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A rich slice of homemade German chocolate poke cake topped with gooey coconut-pecan filling, melted chocolate, and chocolate chips, served on a gray plate.

German Chocolate Poke Cake

A rich, ultra-moist German chocolate poke cake infused with sweetened condensed milk and topped with homemade coconut pecan frosting. This crowd-pleaser takes a classic dessert.
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Best german chocolate poke cake, Easy german chocolate poke cake, German Chocolate Poke Cake, German chocolate poke cake pioneer woman, German chocolate poke cake recipe, German chocolate poke cake with caramel, Old fashioned german chocolate poke cake
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Chilling Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 50 minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 510kcal
Cost: $11

Equipment

  • 9x13 inch baking pan (Lightly greased)
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Electric mixer (Hand or stand mixer)
  • Wooden spoon (For poking holes)
  • Medium saucepan (For making frosting)
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Rubber spatula
  • Whisk (For mixing frosting ingredients)
  • Cooling rack (For chilling the cake)

Ingredients

For the Cake:

  • 1 box German chocolate cake mix - Any brand
  • 3 Large eggs
  • ½ cup Vegetable oil
  • 1 cup Water
  • 1 can Sweetened condensed milk - 14 oz
  • ½ cup Caramel sauce - Optional; for caramel variation

For the Coconut Pecan Frosting:

  • 1 cup Granulated sugar - Or coconut sugar
  • 1 cup Evaporated milk - Not sweetened condensed
  • ½ cup Unsalted butter
  • 3 Egg yolks
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
  • 1 ⅓ cups Sweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 cup Chopped pecans - Or toasted pecans for added crunch

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
  • In a large bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, oil, and water. Mix on medium speed for 2 minutes until smooth.
  • Pour batter into the pan and bake for 28–32 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs.
  • Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes.
  • Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes across the cake, about 1 inch apart.
  • Slowly pour sweetened condensed milk over the cake, letting it seep into the holes. Add caramel if using.
  • Allow cake to cool completely and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  • In a saucepan, combine sugar, evaporated milk, butter, and egg yolks. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened (10–12 minutes).
  • Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla, coconut, and pecans. Let cool slightly.
  • Spread frosting evenly over the cake. Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be considered an approximation. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients used and portion sizes.Feel free to add more of your favorite toppings.

Nutrition

Serving: 130g | Calories: 510kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 410mg | Potassium: 200mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 47g | Vitamin A: 550IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 1.6mg