King Cake Poke Cake
Ingredients
- 1 15.25 ounce box yellow cake mix, plus 3 large eggs, 1/3 cup vegetable oil and 1 cup water
- 1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons each purple green and gold sanding sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
- Mix the cake according to the package directions and pour into the pan.
- Bake 28 to 32 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean, then cool 15 minutes in the pan.
- Poke holes across the whole cake about 1 inch apart with the handle of a wooden spoon, almost to the bottom.
- Whisk the condensed milk, cream and cinnamon together and pour slowly over the cake so it runs into the holes.
- Let sit 10 minutes to soak, then refrigerate uncovered 1 hour, until the top no longer looks wet.
- Beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth, then beat in powdered sugar and vanilla until the frosting holds its shape.
- Spread the frosting evenly over the chilled cake to the edges.
- Scatter purple, green and gold sugar over the top in wide diagonal bands.
- Chill at least 30 minutes more before cutting so the slices hold together.
Good to Know
Make this a full day ahead; the soak settles in further overnight and the slices cut even cleaner cold.