Description
Creamy cinnamon roll poke cake delivers classic bakery comfort with a moist, indulgent twist. Sweet layers of cream cheese frosting and warm spices create a delightful dessert you’ll savor to the last crumb.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 box white or yellow cake mix
- ½ cup (113 grams / ½ cup) unsalted butter
- ¾ cup (150 grams / ¾ cup) brown sugar
- 2 tbsps (30 mL / 2 tablespoons) cinnamon
- 1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
- 4 oz (113 grams / 4 ounces) cream cheese
- 1 cup (120 grams / 1 cup) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 3 tbsps (45 mL / 3 tablespoons) milk
- Eggs (as per box instructions)
- Oil (as per box instructions)
- Water (as per box instructions)
Instructions
- Cake Base Preparation: Blend cake batter with ground cinnamon thoroughly, ensuring uniform mixture. Pour into a well-greased rectangular baking pan, distributing evenly for consistent baking performance.
- Baking Process: Preheat oven to specified temperature. Bake until a wooden pick inserted into the center emerges clean, revealing a perfectly cooked golden cake with tender crumb.
- Cinnamon Filling Creation: Combine melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla extract to develop a glossy, aromatic liquid filling with rich, deep flavors.
- Cake Perforation and Filling Absorption: Immediately post-baking, puncture the cake’s surface using a wooden spoon handle, creating a strategic grid pattern. This technique maximizes filling penetration and moisture distribution.
- Glaze Preparation: Whisk cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk until achieving a smooth, silky consistency suitable for elegant drizzling. Adjust liquid proportion to ensure perfect glaze texture.
- Final Assembly: Allow cake to cool completely. Generously drape cream cheese glaze across the surface, creating an enticing visual and flavor profile. Cut into generous servings, presenting a decadent dessert reminiscent of classic cinnamon rolls.
Notes
- Boost Cinnamon Flavor: Add an extra pinch of ground cinnamon to the cake batter for a more pronounced spice profile that elevates the entire dessert.
- Perfect Hole Technique: Use the handle of a wooden spoon to create consistent, evenly spaced holes, ensuring the cinnamon mixture penetrates every inch of the cake for maximum flavor absorption.
- Temperature Control: Allow the cake to cool completely before adding the cream cheese glaze to prevent melting and maintain a smooth, appealing finish.
- Glaze Consistency Hack: If the cream cheese glaze is too thick, gradually add milk in small increments until you achieve a silky, drizzle-ready texture that flows beautifully over the cake.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg