Yellow cake is swirled with luscious mocha filling and topped with espresso whipped cream in this mocha poke cake.
Are you a fellow coffee lover? I start my day with a couple cups of plain old drip coffee with raw sugar and half and half, and I often have an espresso drink in the afternoon too. What is your favorite fancy coffee drink? I sometimes mix it up with a hazelnut latte or eggnog latte around the holidays, but my go-to drink is always a mocha (a small with two shots and no whipped cream to be exact). I love the combination of coffee, chocolate, and milk, so I turned my favorite drink into a dessert!
I have only made one cake this way before, the Lime Poke Cake. It was really delicious, but you couldn’t tell from looking at it that it was a poke cake since the filling and cake were about the same color. You could certainly tell when you tasted it because it was so moist and full of lime flavor, but this time around I wanted to make something that looked distinctive too. You can’t miss the chocolatey filling in this mocha poke cake!
You can use boxed cake mix or your favorite yellow cake mix recipe. When you pour the filling over the cake, you will think it looks too thin. Don’t worry! After it’s chilled for a couple hours, it will set up into a pudding-like consistency. If a little filling swirls into the whipped cream when you add it, that is definitely not a problem. While we’re on the subject, let’s just talk about this espresso whipped cream for a moment. It was hard for me not to take a spoon to the bowl after I gave it a taste! Keep that recipe in your back pocket for the next time you want to add some creamy coffee flavor to any dessert (or pancakes or waffles)!
Print Mocha Poke Cake: Perfect dessert for chocolate and coffee lovers!
Yellow cake is swirled with luscious mocha filling and topped with espresso whipped cream in this delicious mocha poke cake.
- Total Time: 4 hours
- Yield: 12 1x
Ingredients
- 1 yellow sheet cake cooled completely (use cake mix or your favorite recipe)
- 1/2 c. coffee (save a little from the morning)
- 2 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
- 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
- 1 1/2 c. cold whipping cream
- 1 tsp. instant espresso granules
- 2 tbsp. sugar
Instructions
-
Use the end of a chopstick or wooden spoon to poke holes almost to the bottom of the cooled cake all over the surface, about 1″ apart. Use a paper towel to wipe the cake off your spoon after every few pokes.
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In a medium bowl, whisk together cocoa powder and coffee until cocoa is incorporated, and then whisk in condensed milk. Set aside.
-
With an electric mixer, mix whipping cream on medium-high speed until it starts to thicken. Add in espresso granules and sugar, and continue mixing until medium peaks form.
-
Gently fold in about 1 c. of your glorious whipped cream into the coffee mixture, then pour the coffee filling over the top of your cake. Spread it all over the top so it fills the holes, covers the top, and oozes over the sides. It will be pretty thin at this point, but it will set when refrigerated.
-
Gently spread the remaining whipped cream over the top of the coffee filling. Cover your mocha poke cake with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.
- Prep Time: 120
- Cook Time: 120
- Category: Dessert
Khadijah says
I would love to try this. Do you know how long leftovers will stay ok in the fridge? Does it need to be eaten right away because of the whipped cream?
Andi @ The Weary Chef says
Hi! As long as you don’t leave it out too long initially, it should keep for at least three days. The whipped cream might get a little flatter, but it won’t fall completely and will still taste great. We enjoyed ours over a few days. Thanks for asking!
Tessa says
This was such a quick recipe and so delicious! I like the cream very much! It truly reminds of a tiramisu (which I am no big fan of), but this combo is really delicious. I shared the recipe with a friend and she immediately said YUMM!!! I was like: girl, just wait till you try it!
Thank you for sharing this recipe!!!
Andi says
Thank you so much, Tessa! I’m so happy to hear that you liked this one as much as we did :)
Lola Lavy says
Hi, Andi! It’s so refreshing to have a website with some easy down-to-earth recipes – thank you soooo much! I’ve made poke cakes for years but haven’t tried a chocolate recipe and I’ll be doing this one soon. I’m sure my husband and grandkids will love it!
Blessings (and Happy Anniversary), Lola
Andi says
Thank you so much for this, Lola! I sometimes feel like I’m the odd duck because a lot of other bloggers make really fancy, elaborate, gorgeous recipes. I like quick and easy! If you like down-to-earth recipes, I think you’ll be happy here :) I hope you like the cake!
Renee@two in the kitchen says
This cake looks yummy! And there is something about the name that just makes me laugh!! :)
Andi says
It is a pretty funny name, but better than it’s ugly stepsister: the dump cake ;) Thanks so much for stopping by, Renee!
Joanie @ ZagLeft says
This dessert looks so good! I’m pinning it to make later. Stopping over from the SITS group – glad to have found your blog!
Andi says
Thank you for the pin and nice comment! I’m glad to meet you too :)
Ann says
On the weekends we have a houseful of Midshipman. I am definitely going to make this for them. Thanks for sharing.
Andi says
I hope they like it as much as we did, Ann. Thanks for stopping by :)
Katie @ Doing Dewey says
Wow, this looks delicious! Especially the whipped cream. Most decadent :)
Andi says
Thank you, Katie! I am wishing I had a piece for lunch dessert right now ;) Thanks for your comment!
Kristi D says
This looks so good! I bet my hubby would love this. It kinda reminds me of tiramisu and we both love that! Thanks for the recipe! #SITSBlogging
Andi says
Hi, Kristi! I have made tiramisu, which I love, but it’s a lot more work. You can’t beat how easy this is for similar flavors. Thanks so much for your visit :)
Ginnie says
This looks so delicious!! Chocolate and coffee is such a great combination – I can’t wait to try the recipe.
Andi says
Thank you, Ginnie! Chocolate and coffee is definitely one of my favorites.
Winnie says
Andi it’s a fantastic looking cake
My husband would love it as he likes mocha flavor :)
Andi says
Thank you, Winnie. Your husband is one lucky man since he gets to eat all the beautiful goodies you make!
Julie @ This Gal Cooks says
When I go to Starbucks, my fav is a grande soy caramel macchiato with sugar free vanilla. When I’m at home or work, it’s a Starbucks blonde K Cup with either honey or low cal sweetner (such as stevia in the raw) and some plain coffee mate creamer. Mmm. It’s after midnight right now but I could go for a coffee right now. LOL
I LOVE this cake, Andi! Definitely a must try for a coffee lover like me. Pinned. Have a lovely weekend!
Andi says
I have tried to get into sugar-free drinks, but the only drink I can stand artificial sugar is diet sodas. For some reason I don’t notice the aftertaste in those, but I can’t drink teas, coffees, vitamin water, etc. with sugar substitutes. I don’t know why! Thank you so much for the pin. Now I need to go find my coffee… ;)
Liz says
am taking this post as permission to eat mocha poke cake for breakfast :-) Looks great, Andi.
Andi says
You should absolutely do that. Coffee definitely makes it breakfast food, and it can’t be any worse than eating a doughnut!
Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats says
Ok, holy yum Andi! This looks delicious… almost like a tiramisu poke cake! Pinning this one for sure! Thanks girl!
Andi says
Thank YOU, Krista!!
Tina @ Tina's Chic Corner says
Be still my heart!! I’m a huge coffee fan and I love to experiment cooking and baking with it. This looks do so delicious! That espresso whipped cream alone would make me jump for joy in the morning if I knew I’d have that topped on my morning coffee. :)
Andi says
I’m glad to bond over cake with a fellow coffee lover, Tina :) I didn’t even think about putting the whipped cream ON coffee! Brilliant!
Kelly says
Wow, this poke cake looks so so good Andi! I haven’t tried making a poke cake yet but love this combination and pinning – can’t wait to give it a try :) Happy Blog Anniversary today! :)
Andi says
Thanks, Kelly! I hadn’t made one until a couple months ago, and then I was sold on the idea! It takes cake to a new level when it’s soaked with a tasty filling. You should try one for sure!
Chelsea @chelseasmessyapron says
I have seen so many poke cakes and never actually made one – how sad is that!? This one – on my to do list for sure!
★★★★★
Andi says
I was the same way, Chelsea. I finally tried that lime one, and I was in love! I may only make poke cakes from here on out ;)
Katy M. says
This looks heavenly :) I am definitely going to try it! Or make Lynne try it…!
Andi says
Hi, Katy! Getting Lynne to do all the work is the way to go ;) This one is super easy though, so even a lazy baker like me can make it ;)