Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake

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This Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake is a vanilla-cinnamon sheet cake soaked with an amazing buttery cinnamon mixture and topped with a light whipped frosting. Such a fun and easy way to enjoy the flavor of cinnamon rolls – without as much work!

This cinnamon roll poke cake has been one of my favorites for several years now. I truly love all things cinnamon and can tell you that is you feel the same way, you won’t want to stop eating this cake. Every time I had another piece, it was like I’d forgotten all over again just how good it was.

I’m updating the recipe a bit today. Originally it was made with coffee creamer that is no longer available and used a box mix. I’ve swapped out both, plus I adjusted the frosting. The vanilla buttercream is now a whipped cream cheese frosting, giving a nod to cream cheese frosting, which is popular on cinnamon rolls. Plus, regular buttercream gets quite firm when cold and since this cake is served on the cooler side, a whipped cream that doesn’t get super firm when cold is nicer for texture. I hope you enjoy the new – and improved – version!

Easier Than Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

This may not be an actual cinnamon roll, but it’ll cure that craving and leave you wanting more. Don’t miss out on this delicious cake!

• Super easy to make. One of the reasons I love to make poke cakes is that they’re so simple to make. They don’t take too much time either, since there’s no fancy frosting or building of layers.
• Tastes like a cinnamon roll. Although this is a cake, not actually a cinnamon roll, I still wanted the awesome buttery cinnamon-ness that comes in cinnamon rolls, so butter is melted with brown sugar and cinnamon, just like in actual cinnamon rolls. The butter and sugar are microwaved together so that the sugar dissolves. You don’t want to skip that step.
• Made from scratch. Every part of this cinnamon roll poke cake recipe is made from scratch. Some poke cake recipes call for box cake mix, which is totally fine, but I prefer making it from scratch when I can.

What Is A Poke Cake?

A poke cake is a sheet cake with a twist. When the cake comes out of the oven, holes are poked all over the top of the still-warm cake and then it’s drizzle some sort of sweet mixture. The mixture seeps into the holes in the cake, infusing it with extra flavor and moisture, similar to a Tres Leches Cake. In the case of this cinnamon roll poke cake, we’re pouring a buttery cinnamon sugar mixture over the top of the cake. Poke cakes are often finished with a whipped cream topping.

You can make poke cakes in virtually every flavor – a few of my other favorites include lemon poke cake, chocolate poke cake, and Kahlua chocolate poke cake.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here’s an overview of everything you’ll need to make this cake from scratch. You can find the exact measurements in the recipe card below.

Cake

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder & baking soda – These help the cake rise and using both gives it a lovely, light texture.
• Ground cinnamon – The cake itself has just a light cinnamon flavor, the majority of the cinnamon comes from the cinnamon soaking mixture.
• Salt – This enhances the flavors present in the cake and balances the sweetness.
• Unsalted butter – You want the butter for this cake room temperature, not melted. I prefer using unsalted butter when baking to control the salt level myself.
• Vegetable oil – A combination of butter and oil gives you the best flavor and moisture.
• Sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Eggs – Be sure to use large eggs, not medium or extra large.
• Buttermilk – You could also use whole milk, but the cake is a little lighter and fluffier with the addition of buttermilk.

Cinnamon Soaking Mixture

• Unsalted butter – For this part of the recipe, you want to use melted butter.
• Light brown sugar – Packed into the measuring cup for accurate measuring.
• Cinnamon – You can’t have cinnamon roll cake without a good amount of cinnamon!
• Sweetened condensed milk – Don’t confuse this with evaporated milk. They aren’t the same. Sweetened condensed milk is much thicker.

Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

• Heavy whipping cream – To make the whipped cream, you need heavy whipping cream or whipping cream.
• Powdered sugar – Sweetens the frosting a bit and helps add stability.
• Vanilla extract and Cinnamon
• Cream cheese – Bring the cream cheese to room temperature so that it is easier to mix and achieve the smooth texture. Be sure to use full fat brick cream cheese.

How to Make a Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake

This cinnamon roll poke cake recipe is pretty simple and straightforward to prepare. You do want to move quickly once you remove the cake from the oven, as the topping needs to be added while it’s warm. Don’t forget to scroll down to the recipe card below for the printable instructions.

Make the cake

• Prep. Preheat the oven to 350F and spray the cake pan with non-stick baking spray.
• Combine the dry ingredients. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl.
• Cream the butter. Beat the butter, oil, sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing until mostly combined after each.
• Combine. Add half of the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Mix in the buttermilk. Add the remaining dry ingredients. Mix until well combined and smooth.

• Bake. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan. Bake for 22-28 minutes.
• Poke holes. Poke holes all over the top of the cake as soon as you remove it from the oven.

Make the soaking mixture

• Melt the cinnamon sugar mixture. While the cake is still hot, add the butter and sugar to a bowl. Microwave for 90 seconds, whisking very well to help the sugar melt. Microwave for another 30 seconds, whisking again, until the sugar is dissolved. Stir in the sweetened condensed milk and cinnamon.
• Pour over the cake. Pour the mixture over the warm cake. Use a spatula to spread it evenly around the cake so that it doesn’t pool in one area. Let the cake cool completely.

Make the frosting

• Make the frosting. Whip the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon on high speed until soft peaks form. Add the cream cheese and whip on low speed until it is incorporated and stiff peaks form.
• Frost the cake. Spread the whipped cream onto the cake (or pipe it). Dust with additional cinnamon. Refrigerate until serving.

Tips for Success

• Do not skimp on the creaming time. It’s important that the butter is whipped until light and fluffy. It should only take 2-3 minutes.
• Avoid over mixing the batter. As you combine all of the ingredients, mix until mostly incorporated and then until fully incorporated at the end. You want the batter smooth and fully combined but don’t keep mixing beyond that.
• Add the cinnamon sugar mixture while the cake is hot. It’s important to poke the holes in the cake as soon as it comes out of the oven and then immediately begin preparing the cinnamon butter mixture. The cake needs to still be warm when you pour the mixture over the holes so that it can easily absorb into the cake.
• What should I use to poke holes? I like to use the end of a knife sharpener but the handle of a wooden spoon or spatula works too. Some people even use a wide straw.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Use A Cake Mix?

Definitely! I’ve have used one before and it works well. Just swap out the homemade cake for the cake mix and then proceed with everything else.

Can I Use Another Frosting?

You sure can. My original version used vanilla buttercream. You could also use a regular cream cheese frosting, instead of the whipped one I use. The reason I went with a whipped cream cheese frosting is that is stays soft when chilled in the fridge, so when you cut slices later the frosting isn’t super firm.

Proper Storage

• Fridge. Cover the cake tightly with plastic wrap or transfer to a smaller container. Store in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
• Freezer. To freeze your cinnamon roll poke cake, wrap it in a double layer of plastic wrap. (I like to freeze it right in the baking dish.) Freeze for up to 3 months then thaw in the fridge before enjoying.

More Poke Cake Recipes

• Chocolate Poke Cake
• Lemon Poke Cake
• Strawberry Poke Cake
• Banana Pudding Poke Cake

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