Carrot Cake Poke Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Carrot Cake Poke Cake is an incredibly easy and delicious cake, made using cake mix, and topped with a thick layer of mascarpone cream cheese frosting.

Making high quality Poke Cakes is our obsession. We love Poke Cakes that are easy to make, look stunning and taste delicious, like the popular Strawberry Poke Cake, German Chocolate Poke Cake and Pumpkin Poke Cake.

Carrot Cake Poke Cake

This Carrot Cake Poke Cake has been declared the cake of the week in my house. This cake was an absolute success, being so easy to make and so packed with flavor. I used a Carrot Cake Mix, and I will be the first in line to tell you, that taking shortcuts in the kitchen is OK. Using the cake mix makes the whole process so much easier. As you don’t have to measure any ingredients, or worry that you are missing some spices.

The Carrot Cake Poke Cake is very tender, as it has been soaked in a sweet white chocolate plus condensed milk mixture. Topped with mascarpone cream cheese frosting and ground walnuts this cake is addicting!

Why You’ll Love This Carrot Cake Poke Cake Recipe:

• Very easy to make, this is a one layer cake that is basically fool proof made using a cake mix.
• It is very tender and packed with flavors,
• The cake is topped with a very think mascarpone cream cheese frosting layer. This gives the cake richness and moisture, which you can’t beat.
• Can be made 1 or 2 days in advance so you don’t have to worry about a last minute dessert.
• The cake combines different textures: the tender carrot cake poke cake layer, the chewy raisins, the crunchy walnuts and the creamy frosting.

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Best Carrot Poke Cake Recipe Tips:

• Using a cake mix will reduce the prep time, feel free to use your favorite Carrot Cake Mix and follow the instructions on the box. However, my all time favorite Carrot Cake Mix is this one.
• Clean the knife after each cut, otherwise the slices will be messier, since the frosting may stick to the knife.
• Let the cake absorb the white chocolate mixture for at least 8 hours before serving. This will make the cake extra tender, soft and flavorful.
• You can either pipe the frosting on top of the cake, or just spread it evenly with a spatula. I choose to just spread it in one layer, so it looks thicker and rich and also that saved me some time.
• Mascarpone can be replaces with cream cheese.
• The walnuts add a nice crunch, you can also top the cake with whole walnuts, I prefer ground texture wise.
• Keep the cake refrigerated as the frosting will soften if kept at room temperature for too long.
• If you are looking for less frosting, skip the mascarpone and just add one extra brick of cream cheese.

HOW TO FREEZE THE CARROT POKE CAKE?

• If freezing the cake without adding the frosting, then first wait for cake layer to cool completely. Fully wrap in plastic wrap tightly. Next, wrap in aluminum foil or place it in freezer bags.
• If freezing a frosted cake, first place cake in the fridge, so the frosting isn’t too soft. Fully wrap cake in plastic wrap tightly. Next, wrap in aluminum foil or place it in freezer bags. Freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost before slicing.

Tools/Ingredients I used to make this Carrot Cake Poke Cake Recipe:

• Non Stick Baking Pan – I use this 9×13 pan for many recipes, brownies, fudge and blondies, the quality is great and it will last you a long time
• Duncan Hines Carrot Cake Mix – delicious flavor and it comes with a pouch of real carrots and raisins, I love using this mix
• Vanilla Extract – love this vanilla extract, the flavor is great, I always have some on hand
• White Chocolate Chips – I use these all the time, they taste great in cookies and are perfect to melt with condensed milk

Check out my Blueberry Zucchini Poke Cake:

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3 from 1 reviews

Carrot Cake Poke Cake

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Author: Catalina Castravet Serves: 14 servings
Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes Total time: 1 hr

Ingredients

Carrot Cake:

•  Duncan Hines Carrot Cake Mix  (or any other Carrot Cake Mix)
• 3  eggs 
• 1 1/4 cups  hot water 
• 1/4 cup  vegetable oil 

Chocolate Mixture:

• 14 oz  sweetened condensed milk 
• 1 1/2 cups  white chocolate chips 

Frosting:

• 2 bricks (8oz each)  cream cheese  (room temperature)
• 1 cup  unsalted butter  (room temperature)
• 1 lb.  mascarpone  (room temperature)
• 1 tablespoon  vanilla extract 
• 1/2 teaspoon  salt 
• 4 cups  powdered sugar  (more if needed to thicken)
• 1 cup  ground walnuts 

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Place oven rack in the middle of the oven.
2. Spray a 9x13 inch cake pan with non-stick baking spray and set aside.
3. Prepare the carrot cake by following the instructions on the package. If using a Duncan Hines Carrot Cake mix, you will have to soak the carrots and raisins in hot water, and whisk all the ingredients listed into the cake mix.
4. Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30-32 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with just a few moist crumbs. I baked mine for exactly 30 minutes.
5. Remove cake from oven. Using the end of a spatula or a large straw, even a pen will work if you don't have anything on hand; poke holes all over the cake.

Chocolate Mixture:

1. In a medium, microwave safe bowl, combine white chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk. Heat in the microwave until hot for about 1 minute. Stir and heat 30 seconds or more if needed. Whisk until fully combined, smooth and shiny.
2. Pour the chocolate mixture all over the cake and using a spatula spread it evenly into the holes.
3. You can sprinkle a few ground walnuts onto the cake now, so they get into the poked holes.

Frosting:

1. Using an electric mixer or stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, cream together cream cheese, mascarpone and butter on medium speed until smooth with no lumps, about 1 minute. Stop once to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula.
2. Add in vanilla extract and salt, and continue mixing until combined.
3. With the mixer speed on medium-low, gradually add in the powdered sugar. Increase mixer speed to medium-high and beat until combined. Stop once to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula.
4. If frosting is too thick, you can add in one or two teaspoons of milk. If frosting is too thin, you can add in more powdered sugar, 1/3 cup at a time, but make sure you first taste it, so you don't make it too sweet. Also, consider that the frosting may look thin, but it will harden/settle once chilled.
5. Sprinkle ground walnuts on top of the cake.
6. Refrigerate cake for at least 6-8 hours before serving.
7. Enjoy!

Calories: 695 Carbohydrates: 63 Protein: 8 Fat: 46 Saturated Fat: 26 Cholesterol: 116 Sodium: 286 Potassium: 214 Fiber: 0 Sugar: 60 Vitamin A: 990 Vitamin C: 0.9 Calcium: 182 Iron: 0.5

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