Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake (Printable Version)
Moist vanilla cake studded with gooey cinnamon pockets and cream cheese frosting—ideal for brunch or dessert.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Cake
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
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish thoroughly.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, blend cake mix, eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla extract. Beat until batter is smooth, about 2 minutes. Pour into prepared baking dish and level the surface.
03 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center of cake emerges clean.
04 - While cake is baking, combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Stir in melted butter until a thick paste forms.
05 - Remove cake from oven and immediately use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke rows of holes across the surface, spaced about 1 inch apart.
06 - Spoon or drizzle the cinnamon filling evenly over the warm cake, allowing it to seep into the holes. Let cake cool completely in the pan.
07 - In a bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth and combined. Gradually add powdered sugar, then milk and vanilla, beating until creamy.
08 - Spread frosting evenly across cooled cake. Slice into portions and serve.
# Quick Tips:
01 -
- It delivers all the gooey swirl you crave from a classic cinnamon roll, but with much less effort.
- The hidden pockets of cinnamon filling make every bite a delightful surprise—it's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser at potlucks and weekend breakfasts.
02 -
- If you try to frost the cake while it's warm, the topping will slide right off—I've been there.
- Waiting for the cinnamon filling to soak in before frosting truly amps up the gooey factor underneath.
03 -
- Letting the cake chill in the fridge for at least an hour makes slicing cleaner and keeps the filling exactly where you want it.
- Use high-quality cinnamon—fresh and fragrant—for the most aromatic result.