Description
Creamy caramel pumpkin poke cake delivers autumn’s warmest embrace with rich spices and silky smooth textures. Sweet layers infused with caramel promise comfort and pure seasonal delight for dessert enthusiasts craving classic fall flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 box (432 g / 15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
- 1 can (425 g / 15 oz) pumpkin puree
- 3 large eggs
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 can (400 g / 14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup (240 ml) caramel sauce
- 1 container (250 g / 8 oz) whipped topping
- ½ cup (60 g) toffee bits
- ½ cup (60 g) chopped pecans
- 1 tsp cinnamon (for dusting)
Instructions
- Cake Preparation: Warm the oven to 350F (175C) and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Batter Creation: Whisk cake mix, pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, and water in a large mixing bowl until achieving a silky, uniform consistency.
- Baking Process: Transfer batter into prepared dish and bake for 25-30 minutes until a test skewer emerges clean, indicating perfect doneness.
- Perforation and Soaking: After slight cooling, puncture cake surface systematically using a wooden spoon handle, creating pathways for caramel absorption.
- Caramel Infusion: Blend caramel sauce and sweetened condensed milk, then generously cascade the mixture across the perforated cake, ensuring thorough penetration into every crevice.
- Chilling Phase: Refrigerate the cake for 1-2 hours, allowing caramel to solidify and flavors to harmonize.
- Finishing Touches: Delicately spread whipped topping across the cake’s surface, creating a smooth, creamy layer.
- Decorative Flourish: Shower the cake with chopped pecans and toffee bits, then artfully drizzle additional caramel sauce for enhanced visual and flavor complexity.
- Serving Recommendation: Cut into elegant portions and serve either chilled or at ambient temperature.
Notes
- Use pure pumpkin puree without added water to prevent a soggy cake texture and ensure dense, rich flavor.
- Choose thick, high-quality caramel sauce that clings well to cake holes and provides rich, deep sweetness without being too runny.
- Line baking dish with parchment paper for easy cake removal and clean slicing, especially when serving chilled desserts.
- Replace pecans with alternative nuts like walnuts or almonds for different flavor profiles, or use gluten-free toppings to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg