A moist and decadently rich chocolate poke cake recipe – this makes such a great addition to any party!
A few weeks ago, I received an email with such an incredible and exciting opportunity that my initial thought was, “There’s just no way I’m not dreaming right now.”
HERSHEY’S Kitchens asked if I’d like to be a guest chef on their website, creating a new recipe in partnership with them to highlight a few of their core baking products, such as the Simply 5 Chocolate Syrup. Having grown up with their original chocolate syrup (It was the only way my mom could get me to drink milk!), I was intrigued and happy to learn they now offer a version with just 5 simple ingredients and no high fructose corn syrup, artificial preservatives, or artificial flavors.
I knew exactly what I wanted to make first with the syrup: a homemade chocolate poke cake!
Originally popular in the 1970s, the idea of a poke cake is to press holes into the top and pour on a filling that soaks into the cake, adding extra moisture and flavor to each deliciously gooey bite.
Poke cakes have been making a resurgence in recent years and seem to be really popular lately at potlucks or barbecues, with anything from pudding, to caramel sauce, to fruit-flavored gelatin, to sweetened condensed milk being used as the filling.
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I made this chocolate poke cake over the weekend to share with a small group of friends, and as we sat on the balcony catching up and eating chocolate cake, I couldn’t imagine a more perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Baking is something that has always made me ridiculously happy.
It’s a creative outlet where I can use my imagination to transform everyday household ingredients into an endless array of magical possibilities, turning the chocolate desserts of my dreams into reality.
And one of my favorite parts of the baking process is sharing the results with others.
(The recipe video above now has over 1 million views on facebook!!!)
Tips For Success:
1. You can poke small or large holes into the cake. I decided my favorite way is to poke a larger number of smaller holes with a fork, which disperses the chocolate filling more evenly.
2. Check off each ingredient as you add it, to ensure you don’t accidentally skip over an easy-to-miss item such as salt or baking soda.
3. When making a recipe for the first time, it’s always a good idea to follow the recipe exactly—without substituting a different flour, sweetener, or cutting back on the salt, sugar, or oil—as even seemingly small changes can make a huge difference.
Once you know how a recipe is supposed to turn out, you can play around. Edible experiments are the best kind!
4. Be sure to have all ingredients out and read through the full recipe before starting.
5. As a general rule, baked goods are actually richer, sweeter, and have a much better texture the day after they are made, which is definitely the case with this cake and many of my other recipes.
If you can wait, I highly recommend not even tasting the poke cake until the next day.
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Why Should You Try A Poke Cake?
This was my first time making a poke cake from scratch, and I was surprised at how just the one little step could have such an enormous impact on the results – it is so much better than an ordinary chocolate cake!
The chocolate syrup gave the cake a soft and opulent center with an unbelievable richness. If you can find HERSHEY’S Simply 5 Syrup, I highly recommend it, because it can be used just like regular chocolate syrup yet has a much cleaner ingredient list (no GMOs, and just 5 ingredients: cane sugar, organic invert cane syrup, water, cocoa, and natural vanilla).
I also used HERSHEY’S Natural Unsweetened Cocoa to make this cake. It’s vegan and 100% natural, as the only ingredient is cocoa.
I frosted this cake with my Avocado Chocolate Frosting, but the cake is so decadent on its own that you can honestly get away with skipping the frosting altogether and it will still be fantastic!
Chocolate Poke Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup spelt or white flour
- 6 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp each: baking soda and salt
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar, unrefined if desired
- 1/4 cup applesauce, banana, or yogurt of choice
- 1/4 cup oil, almond butter, or allergy friendly sub
- 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup water
- 2/3 cup chocolate syrup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350. Line an 8-inch pan with parchment, and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt, and sugar. In a separate bowl, whisk all remaining ingredients except the syrup until evenly combined. Pour wet into dry, stir until just combined, and pour into the prepared pan. Bake on the oven center rack 25 minutes or until cake has risen and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean. Let cool completely. Poke holes into the cooled cake with a toothpick or fork. Pour the syrup evenly on top, and let it seep into the cake. As mentioned earlier, if you can wait, I highly recommend not tasting until the next day… this cake is so much richer and sweeter after sitting for a day!View Nutrition Facts
Notes
Have you made this recipe?
Tag @chocolatecoveredkatie on Instagram
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Thank you again to HERSHEY’S Kitchen for sponsoring this post. I was excited for the opportunity and had so much fun creating this recipe. If you try the poke cake, be sure to tag me @chocolatecoveredkatie on Instagram so I can see and like your photos!
Vegan Julie says
Katie this looks amazing! The new syrup looks great too and I love how it’s vegan. I have a holiday party this weekend and am supposed to bring a dessert. I guess I know what to make now 😉
Nina says
This looks so delicious. I’m glad to know there is a healthier syrup. I love it drizzled over ice cream, too.
Kathy says
Would there be any way to convert this to a 9 x 13 size pan?
Jason Sanford says
You can! Just use her vegan chocolate cake recipe and bake in a 9×13. Then simply double the amount of syrup called for here so that you have enough for the doubled sized cake.
https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2017/07/24/vegan-chocolate-cake-recipe/
Jason (media relations)
Gail says
Oh I am so making this! THANK YOU!!!!
Patty Fields says
Congratulations on your guest appearance with Hershey’s! How exciting! And this cake looks amazing! 🙂 I always look forward to your next idea! 🙂
Chocolate Covered Katie says
Thank you!!
Laura\ says
I say this as long-time fan and this is in no way meant to discredit you or your choice to work with Hershey’s (and the exposure it allows you is great) but for the disclosure of your readers I feel like someone needs to point out that Hershey’s uses child labor and slave labor to produce their chocolate and purchasing their products means supporting a really heinous industry that refuses transparency about their sourcing. I don’t want to be a downer on a good-looking recipe but you have such a large following and I feel like many people want to turn a blind eye to this issue.
Chocolate Covered Katie says
Thanks Laura, and thank you for bringing this up. I want to reply based on what I learned about the situation and their current role (because I did a lot of research and asked questions before signing on), but I also don’t want to unwittingly make any false or misleading claims or speak for the company, so I’m currently waiting on confirmation that my reply is correct and okay to post.
shadymama says
thank you for pointing this out. it kills me on Halloween, watching alla these kiddos running around in their costumes, full of joy, collecting Hershey kisses, etc and knowing that kids on the other side of the world are living a completely different reality.
Stephanie - Consumer Representative, The Hershey Company says
Hi Laura, My name is Stephanie and I am a representative of The Hershey Company. I appreciate the concerns you raised and wanted to take a moment to share more about our cocoa sustainability initiatives, as our company is committed to the responsible sourcing of cocoa. With 70 percent of the world’s cocoa supply coming from West Africa, there are entire communities in that region dependent on this crop. We want to let you know that we are committed to eliminating any illegal and abusive forms of child labor. In our efforts, we are attentive to the International Labour Organization (ILO). We cannot tolerate the unacceptable forms of child labor that continue to exist in cocoa-growing regions, but we recognize this is an enormous challenge well beyond the ability of a single organization to solve. As part of our commitment to eliminating illegal labor from our supply chain, we continue to build and accelerate our relevant programs. Since 2012, we have made rapid progress toward our commitment to source 100% certified and sustainable cocoa. We will continue to invest and innovate in this work alongside governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private foundations and activist groups. We are also greatly encouraged by the coordinated efforts of the World Cocoa Foundation’s CocoaAction members. As a founding member, Hershey has worked to ensure our cocoa sustainability programs complement and support the broader goals of CocoaAction. We believe this will greatly advance our mutual commitment to end illegal child labor. Feel free to read more about this on our website: http://bit.ly/2aHVJdN.
While we are pleased with our progress on many fronts, we also recognize that more work needs to be done. We once again appreciate your concerns about responsible sourcing and welcome your feedback regarding our Corporate Social Responsibility efforts. We encourage you to connect with us to share your additional comments or any questions. Please contact us anytime by calling 1-800-468-1714 or sending us a note at http://www.askhershey.com.
Berit Anderson says
If I had a child slave in my house doing heavy labor and kept this child out of school, and I formed several committees to investigate the problem of child slavery, would you still put me in prison?
Let’s hope the answer is yes. You would probably think I were even more of a hypocrite for the committees I’d sat on…and “my commitment to end illegal child labor.”
And you, Stephanie, should personally look at what you’re doing with your life as an apologist for this group of people. It can’t feel good, knowingly defending the practice of enslaving the weakest segment of any population. .
brook says
Exactly my thoughts, as great as this recipe looks. Especially since the recipes on this blog are vegan–all the more important to be mindful of the harm done to other humans in addition to other animals through oppressive and unjust agricultural practices.
Kathy says
I would like to try this recipe using honey or maple syrup. Do you think you can substitute the sugar for that? Thanks
Chocolate Covered Katie says
Sorry, I haven’t tried it so I really don’t know… it would be replacing a solid with a liquid, so there’s really no way to tell what might result unless you try. But edible experiments are the best kind of experiments 🙂
Orion says
I made this cake and cut the sugar in half then replaced what was deducted, with maple syrup and it turned out great!!! ?
Nancy says
Do you think this would work gluten free? If so, suggestions?
Jason Sanford says
She has similar recipes that use Bob’s gf all purpose mix, so I’d experiment with either that or oat flour first. Oat flour will most likely work and will taste delicious, just the texture will be more dense.
Jason (media relations)
Orion says
I made this cake using Bob Red Mill GF 1 to 1 flour and it turned out awesome!!! This is our new favorite cake!!! (Katie is the best?)
Emily says
This is making me so hungry right before lunch. Must bake this weekend!
xo,
Em
Stef says
Looks like the kind of cake I would absolutely love to make. I do not buy anything in plastic so I will not be purchasing the Hershey syrup. Would you have a recommendation (or a video of yours) on what I can make to replace such syrup? thanks! You’re beautiful and I Love your recipes.
Michelle says
https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2010/05/20/homemade-artisana-cacao-bliss/
Stef says
Thanks!!!
Karen says
Congratulations that is awesome! Thank you as well for the heads up on the syrup. I used to love Hersheys chocolate syrup when I was younger but gave it up years ago due to the corn syrup.
Karen says
I also think your photos of this cake are gorgeous!
Whitney says
I have been so curious to try a poke cake for a while now. Oh darn, now I have no excuse. 😉
I especially love the idea of the chocolate sauce (except I’d have to try it with yours, because I can’t have the sugary Hershey’s); up until now, I always thought it had to be a pudding or custard consistency.
Zoe says
Hi Katie!!
This looks amazing! I just wanted to ask you, what kind of sugar did you use? In the video, it didn’t look like it was granulated, and so I was wondering which sugars you used with success. Thank you!!
Chocolate Covered Katie says
The sugar in the video is coconut palm sugar. It can be used just like regular white sugar, which also works. 🙂
Emily says
Wait a minute. HERSHEYS SYRUP IS VEGAN?!?!? I had no idea! As a new vegan, this just made my whole year. ??? I will be spreading the word!
Amy says
Tbh the poke cake does not sound good to me. Sorry I’m just not a cake person but the syrup I will probably buy to put on banana soft serve because I make my own chocolate syrup right now but if there’s a natural one I can buy then that saves me time. If you could post more banana soft serve recipes that would also be great.
Mariya says
Omg, these look amazing! I’m craving chocolate now!
x Mariya
http://www.brunetteondemand.com
Michelle says
Bookmarked to try soon!
Cassie Autumn Tran says
I had no idea poke cake was a thing! OMG! Now I need to try it to see how fun it is! I bet the Hershey’s syrup is delicious. Great indulgence for topping your favorite treats!
Becky says
This may be my new favorite go to dessert. I made it and it turned out great. Delicious. Love the face that the syrup is now healthier.
Becky says
Love the fact.
kara says
I want to try making the poke cake, but the video shows frosting on the cake (after the syrup has been poured on) and I don’t see that in the recipe…
Jason Sanford says
It’s linked in the post but can also be found here: https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2017/03/16/chocolate-avocado-frosting-recipe/
anonymous says
Do you think it would still be good if I did a vanilla cake instead of chocolate? I like the idea of a poke cake but just think that chocolate cake and chocolate syrup would be too much of a chocolate flavor for me, so I’d like to try a vanilla cake with chocolate syrup, if you think that’d still work?
Jason Sanford says
Absolutely!
Andrea says
I’m glad to see Hershey’s is offering a healthier alternative to the corn syrup and chemical filled original, and that it doesn’t have sucralose or splenda added to make it “healthier”. I will look for it, but I do wish though, that they’d make some of their bars or dark chocolate kisses vegan as well. Or Katie, maybe you could come up with a homemade vegan hershey kiss? Peanut butter blossom cookies are my mom’s favorite and I’d love to make a vegan version.
Suzette says
I am also disappointed that you are going to go the way of so many bloggers and start publishing posts sponsored by big food companies. I thought your recipes were supposed to be refined sugar free? I really dont see how this Hershey’s product fits into your claim of natural ingredients and sugar free.
Hena Tayeb says
omg this looks unbelievably good.
Jenn says
This was delicious! Mine did not rise very much, but it got fourteen thumbs up from my house! (Two thumbs a piece!) Not everyone opted for the frosting, but the ones that did declared it fantastic as well!
I did make two small changes. The first was that I made this grain free using a paleo flour blend and the second was that I used Truvia instead of pure sugar. I also made my own syrup using Truvia.
So much yum! Thank you!
luci says
Wow! This looks *so* good. Like chocolaty heaven. I can’t wait to try it!
V says
Can these be made into cupcakes? How would you recommend doing that?
Nina says
I made this for my office party today and it was delicious. Super simple and moist. I like the simple syrup!
Christopher says
This cake is delicious – so moist and so many layers of chocolate goodness. The family gave it a 10/10! It will definitely go into our dessert rotation. Thank you for the great recipe!
Erin says
Is there frosting in this cake? It looks like it and I’d like to know how to make it.
Jason Sanford says
Yes, it’s mentioned in the post as her avocado frosting. Here’s the link: https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2017/03/16/chocolate-avocado-frosting-recipe/
JP says
Looks delicious! Would you store this overnight in the refrigerator?
Jason Sanford says
Yes!
Sameena says
Hi. You mentioned 1/4 cup of apple sauce, banana or youghurt eg coconutmilk youghurt. Do you mean apple juice or normal plain yougurt/fruit yougurt
Jason Sanford says
Not juice, applesauce like motts 🙂
Mahika says
Can I use cake flour or All-purpose flour instead of white/spelt flour?
Jason Sanford says
Yup! White flour is all purpose 🙂
That works!