Easy Dreamy Red Velvet Cream Cheese Poke Cake is one of the easiest desserts you can make for a family after dinner dessert. Are you a cake lover? Have you ever had a poke cake? Whoa! If not, you're missing out on all the dreaminess of a poke-filled cake!
Poke cakes are generally filled with sweetened condensed milk or pudding that soaks in the cake poked holes and then the whole cake is topped with a fluffy whipped cream or frosting. Sounds pretty yummy, right? YEAH!!
They are best eaten the next day, so this is perfect to make ahead of time, so you can focus on other things and then pull it out when you're ready to dive in!
What is really cool about poke cakes are you can mix and match cake mixes, puddings, whipped cream flavors, frostings and toppings to color coordinate for your special occasion or favorite flavors. Get as creative as you want!
Other cream cheese filling versions: This poke cake uses sweetened condensed milk and cream cheese for the poke filling, but you can also use cheesecake pudding or vanilla pudding and add some softened cream cheese to still make it cream cheese flavored because, seriously, does anything go better with red velvet?
For the cheesecake pudding, I would use 2 of the small packages and add the milk as directed on the package instead of one package, to get a lot of pudding, versus not enough.
If you use the vanilla pudding and cream cheese, whip softened cream cheese, add in 1 box of vanilla pudding and 1 ½ cups of milk and boom!
Other Tips: If you choose to add a frosting or ganache to the top of your pudding/condensed milk layer, you should make sure the frosting/ganache is sort of melty because it will tear up the cake and it will be hard to frost.
For frostings in a tub you purchase from the store, remove the lid and seal from the frosting and microwave for 15-20 second intervals, stirring in between each interval, until the frosting can be poured, but not bubbling. If you cook it too much, the frosting will break down and it won't set up properly.
Our family absolutely love poke cakes! Our favorites include...
Easy Boston Cream Poke Cake
Easy Caramel Cream Chocolate Poke Cake
Reese’s Peanut Butter Devil’s Food Chocolate Poke Cake
Strawberry Creme Passion Poke Cake! {True Luv}
Easy Dreamy Red Velvet Cream Cheese Poke Cake
Ingredients
- Easy Dreamy Red Velvet Cream Cheese Poke Cake
- 1 Red Velvet Cake Mix + ingredients called out on box recipe
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 8 oz very softened cream cheese
- 12 oz tub of whipped cream or 5-6 cups of whipped cream can also use 8 oz for 3 cups, but we prefer more whipped cream
Instructions
- Bake cake as directed on cake box directions using ingredients called out for a 9x13 cake.
- After cake has baked, let it cool, then poke with holes.
- Using a whisk or mixer, beat softened cream cheese (microwave 30 seconds if not softened) then add in sweetened condensed milk and mix well.
- Pour over holes in cake and smooth out into holes as much as possible.
- Frost cake with whipped cream and place in fridge overnight or up to 6 hours.
- Cut and devour!
Notes
I don't see why you couldn't? Sounds like a plan Lisa! 😉
Do you think this recipe could be used with cupcakes? I’m willing to give it a try!
Hi Lauren! Using a mixer or whisk, mix the softened cream cheese with pudding mix together first to get creamy and smooth and then add in your milk. Enjoy!!
Hello! This looks delicious and easy to make... question on the pudding addition. Do you prepare the pudding and then mix with cream cheese? Or do you simply add the powder as is? Thank you! 😊
14 oz. Maureen. 🙂
What size can of sweetened condensed milk?
This looks lovely - would you believe I have never had a poke cake? Time to give it a go - thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you Katherine! It's definitely one way to please a family! 🙂
This is DREAMY Kim!!! Poke cake is always SOOOO moist and delicious. I'm craving this big time my friend!! Perfect for Valentine's!! XO
Hi Diane, Cool Whip has 12 oz tubs and the ingredients called out on recipe box are those on the back of the box how to make the cake, meaning eggs, oil and water. If you can't find the 12 ounce tubs, you can buy 2 8 oz tubs and use 1/2 of one + a whole tub or use almost 6 cups of whipped cream. Hope that helps?
List of ingredients looks off:
Easy Dreamy Red Velvet Cream Cheese Poke Cake
1 Red Velvet Cake Mix + ingredients called out on box recipe
And whipped cream doesn't come in 12-oz tubs.
It is Kelsie! That red color does it all! Thank you so much!
Poke cakes are the best! This would be such a great dessert for Valentine's Day--I can taste it already!