Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake Recipe is a decadent cake with lots of cinnamon and cream cheese frosting. Enjoy everything you love about cinnamon rolls in a quick and easy poke cake!

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close up image of a slice of cinnamon roll poke cake on a spatula.

Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake Recipe is so easy!

Our family loves cinnamon rolls so when I made this Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake, the kids went crazy over it! It is seriously so amazing! 

Plus, I love that you get to enjoy the taste of cinnamon rolls without any of the work! The poke cake is so incredibly easy!

The entire cake has this delicious cream cheese frosting that gets in every nook and cranny for a dessert everyone will love. 

What are you waiting for? You need to make this cinnamon roll poke cake! It taste just like a coffee cake. Also, check out our huge list of Cinnamon Dessert Recipes.

Close up image of a slice of Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake on a white plate.

What is a Poke Cake?

A poke cake is a type of cake you poke holes in after baking. The holes are filled with a delicious mixture that is poured over the cake and gets into every last inch of the cake.

Recipes vary but the filling can be a pudding mixture, fruit, sweetened condensed milk and more. This is a very easy recipe.

Ingredients needed - white cake mix, butter, brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk, cinnamon, cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk, vanilla

Ingredients:

  • White Cake Mix – prepared according to package
  • Butter (melted)
  • Brown Sugar (packed)
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • Ground Cinnamon
Close up image of a slice of Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake on a white plate.

Cinnamon Roll Frosting Ingredients:

  • Cream Cheese (softened)
  • Butter (softened)
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Milk
  • Vanilla Extract
Close up image of a slice of Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake on a white plate.

How to make Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake:

  • Preheat Oven – First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
  • Prepare Baking Dish – Next, grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  • Make and Bake Cake – Prepare cake mix according to package. Pour cake batter into prepared pan. Bake cake as directed on the package.
  • Prepare the Cinnamon Roll Topping – While the cake is baking, stir together melted butter, brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk, and cinnamon. Set aside.
Close up image of the cinnamon roll topping ingredients being mixed together.
  • Poke holes in the cake – Using the handle of a wooden spoon, poke holes in the cake. My kids love helping this part.
Close up image of white cake in a 9x13 pan with holes poked into it.
  • Pour Cinnamon Mixture over cake – Pour filling mixture over warm cake, gently spreading as necessary.
Close up image cinnamon roll topping being pour on cake poked with holes.
  • Cool – Let cake cool to room temperature.
Close up image of cinnamon roll topping on the cake.
  • Make Frosting – To make the frosting, beat together cream cheese and butter until combined. Add powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon milk and vanilla. Beat together until well-combined.
Close up image of ingredients of cream cheese frosting in a white bowl.
  • Continue Mixing – Mix in additional milk to desired consistency.
Close up image of the cream cheese frosting ingredients mixed together in a white bowl.
  • Spread onto Cake – Spread frosting over room temperature cake.
close up image of a cinnamon roll poke cake in a 9x13 cake pan
  • Serve and Enjoy – Enjoy at room temperature, or chill and enjoy cold. Cover and chill any leftovers.

How to Serve:

This is the perfect dessert to serve for guest or a family night in. It is a crowd pleaser since it is so easy to make. You can serve the cake warm with a scoop of ice cream or topped with whipped cream.

I love to have it in the morning with my coffee or hot tea.

Do I have to use a White Cake Mix?

You can use any flavor of cake that you prefer. Vanilla or yellow cake mix would be an amazing cake mix option.

This Cinnamon Roll Cake Mix recipe is amazing: 

Not only is this cinnamon roll poke cake so very simple to make but it is so delicious. You are going to love it. 

The cream cheese frosting is so decadent and this is one of our most favorite cake recipes. This cake is so rich and creamy. Now, it is definitely not a low carb cinnamon roll poke cake but it is sure worth the calories.

Close up image of a  fork with a bite of cinnamon roll poke cake on it.

What do you use to poke holes in poke cake?

We used the end of a wooden spoon. This is perfect because the holes are the perfect size to allow the delicious cinnamon mixture to get into the cake. However, you can use a fork or really anything that you have on hand. 

Tools you need:

This recipe is perfect in a 9×13 baking dish. The ones with the lid are really handy if you are taking this dish somewhere.

I use the disposable pans for the ones I’m taking to a cookout or if I’m transporting the cake.  This cake is also perfect to take to potluck dinners or to someone recovering from surgery or with a new baby.

It’s nice to just be able to toss the dish. They don’t have to worry about trying to get it back to you.

I also love not worrying about getting the dish back and can just leave it at cookouts and such. 

Do poke cakes need to be refrigerated?

Allow to cool on the counter for a few minutes, then put into the fridge to fully cool and set up.  This is a very simple cake recipe and so easy to make with just a few ingredients. 

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes, that is why we love Poke Cake Recipes. The are the perfect dessert to make ahead of time. We actually think they taste better if they are prepared 2-2 days ahead of time.

Print Recipe here for Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake:

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Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake

4.18 from 56 votes
Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake Recipe is a yummy cake with Cinnamon and Cream Cheese icing. If you love Cinnamon Rolls, then this cake is a must.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Cool 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 12
Cuisine American
Course Dessert
Calories 458
Author Desserts on a Dime

Ingredients

  • CAKE:
  • 15.25 oz white cake mix prepared according to package
  • 1/2 cup butter melted
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • FROSTING:
  • 8 ounce package cream cheese softened
  • 1/4 cup butter softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2-3 tablespoons milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Prepare cake mix according to package. Bake.
  • While the cake is baking, stir together butter, brown sugar, condensed milk, and cinnamon. Set aside.
  • Using the handle of a wooden spoon, poke holes in the cake
  • Pour filling mixture over warm cake, gently spreading as necessary.
  • Let cake cool to room temperature.
  • To make the frosting, beat together cream cheese and butter until combined.
  • Add powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon milk and vanilla. Beat together until well-combined.
  • Mix in additional milk to desired consistency.
  • Spread frosting over room temperature cake.
  • Enjoy at room temperature, or chill and enjoy cold.
  • Cover and chill any leftovers.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 458kcal, Carbohydrates 67g, Protein 4g, Fat 21g, Saturated Fat 12g, Cholesterol 56mg, Sodium 432mg, Potassium 111mg, Fiber 1g, Sugar 51g, Vitamin A 642IU, Vitamin C 1mg, Calcium 154mg, Iron 1mg

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Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake Recipe is a yummy cake with Cinnamon and Cream Cheese icing. If you love Cinnamon Rolls, then this cake is a must. This poke cake recipe is easy to make with a box cake and packed with tons of flavor too. #dessertsonadime #cakerecipes #pokecakerecipes #cinnamonrecipes
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Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Desserts on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families.

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Comments

  1. Is it possible to cut the Cake in half after you’ve put the cinnamon sugar mixture and spread around and fill the holes in to cut the Cake in half and freeze half? I’m a family of two and one large cake is just more than what we need to be eating at one time. Thanks