poke Cake?

Time for the full recipe instructions. Are you ready? Bookmark or print the recipe below!

Yield: 1 cake

Death by Chocolate Poke Cake Recipe

Ingredients

For Chocolate Cake

1 Box Chocolate Cake Mix (follow instructions - most require eggs & oil)

Chocolate Pudding

⅔ cups sugar
¼ cup Cocoa
2 ¼ cups milk
2 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoon cornstarch

Whipped Cream & Cream Cheese Frosting

1 (8oz) package cream cheese room temperature
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ cups whipping cream
3 tbsps cocoa

Chocolate Ganache

9 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 cup heavy cream

Optional Chocolate Chips for the final topping

3 cups

Instructions

Chocolate Cake

Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan).
Make, bake and cool cake as directed on box for 13x9-inch pan.
Poke cake every ½ inch with handle of wooden spoon.

Chocolate Pudding

In medium bowl, mix sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and salt in a large microwave-safe bowl. Gradually stir in milk.
Microwave on high for 7-10 mins or until the mixture comes to a full boil. Stir every 2-3 minutes
Once the pudding is thickened add in butter and vanilla.
Let it cool a bit before pouring over the cake
Make sure the cake and pudding is completely cooled before frosting

Whipped Cream & Cream Cheese Frosting

In a small bowl beat whipping cream until stiff peaks form; set aside.
In a large bowl combine cream cheese, sugar, cocoa and vanilla. Beat until smooth, then fold in whipped cream.
Frost the cake. You can stop here if you want. The chocolate ganache is not required but oh boy does it add this Death by Chocolate Poke Cake

Chocolate Ganache

Heat the cream in a medium sized microwaveable bowl.Bring to a boil where it's just starting to form bubbles.
Add chocolate chips and stir until they are melted and thoroughly mixed
Let it cool so it's slightly warm not hot but still pours easily. Pour over frosting.
You can do the reverse and add the ganache before the frosting. I did it last so the chocolate chips would adhere to it.
Store cake in fridge
Enjoy your Death by Chocolate Poke Cake

Can you see the pudding in the cake below?

Super moist and super rich that's what this Death by Chocolate Poke Cake is all about!

What are the Layers in This Poke Cake Recipe?

You start with your base cake layer, then add the homemade pudding layer. It's two layers, even if it only feels like one since they blend together.

I then did two layers of whipped cream and cream cheese frosting, making one more dark chocolate than the other. You can see the difference in colours above. You don't have to and again the chocolate ganache and chocolate chips are optional BUT it is a Death by Chocolate Poke cake so go for it. The cake will be super moist and it might be messy but oh what a way to go. I had fun creating this cake and thinking of all the ways I could add more chocolate. My husband and daughter LOVED it but it is super rich.

If you love it as much as we do, let us know by leaving a comment if you've tried our Death by Chocolate Poke Cake or are going to. You can also PIN this for later!

Chocolate Cake Recipe Tip #2

Remember you don't have to add all the toppings that we did but if we didn't go over the top it wouldn't be a Death by Chocolate Poke Cake now would it. Besides there's no such thing as too much chocolate in our opinion.

Get creative and top with shaved chocolate, mini chocolate chips, or crumbled chocolate candies. You can even reserve some cake and crumble to sprinkle over the top if you like the rustic look.

Don't forget to check out some of our other deliciousrecipes like our Easy Chocolate Mousse Recipe!