Name: Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 - chocolate boxed cake mix or make your favorite or our homemade recipe baked in a 13 x 9 sheet pan. See below for a homemade chocolate cake recipe.; 1 can of sweetened condensed milk; 1 cup of store-bought ice cream caramel topping (saving 1/4 cup for garnishing) or homemade; Topping:; 2 cups heavy cream whipped (this doubles in volume); 3 tablespoons of caramel ice cream topping (homemade recipe); Garnish:; any crushed or chopped candy bars with caramel for garnish IE: Heath bars, Twix candy bars, salted caramel squares chopped, etc.; Optional: hot fudge sauce (homemade recipe); Homemade Chocolate Cake Recipe:; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 2 cups sugar; 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 cup buttermilk; 1/2 cup vegetable oil; 2 large eggs; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 cup boiling water

Any fan of the Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake recipe is ultimately going to be very happy with this one because it's fully loaded with chocolate and caramel in every bite making this sinfully delicious!

This decadent cake is certainly going to satisfy anyone with a sweet tooth that loves chocolate cake with a luscious gooey filling.

These two flavor combinations are wonderful for picnics, birthdays, or just because you love chocolate and caramel!

Whenever there was a colleague's birthday my staff associates would request this cake and the office party favorite.

This cake became so popular in my family that I was asked to make it for holidays, and other social gathering events.

We actually are big fans of poke cakes you may remember our Coconut Cream Poke Cake another delicious dessert we make for coconut lovers.

The store-bought ingredients are easily found or you can try our homemade chocolate cake recipe included along with our homemade hot fudge and homemade caramel sauce recipes.

The best part about this cake is that it’s even better when the flavors all meld together overnight in the fridge.

For this delicious recipe scroll down to the printable recipe card all the way at the bottom of this post and bypass all the tips and suggestions if you like.

chocolate cake with caramel filled and whipped cream caramel frosting

Easy Steps for Making Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake

Mix a chocolate cake of your choice to package instructions or use our homemade recipe in the recipe card at the end of this post
After the cake is baked cool for 10 minutes then poke holes in it with the back of a wooden spoon then pour the sweetened condensed milk on top and then the caramel topping
Beat the whipped cream until stiff peaks form adding the caramel topping Spread the top with the cream, and garnish if preferred with a drizzle of hot fudge, and caramel, and sprinkle the top with chopped candy bars
Note: You can substitute whipped topping for the whipped real heavy cream and jarred store-bought ice cream caramel toppings however it's pure heaven with the real deal

Seriously easy right? So let's get started, check out the photos and bake the most delicious chocolate caramel cake you've ever eaten.

chocoalte caramel poke cake on a plate with chocolate filled caramel

Shopping List(for complete instructions scroll to the printable recipe card below)

chocolate boxed cake mix or make your favorite or our homemade recipe baked in a 13 x 9 sheet pan(See below for a homemade chocolate cake recipe)
sweetened condensed milk
ice cream caramel topping (saving some for garnishing)
Topping: heavy cream whipped (heavy cream whipped doubles in volume) caramel ice cream topping, hot fudge sauce topping if desired
Garnish: any crushed or chopped candy bars with caramel for garnish IE: Heath bars, Twix candy bars, salted caramel squares chopped, etc

Pans To Use

13 x 9 sheet pan of any kind
two 9 x 9 cake pans( use to do 2 layers and filled
cupcakes( you will have to remove the middles, fill them and proceed by spreading each one)
two square pans for a two-layer square cake

Tips and Topping Suggestions:

Add any kind of caramel candies that can be used
Add any kind of nuts
Add chocolate chips
Make sure you use hot fudge which is very thick not syrup it will run
The cake tastes the best the next day
Disposable cake pans are perfect for taking this to a party
Use a wooden spoon to make the holes or dowel cake rods
Freeze the cake for up to 6 months, and thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving
Store cake covered and in the fridge for up to 4 days
Use a different flavored cake mix if you're not a chocolate lover
Pour the caramel and condensed milk separately on top
For a time saver use store-bought ice cream toppings
Any sized pans can be used for character shapes, sheet cakes,s, and round or square pans
This homemade chocolate cake recipe calls for vegetable oil, I do not recommend substituting oil with butter.
Tools needed: cake pan, mixer, measuring utensils, spatula, parchment paper or cooking oil spray, offset spatula, spoon

More Recipes To Try

We all grew up on the Vintage Chocolate-Mayonnaise Cake and it's always been my absolute favorite until this delicious chocolate caramel, cake.

Then I fell in love with pokes cake and one of our other favorites is Coconut Cream Poke Cake.

Then there is our Chocolate Peanut Butter Poke Cake for peanut butter lovers and one more vintage oldie but goodie Hot Milk Cake to try!

Pin for later

Chocolate Moist Cake

Whether you use a cake mix or our homemade killer cake recipe, this poke cake with caramel is a chocolate caramel lover's dream cake.

If you're a stickler for homemade you can also try our Homemade Caramel Sauce Topping Recipe and our Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe instead of store-bought.

This recipe comes out delicious either way, it's moist and full of fantastic flavors any cake enthusiast will love a slice of.