Cannoli Poke Cake Recipe | Moist Vanilla Cake Recipe (2024)

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This Cannoli Poke Cake is a lovely vanilla cake soaked with sweetened condensed milk and covered in sweet cannoli filling. It’s a moist, indulgent dessert that will rock your socks off!

Cannoli Poke Cake Recipe | Moist Vanilla Cake Recipe (1)

Cannoli Poke Cake Recipe | Moist Vanilla Cake Recipe (2)

Cannoli Poke Cake

Can you believe I’ve never made a poke cake before? I’ve been wanting to for forever, but never quite got around to it. Until now. And boy have I been missing out! This Cannoli Poke Cake is super easy to make and SO tasty!

If you don’t know much about poke cakes, they are basically a cake that’s baked, covered in sweetened condensed milk which soaks up into the cake, making it incredibly moist, and then usually topped with some kind of whipped topping. There are a ton of variations out there. The sky is the limit!

Cannoli Poke Cake Recipe | Moist Vanilla Cake Recipe (3)

A friend requested something “cannoli flavored” for her husband’s birthday a while ago and since I’ve been wanting to make a poke cake for so long, it just popped into my head and I knew I had to do it!

There are so many ways to make cannoli’s – particularly the filling – and when done right, they are absolutely delicious!

The filling really is the best part – and that’s exactly what this cake is covered in. Get pumped!

Cannoli Poke Cake Recipe | Moist Vanilla Cake Recipe (4)

The cannoli filling “icing” on this cake is one of those things that you just cannot get your finger out of. I was lucky any of it made it onto the cake.

And my small group felt exactly the same way! They were basically licking the sides of the pan where the topping was left behind – using their finger of course. So stinkin’ good.

Cannoli Poke Cake Recipe | Moist Vanilla Cake Recipe (5)

One thing I did a little differently with this poke cake is that I didn’t use an entire can of sweetened condensed milk when pouring it over the cake. I didn’t want to the cake to be too soggy, but I wanted it to have the moist-ness and delicious-ness that the sweetened condensed milk gives.

But since it didn’t all go into the cake, and I hate wasting things, I put it into the cannoli filling.

Best. Decision. Ever.

It sweetened the topping up just enough and made it even harder to resist. Pure deliciousness.

Cannoli Poke Cake Recipe | Moist Vanilla Cake Recipe (6)

Have you seen my Baklava Poke Cake? Or my Cannoli Icebox Cake? So yummy!

Update 6/10/14: One thing to note about the topping on this cake is that it is not like a traditional icing. It is meant to be more like cannoli filling. The texture is kind of like whipped cream at the soft peak stage. If you’d prefer it to be thicker, you can do one or both of these two things – leave the sweetened condensed milk out of the topping (as it thins it out a bit) and/or add up to about 3 cups of powdered sugar (which would thicken it). I chose to leave it thinner so that I didn’t dilute the cannoli flavor from the cheeses – I love that flavor! And though it’s thinner, it’s still plenty thick to be on top of the cake. I’ve made this cake a couple of times and it has sat out at parties and the icing stays in place. So it isn’t so thin that it runs or anything, it’s just not a traditional icing. I hope that helps, as I know many have been surprised the fact that it isn’t thicker.

You might also like

Cannoli Layer Cake
Cannoli Cheesecake
Cannoli Tart
Cannoli Icebox Cake
Baklava Poke Cake
Cannoli Stuffed French Toast

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Cannoli Poke Cake Recipe | Moist Vanilla Cake Recipe (7)

Recipe

Cannoli Poke Cake

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 16 reviews

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: Box Directions
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 15-18 Servings
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

This Cannoli Poke Cake is a lovely vanilla cake soaked with sweetened condensed milk and covered in sweet cannoli filling. It’s a moist, indulgent dessert that will rock your socks off!

Ingredients

  • 1 box white cake mix, plus ingredients on box
  • 1 14 oz cans sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
  • 1 1/2 cups mascarpone cheese
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon, optional
  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
  • powdered sugar, for dusting

Instructions

  1. Bake cake according to directions on box for a 9×13 pan.
  2. Remove cake from the oven and poke holes all over the top of the cake. (I used a straw)
  3. Reserve half a cup of sweetened condensed milk and pour the rest of the sweetened condensed milk over the cake.
  4. Put cake in refrigerator for about an hour to absorb milk.
  5. Combine ricotta cheese, mascarpone cheese and vanilla extract in a mixer bowl. Mix until smooth.
  6. Add powdered sugar and cinnamon, if using and mix until combined.
  7. Add reserved sweetened condensed milk and mix until combined.
  8. Once cake has absorbed milk, spread cannoli topping evenly over cake.
  9. Top with mini chocolate chips and a sprinkling of powdered sugar.
  10. Cover cake and allow to set in refrigerator for 2-3 hours. Cake should keep for 4-5 days.

Notes

Do consider straining the ricotta before using, especially if it’s a particularly watery brand. Also, when mixing together the ricotta and mascarpone cheese, DO NOT over mix it. If mascarpone cheese is over mixed, it becomes very thin.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Slice
  • Calories: 429
  • Sugar: 28.5 g
  • Sodium: 144.5 mg
  • Fat: 22.7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 50.6 g
  • Protein: 8.3 g
  • Cholesterol: 75.7 mg

Filed Under:

  • Cakes and Cupcakes
  • Recipes
  • Sweets and Treats

Enjoy!

Cannoli topping modified from The Vintage Mixer.

Cannoli Poke Cake Recipe | Moist Vanilla Cake Recipe (8)

Cannoli Poke Cake Recipe | Moist Vanilla Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my poke cake soggy? ›

This can happen when you pour too much liquid into the holes of your cake. This can occur when the holes are less than an inch apart from each other and this is why instant pudding is such a game-changer — its thick consistency won't drench the cake sponge too quickly, resulting in a soggy mess.

How to spice up vanilla cake? ›

Add vanilla extract or other flavorings: A simple way to add more flavor to a white cake is to add a teaspoon or two of pure vanilla extract to the batter. You can also try other flavorings like almond extract, lemon zest, or orange zest to enhance the taste.

What flavors can you add to vanilla cake? ›

If it's chocolate, add some cocoa powder and brown sugar. If it's vanilla, add some pure vanilla extract, or any complementary extract, such as hazelnut, orange or lemon. Add nutmeg, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice. Add a dash of a strong flavored liqueur.

Can I use milk instead of water in cake mix? ›

Use milk instead of water

Most box cake recipes will tell you to add water to the mix. Instead, try adding milk using the same proportions. This will make the cake richer and creamier because it ups the fat content. You can even use buttermilk here for a pleasant tang.

How do you make a cake not soggy? ›

Adjusting the cooking time and temperature

If your cake has a soggy middle, the first thing to try is bringing the temperature down a little and baking for slightly longer.

What can I add to vanilla cake mix to make it better? ›

Add a Few Fun Mix-Ins

Just like they do with a pint of ice cream, mix-ins make almost any cake even better. A general rule of thumb: Stick with 1 cup (at most) of mix-ins. For vanilla or yellow cake mixes, try adding diced crystallized ginger, dried fruit, or fresh berries.

What happens if you don't add vanilla extract to cake? ›

Vanilla extract adds depth and complexity to baked goods, enhancing the overall taste and aroma. Without it, the cake may taste bland or one-dimensional. However, there are many other ways to add flavor to a cake, such as using other extracts, spices, or even fresh fruit.

What happens if you put too much vanilla in a cake? ›

Yes, you can eat cookie or cake batter that has more vanilla extract in it than what is called for in the recipe. That weird aftertastes is normal. If this happens in the future, try adding a little salt to balance out the flavor.

What pairs well with vanilla cake? ›

Cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves are some examples of sweet spices that might work. Mild fruit flavors, such as fig, pear, and strawberries, will act as a complement to vanilla.

What are the top 3 cake flavors? ›

Popular cake flavors for custom cakes include classic favorites like chocolate, vanilla, and red velvet, as well as more unique flavors like lemon, carrot, and strawberry.

What does adding an extra egg do to a cake mix? ›

Add an Extra Egg

Most cake mixes call for two to three eggs. Just one more egg will add extra moisture, fat, and a little protein, which means the cake will be softer and less likely to overbake and dry out in the oven.

Should you beat eggs before adding to cake mix? ›

Martina says, “Late in the mixing stage, eggs will incorporate better if you lightly beat them before adding to the batter.

Is it better to use oil or butter in cakes? ›

The spongy texture and moist flavor that oil creates can be a boon to certain recipes. Not to mention oil is cheaper and easier to work with. Butter will always provide superior flavor and that melt-in-your-mouth texture. In many recipes, combining the two gives the best of both worlds.

Why does my cake feel wet? ›

Under baking: If the cake is not baked fully, the center and bottom may remain moist and under cooked. Make sure to follow the recommended baking time and insert a toothpick or cake tester into the center of the cake to check for doneness. If it comes out clean or with a few crumbs, the cake is properly baked.

Why is my vegan cake soggy? ›

You could try different ones or try reducing the water and/or oil content a little. If you're adding things like fruit to the batter it can release juices during baking that can make cakes soggy. I usually reduce my water and oil content a little when I bake these types of cakes.

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