Heath Bar Poke Cake is a rich chocolate cake soaked with a sweet, caramel mixture and topped with whipped topping and crushed candy bars. A few shortcut ingredients add ease to this recipe.
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Delicious desserts don't have to be fussy or difficult to make. Recipes such as Easy Oreo Trifle Cake and Vanilla Almond Cake are simplified with some shortcut ingredients.
Poke cakes are one of the easiest cakes to make, especially with the added convenience of a boxed cake mix. And, the flavor options are endless.
This Heath bar version is a chocolate cake infused with lots of caramel flavor, frosted with Cool Whip, and garnished with Heath candy bars. This cake is SO DELICIOUS!
What is a poke cake?
A poke cake is a sheet cake that is soaked with a sweet mixture immediately after baking. Holes are poked all over the surface of the cake to help it absorb the sweet liquid, creating a super flavorful and moist cake.
Poke cakes are usually frosted with whipped cream or non-dairy whipped topping, like Cool Whip. Then, they are decorated with sprinkles, a drizzle of chocolate or caramel, or chopped candy and nuts.
Ingredients
With just a few ingredients, this cake comes together easily.
- Chocolate cake mix - prepared according to package directions
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Caramel sauce/syrup
- Cool Whip
- Heath candy bars
Step-by-step instructions
See the recipe card for complete instructions and ingredient amounts.
- Mix and bake the cake according to the package directions, using a 9x13 pan.
- Meanwhile, mix together the sweetened condensed milk and caramel sauce.
- Immediately after baking, poke holes all over the cake using the end of a wooden spoon. Pour the caramel mixture evenly over the top of the cake and refrigerate for at least one hour. NOTE: You can also use a fork to poke holes in the cake. With smaller pockets, allow extra chill time for the cake to absorb all of the caramel mixture.
- Frost the chilled cake with Cool Whip and sprinkle with crushed Heath candy bars. Serve with an extra drizzle of caramel sauce.
- Store, covered, in the refrigerator for up to five days.
Flavor variations
It's easy to customize poke cakes with your favorite flavors. Simply change up the cake flavor, the syrup flavor, and the toppings. Some of my favorites include:
- Ice cream sundae - Use white or chocolate cake with chocolate sauce in place of the caramel. Garnish the Cool Whip with sprinkles, nuts, and cherries.
- Dulce de leche - Start with a white or yellow cake mix and the same caramel mixture. Garnish the Cool Whip with chocolate caramel candy bars.
- Turtle - Use chocolate cake and caramel sauce, and garnish the Cool Whip with more caramel sauce and pecans.
- Cookies and Cream - Use chocolate cake and chocolate sauce in place of the caramel. Garnish the Cool Whip with crushed chocolate sandwich cookies.
FAQs
Poke cakes date back to the 1970s when Jell-O introduced the cakes as a way to re-popularize Jell-O gelatin.
Yes, since poke cakes are topped with whipped topping, they should be stored in the refrigerator. Keeping the cake chilled also helps to prevent it from turning soggy.
Tools needed
Mixing bowl | Hand mixer | 9x13 metal baking pan | Measuring cups
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📖 Recipe Card
Heath Bar Poke Cake
Ingredients
- 15.25 ounces boxed chocolate cake mix (plus ingredients on the box)
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup caramel sauce (plus extra for topping)
- 8 ounces Cool Whip
- 2 chopped Heath toffee bars (or 10 miniature bars)
Instructions
- Prepare the cake mix according to package directions. Bake in a 9x13 inch pan as directed on the package.
- Meanwhile, combine the sweetened condensed milk and caramel sauce and stir until well incorporated.
- When the cake is done, use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes all over the cake. Pour the caramel mixture evenly over the top so that it seeps down into the holes. Refrigerate the cake (uncovered) for at least one hour.
- Spread the Cool Whip over the top of the cake and sprinkle with the chopped Heath bars.
Notes
- Store, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It's important to keep the cake chilled because of the whipped topping. Chilling also helps to keep the cake from turning soggy.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific ingredients used.
Marie
Can this be made in 2 round cake pans instead of a rectangular pan?
Abbey
Yes, this should work fine! Bake per the box mix directions for 2 pans. Then split the sweetened condensed milk, caramel, and whipped topping evenly between the two pans. Enjoy!