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    Home » Dessert » Gingerbread Poke Cake Recipe

    Gingerbread Poke Cake Recipe

    Published: Dec 13, 2015 · Modified: Dec 11, 2020 by Megan Porta · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Gingerbread Poke Cake = the marriage of Gingerbread Cookies and cake! This cake is beyond delicious and a total crowd pleaser.

    close up piece of gingerbread cake topped with frosting and cookies

    Ohhh goodness I am tired. ‘Tis the season. SO much is going on this time of year, isn’t it? Is anyone else feeling slightly crazy?

    I have been trying so hard to squeeze in as much holiday baking as possible. Last week was Dan’s birthday, so I made him this delicious Gingerbread Poke Cake. It was YUMMY and festive!

    This cake is completely saturated with flavor, and um…sugar. It is seriously delish.

    A piece of gingerbread poke cake on a plate, topped with crushed cookies

    HOW TO MAKE GINGERBREAD POKE CAKE

    STEP 1

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9×9 square baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.

    Prepare cake mix according to package directions (if gingerbread cake mix cannot be found, follow above directions for turning spice cake into gingerbread cake).

    STEP 2

    Poke 1/4-inch holes, one inch apart, into cooled cake. Pour the sweetened condensed milk into the holes, followed by the caramel topping. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

    Caramel being poured into holes in a cake

    STEP 3

    Prepare the frosting: Combine the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar and vanilla and mix until creamy. Evenly spread over cooled cake. Top with crushed gingersnap cookies, cut into squares and serve.

    A piece removed from Gingerbread Poke cake pan

    RECIPE NOTES: GINGERBREAD POKE CAKE

    • If you cannot find Gingerbread cake mix, a spice cake mix can easily be transformed into one! Follow directions below..
    • Gingerbread cake substitution: Combine 1 box of spice cake mix + 2 tsp ground ginger + 3 eggs + 1/3 c molasses + 1/3 c oil + 1/3 c milk. This takes approximately 40 minutes to bake or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
    close up piece of cake with drippy frosting and cookies on top

    BEST DESSERTS FOR HOLIDAY BAKING

    Add these delicious treats to your holiday baking list, too!

    • These delicious Chewy Gingersnaps are the perfect chewy treat. Plus they are super easy to make. Flavored with molasses and spices and the finishing touch – topped with simple icing!
    • These are the BEST Sugar Cookies. They are super easy to make (using only seven ingredients) and they are perfect for decorating. You will never need another sugar cookie recipe again!
    • Triple Chocolate Cookies with Peppermint Frosting are already thick and perfect, but Nutella sends them over the edge of perfection. Don’t skip the peppermint buttercream frosting because it transforms them into perfection.
    • These Chocolate Kiss Cream Cheese Cookies are a great dessert for gatherings any time of the year. They are light, creamy and sugary, with just the perfect kiss of milk chocolate!
    • Oreo Balls are an easy no-bake dessert requiring only three ingredients! This easy dessert is great for the holidays or any time of year. Decorate with colored sprinkles to be festive and match the occasion.
    • These are the BEST Gingerbread Cookies you’ll find! Super easy to make and loved by everyone. Great for the holidays!

    Gingerbread Poke Cake Recipe

    Gingerbread Poke Cake = the marriage of Gingerbread Cookies and cake! This cake is beyond delicious and a total crowd pleaser.
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour
    Servings: 9
    Calories: 741kcal
    Author: Megan Porta

    Ingredients

    • 20 oz gingerbread cake mix prepared according to package directions (SUBSTITUTION: box of spice cake mix + 2 tsp ground ginger + 3 eggs + 1/3 c molasses + 1/3 c oil + 1/3 c milk) – takes approximately 40 minutes to bake or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean
    • 7 oz sweetened condensed milk
    • 6 oz caramel ice cream topping

    FROSTING

    • 8 oz cream cheese softened
    • 1/4 cup butter softened
    • 3 cups powdered sugar
    • 1 tsp vanilla
    • 20 gingersnap cookies crushed (for topping)

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9×9 square baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
    • Prepare cake mix according to package directions (if gingerbread cake mix cannot be found, follow above directions for turning spice cake into gingerbread cake).
    • Poke 1/4-inch holes, one inch apart, into cooled cake. Pour the sweetened condensed milk into the holes, followed by the caramel topping. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
    • Prepare the frosting: Combine the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar and vanilla and mix until creamy. Evenly spread over cooled cake. Top with crushed gingersnap cookies, cut into squares and serve.

    Notes

    • If you cannot find Gingerbread cake mix, a spice cake mix can easily be transformed into one! Follow directions below..
    • Gingerbread cake substitution: Combine 1 box of spice cake mix + 2 tsp ground ginger + 3 eggs + 1/3 c molasses + 1/3 c oil + 1/3 c milk. This takes approximately 40 minutes to bake or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 741kcal | Carbohydrates: 123g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 818mg | Potassium: 394mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 79g | Vitamin A: 572IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 205mg | Iron: 4mg
    Did you make this recipe?If you loved this recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below!
    « Gingerbread Cookies Recipe
    Chocolate Rolo Thumbprint Cookies Recipe »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Holly Nock

      December 31, 2020 at 7:56 pm

      There is no ingredient/measurement list. A whole can of sweetened condensed milk? A whole jar of caramel sauce? What size? For the frosting how much cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar and vanilla? Guess I’ll wing it

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        January 04, 2021 at 9:19 pm

        Hello, depending on where you are viewing this recipe, it has a recipe card at the bottom of the post. I would recommend trying a new browser like Chrome and look at the recipe there. It is definitely important to have instructions!
        Ingredients
        20 oz gingerbread cake mix prepared according to package directions (SUBSTITUTION: box of spice cake mix + 2 tsp ground ginger + 3 eggs + 1/3 c molasses + 1/3 c oil + 1/3 c milk) – takes approximately 40 minutes to bake or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean
        7 oz sweetened condensed milk
        6 oz caramel ice cream topping
        FROSTING
        8 oz cream cheese softened
        1/4 cup butter softened
        3 cups powdered sugar
        1 tsp vanilla
        20 gingersnap cookies crushed (for topping)

        Reply
    2. Paula B.

      December 13, 2015 at 11:01 pm

      This looks fabulous! I just finished baking egg-free gingerbread men for my food-allergic son to share at his class party this week. I can’t believe Christmas is practically HERE! I’m so behind, with much baking and shopping to do. Talk about feeling crazy… I just need time to stop, so I can catch up!

      Reply
    3. Kit White

      December 13, 2015 at 8:37 pm

      This looks so delicious. I love anything ginger and, in fact, considered naming my daughter Ginger. She wound up with the name Ananda which, in Sanskrit, means bliss.

      Reply
    4. Cathy

      December 13, 2015 at 12:08 pm

      This sounds (and looks) incredibly delicious! I love surprising family with new things, so I’m planning to make this for both family Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations.

      Wishing all peace and love for the holiday season and the new year!

      Reply
    5. Bianca

      December 13, 2015 at 4:39 am

      you are not alone!! that cake looks so good 🙂

      Reply
    6. Laurie

      December 13, 2015 at 4:22 am

      Looks great for the church pot luck, and a pre Christmas luncheon.
      Merry Christmas!

      Reply

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