Dear Reader,
When I read the headline, "Kids Love Poke Cake!" I had no idea what the heck a poke cake was. But the word "poke" immediately made me think of our kids poking each other in the backseat of our car. (My husband and I raised four children.) Poke, poke, poke, one brother poking at another, and pretty soon, I'd hear, "Mom, Andy's poking me!"
"Andy stop poking your brother."
"Mom, he's still poking me."
Actually the definition of a poke cake is merely a cake that you poke holes in after baking. Grab a wooden spoon, turn it upside down, and poke, poke, poke, poke holes all over the top of the cake (On second thought, maybe the poke cake was invented by a mother who just returned from a long car ride with her children), and then fill in the holes with pudding, condensed milk or any of your favorite concoctions.
I've been making a dessert every weekend for my three grandchildren, who live here in Sarasota. This past weekend's treat was a Poke Cake. I made a chocolate cake from scratch (but you could use a box mix). Then, right after it came out of the oven, I used a wooden spoon and poked holes all over the top of the cake. Then I mixed one can (14 oz) of sweetened condensed milk and one cup semi-sweet chocolate chips together and microwaved them just until melted. Stir the mixture and then pour it over the top of the cake so the mixture goes into the holes of the cake. Set the cake on the counter until cool. Then cover the cake and put it in the refrigerator until it is cold.
Make a chocolate whipped cream topping to put on top while the cake is getting cold. Whip 2 cups of heavy whipping cream until it begins to stiffen. Then add 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons cocoa, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.
Spread the topping over the top of the cake. Then sprinkle mini chocolate chips over the top of the entire cake. (You can use any flavor of cake, or pudding to make this cake.)
My three grandchildren loved the poke cake. See photos of the cake and three delighted poke cake eaters, click here.
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Suzanne Beecher
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