German Chocolate Poke Cake Recipe
This German Chocolate Poke Cake is a luscious twist on the classic dessert, featuring a moist chocolate base soaked with sweetened condensed milk and caramel sauce, then topped with a creamy coconut-pecan frosting. It’s a perfect combination of rich chocolate, gooey caramel, and nutty coconut that will delight any chocolate lover.
- Author: Bella
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking, Poking, Mixing
- Cuisine: German-American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Cake
- 1 box chocolate cake mix (or homemade equivalent)
Filling
- 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
- 3/4 cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
Topping
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
Garnish
- Extra coconut and pecans for garnish
- Prepare the cake: Preheat your oven according to the chocolate cake mix instructions. Prepare the cake batter as directed, and pour it into a greased 9×13 inch baking pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30-35 minutes. Allow the cake to cool slightly.
- Poke the cake: Use the handle of a wooden spoon or a skewer to poke holes all over the warm cake, spacing them about 1 inch apart. This will allow the filling to soak into the cake deeply.
- Add the filling: In a small bowl, mix the sweetened condensed milk and caramel sauce until combined. Pour this mixture evenly over the cake, making sure it seeps into all the holes.
- Prepare the topping: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the shredded coconut, chopped pecans, and heavy cream. Stir frequently and cook until the mixture is heated through and slightly thickened, around 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Melt the chocolate: In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the semi-sweet chocolate chips in 20-second intervals, stirring in between until smooth and fully melted.
- Assemble the topping: Quickly stir the melted chocolate into the warm coconut-pecan mixture until well combined. Spread the topping evenly over the soaked cake.
- Chill and garnish: Allow the cake to cool completely, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours to set. Before serving, garnish with extra shredded coconut and chopped pecans for added texture and presentation.
Notes
- For a homemade caramel sauce, cook sugar, butter, and heavy cream until thickened and golden.
- Using warmed filling and topping helps the ingredients soak and meld better into the cake.
- This cake tastes even better the next day as flavors meld.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- To serve, bring the cake to room temperature for about 15 minutes for the best texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12th of cake)
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 35g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0.2g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: German Chocolate Poke Cake, chocolate poke cake, coconut pecan cake, poke cake dessert, caramel chocolate cake