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Caramel Apple Poke Cake

5 from 29 votes
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posted: 10/09/14

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

This Caramel Apple Poke Cake is easy to make, but so delicious! Try not to eat the whole pan. This caramel poke cake recipe is going to be your new go to dessert for family get togethers.

close up of a piece of caramel apple poke cake on a plate, says caramel apple poke cake

This Caramel Apple Poke Cake is the perfect fall dessert. It’s so easy to make and will be a huge hit with everyone you serve it to.

Reader Review

I made this carmel apple poke cake today. It was a great cake. Everyone loved it! The guys couldn’t quit eating it. They each ate 3 or 4 pieces. My son came home and ate the rest of it. Glad I grabbed 1 piece before it vanished!!

poke cake on a white plate with whipped topping and heath bits on top

How to make Caramel Apple Poke Cake

This is a brief overview to show you how perfectly simple this recipe is. For the full recipe with all of the measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

  1. Bake the cake. You will use everything the box of cake mix calls for and you will also add in some vanilla extract and apple pie filling.
  2. Poke holes in the cake. It works best if you let the cake cool for about 10 minutes and then add the holes.
  3. Pour caramel over the cake. Do your best to get some caramel in each of the holes.
  4. Refrigerate the cake overnight. This will allow the caramel to soak into the cake completely.
  5. Serve the cake. Before serving, add some whipped topping and toffee bits.

Apple Pie Filling

We are using canned apple pie filling in this super easy recipe, but it works perfectly well to use my homemade apple pie filling recipe in place of the can. You will want to cut up the apple pieces small when making it for this cake. The recipe will make four cups, but you will only need to use two. The rest would be great with a spoon.

Apple Pie Filling

Apple Pie Filling is the perfect recipe for the apples you got from apple picking! This makes great apple pies, but can be used in dozens of recipes.
apple pie filling being spooned out of a large mason jar

Stabilized Whipped Cream

If you want to make the whipped topping from scratch, I recommend using my recipe for stabilized whipped cream. Regular whipped cream is amazing, but it doesn’t work great for frosting because it wilts relatively quickly. Stabilized whipped cream does not. My homemade recipe is the perfect amount to frost this cake.

Stabilized Whipped Cream

Stabilized Whipped Cream is easy to throw together with just three ingredients. This recipe is perfect for topping cakes, piping, or using as a replacement for Cool Whip!
mason jar full of stabilized whipped cream frosting that has been pipped into it

Topping the Cake

I love adding toffee bits to the top of this cake. It’s like a broken up heath bar. That being said, if you can’t find them there are so many great things you can top this cake with. You can leave it just as whipped topping, drizzle more caramel over it, or add some mini chocolate chips.

TOP PICK

Toffee Bits

These toffee bits are perfect for this cake, but also are great on top of a sundae!
Product Image

Storing

Store this delicious cake in the refrigerator for up to five days. While this cake is best when it is eaten fresh, you can freeze it as a whole cake or as pieces. I would suggest freezing the cake unfrosted. As with all recipes, use your best discretion.

caramel apple poke cake on a plate with caramel coming out of it

Other Great Poke Cakes

  • Pina Colada Poke Cake
  • Candy Cork Poke Cake
  • Caramel Zucchini Poke Cake

If you make this delicious poke cake recipe, leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

close up of caramel apple poke cake on a plate, says: caramel apple poke cake
5 from 29 votes

Caramel Apple Poke Cake

Serves: 24 pieces
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
A Caramel Apple Poke Cake that is easy to make, but super addictive!  Try not to eat the whole pan. This caramel poke cake recipe is going to be your new go to dessert for family get togethers.

Ingredients

  • 13.25 ounces white cake mix plus what it takes to make it (see note)
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 21 oz can apple pie filling (read above about using my homemade apple pie filling)
  • 12 oz caramel sauce
  • 8 oz whipped topping
  • 1 cup toffee bits found in the baking aisle near the chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9 by 13 inch pan, and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix and cinnamon. Mix in what the cake mix calls for (see note regarding adding oil) and vanilla extract.
  • With the apples still in their can, stick a knife in the can and cut up the apples making them smaller chunks. Then add the whole can to the cake mix.
  • Pour the batter into the greased pan. Bake for 30 minutes.
  • Let the cake stand for about 10 to 15 minutes. Then poke holes with the bottom of a wooden spoon throughout the cake, about an inch to two inches apart.
  • Warm the caramel sauce in the microwave so that it is easier to pour. Pour over the cake into the holes, making sure some sauce gets into each hole.
  • Refrigerate overnight. Before serving, top with whipped topping and toffee bits.

Notes

The cake mix that I used called for egg whites and oil.  I ended up eliminating the oil because of the apple pie filling.  However, if you use both your cake will be just fine.
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
close up of caramel apple poke cake on a plate, says: caramel apple poke cake

did you make this

Caramel Apple Poke Cake

I’d love to see what you made! Tag me @lisasimplejoy and hashtag it #simplejoyrecipes!

Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

Reader Interactions

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  1. Karly says

    Three year olds somehow manage to be both the best and the worst, all at the same time. I kind of miss having one around.

    Love this cake!

    • Lisa Longley says

      Ummmm . . . do you want mine for a day or two?? Kidding! #notatallkidding You are right though, they are kind of awesome in their own little headache and wine drinking inducing way :)

  2. Amber @ Dessert Now, Dinner Later! says

    This sounds fabulous! Pinning!

    • Lisa Longley says

      Thanks for pinning Amber!

  3. Amy | Club Narwhal says

    I totally love her “why.” ending with a period. I feel like that is my answer to my inner-adult, who is always advising me not to eat pizza and maybe go for that run :) This cake looks so dreamy!!

    • Lisa Longley says

      Hahahahaha! I have a feeling you and Quinn would get along well, Amy :)

  4. Julie | This Gal Cooks says

    This cake looks SO good, Lisa! LOVE the toffee bit topping. Pinned!

    • Lisa Longley says

      Julie, I could eat those toffee bits by the BAGFUL! Thanks for pinning!

  5. heather @french press says

    pretty sure cake and wine fixes everything

    • Lisa Longley says

      #truestory

  6. Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says

    It’s like they’re born with the opposite ability. SO annoying. This cake? Not annoying. LOVE it!

    • Lisa Longley says

      Thanks Dorothy!

  7. Trish - Mom On Timeout says

    Cake perfection. Especially for caramel apple addicts like myself ;) Pinned girl!

    • Lisa Longley says

      Thanks Trish!

  8. Aimee @ ShugarySweets says

    I miss having a 3 yr old in the house. Because when my 17yr old asks “why” it’s scary. LOL.

  9. Sheila @ Sweet Baked Life says

    Can’t go wrong with cake for breakfast and wine for dinner! Love this recipe!

  10. Lauren @ Imperfect and Fabulous says

    Apples definitely make this breakfast!

    • Lisa Longley says

      Oh good! I’m so happy I’m not the only one who figures out how to make cake breakfast, Lauren ;)

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