Triple Chocolate Poke Cake

For chocolate lovers, this Triple Chocolate Poke Cake is nothing short of sinful—think a rich, moist chocolate cake poked and filled with hot fudge sauce, then crowned with a luxurious whipped chocolate topping. It’s the best ever, easy to make, and so decadent that one bite will have you hooked!

There is just something amazing about a sinful dessert. This triple chocolate poke cake is just that. It is the epitome of decadence with it’s rich hot fudge filling, luscious homemade chocolate whipped cream and moist devil’s food cake base. If you are looking for something to satisfy all your chocolate cravings, this is the absolute best recipe for you. 

The best part? This recipe is super easy to create. Using simple ingredients like a boxed cake mix, makes it simple to put together. In no time you will have a sinful triple chocolate poke cake that is perfect for potlucks, gatherings, and everything in between. 

Why You’ll Love Triple Chocolate Poke Cake

• Rich Chocolate Flavor: The combination of devil’s food cake, hot fudge sauce, dark chocolate pudding, and a whipped chocolate topping creates an intensely rich chocolate flavor that chocolate lovers will adore. It is perfect for satisfying everyone’s chocolate cravings. 
• Moist and Decadent: Poking holes into your cake and filling them with hot fudge sauce and pudding creates an amazing, moist cake. The cake absorbs the moisture from the hot fudge and pudding, making each bite indulgent and satisfying. 
• Great for Gatherings: This poke cake is perfect for birthdays, holidays, potlucks and more. It makes about 12 servings, so it is perfect for sharing with fellow chocolate aficionados. 
• Easy to Make: Using instant chocolate pudding and store-bought devils food cake mix makes this recipe incredibly easy to prepare. You don’t have to fuss around making each layer from scratch. The best part? No one will know it isn’t all from scratch, the flavor and impressive presentation will make it look like you spent hours in the kitchen, even if you used a box mix.

Ingredients 

The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.

• Devil’s Food Cake Mix
• Water
• Eggs
• Vegetable Oil
• Hot Fudge Sauce
• Dark Chocolate Instant Pudding Mix
• Milk
• Heavy Whipping Cream
• Instant Hot Chocolate Mix
• Vanilla Extract
• Mini-Chocolate Chips or Shaved Chocolate

How to Make Triple Chocolate Poke Cake

• Step One: Mix the devil’s food cake mix, water, eggs, and oil together, and pour into a sprayed 9×13 baking pan. Bake according to the directions on the box. Allow to cool on a cooling rack for 20 minutes.

• Step Two: Using the round handle of a wooden spoon, poke holes in the cake, making the holes about an inch apart. Poke about 2/3 deep, not all the way to the bottom.
• Step Three: Heat the jar of hot fudge sauce in the microwave for about 30 seconds until you can stir it and thin it out. You may need an additional 30 seconds. Pour the entire jar of hot fudge sauce over the top of the cake and allow it to absorb in the cake until the cake is cooled. Let set until completely cooled.

• Step Four: When the cake has cooled, prepare the pudding layer by mixing the package of dark chocolate instant pudding mix with cold milk. Before the pudding sets, pour it over the top of the cake and put the cake in the fridge to let the pudding set, about 15 minutes.

• Step Five: In a medium-size mixing bowl, beat cream, hot chocolate mix, and vanilla with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Spread over the chilled cake. Garnish with mini-chocolate chips or shaved chocolate.
• Step Six: Serve drizzled with melted Hot Fudge Sauce. Enjoy!

Equipment Needed

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• 9×13 baking pan
• Cooling rack
• Wooden spoon
• Mixing bowls
• Electric mixer
• Serving utensils (spoon or spatula for spreading whipped cream)

What to Serve with Triple Chocolate Poke Cake

Serve your triple chocolate poke cake with some delicious accompaniments to make the perfect dessert. 

• Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
• Strawberry Ice Cream
• Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream
• Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
• Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Variations and Substitutions

• Cake Mix Variation: Instead of devil’s food cake mix, you can try using other chocolate cake mixes like chocolate fudge, German chocolate, or even a homemade chocolate cake recipe.
• Pudding Flavor: Experiment with different pudding flavors. While the recipe calls for dark chocolate Instant Pudding, you can use milk chocolate, white chocolate, or even a different flavor like vanilla or caramel.
• Whipped Cream Topping: You can customize your whipped topping by adding in flavor extracts. Try mint, almond or even a hint of coffee. 
• Add Nuts: Add some chopped nuts to the top of your poke cake. Walnuts, pecans and hazelnuts all make a great addition to your dessert, adding a fun crunch.

Storage Instructions

This chocolate pudding poke cake recipe is super easy to store. If you have leftovers, or want to make it ahead of time, simply place it in an airtight container or cover it with plastic wrap. It can be stored in the fridge for 4-5 days. 

Can I Freeze? 

Freezing your triple chocolate poke cake is not recommended because the texture of the cake will change. The cake relies on a moist and tender texture, and freezing can lead to changes in consistency.

The pudding layer, in particular, may not freeze well, and the texture of the cake could become soggy upon thawing. Additionally, the whipped cream topping may lose its airy and light quality when frozen and then defrosted.

For the best taste and texture, it’s best to enjoy this cake fresh or refrigerated within a few days of preparation.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Poke Holes: To poke holes in your cake, use the end of a wooden spoon. You want to make sure that the poked holes are evenly distributed to make sure the creamy chocolate pudding and hot fudge fillings seep through the entire cake. 
• Chilling Time: Allow your cake to cool properly between steps. You want your hot fudge sauce and pudding to have time to set properly. 
• Whipped Cream: You want to whip your cream just until soft peaks form. Do not over mix it as your want the whipped cream layer to be light and fluffy. Overmixing can cause it to become dense. The fluffy chocolate topping is an important component to this recipe.
• Garnish: Garnish your poke cake with mini chocolate chips, chocolate shavings, chocolate curls or all of the above. You can also drizzle the top of your cake with chocolate ganache in addition to the hot fudge.

Can I Use Other Flavors of Cake Mix?

Yes. You can change up the cake mix flavor that you choose to use. You can always use a regular chocolate cake mix, chocolate fudge, or German chocolate cake mix. It’s entirely up to you and your preferences. 

Can I Make Ahead?

Yes, you can make this chocolate poke cake recipe in advance. Simply cover it with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for 4-5 days. 

Chocolate Cake Recipes

• Wacky Cake
• Chocoholics Chocolate Mousse Cake
• Chocolate Zucchini Cake
• Mayonnaise Cake
• Earthquake Cake

FAQ

Pudding Recipes

• Pumpkin Gingerbread Pudding
• Maple Apple Pudding
• Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies
• Eggnog Bread Pudding
• Butterscotch Pudding

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