Coconut Cream Poke Cake with Coconut Whipped Cream Frosting

ByMichaela Kenkel Updated on

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This coconut cream poke cake is so moist, and it’s topped with coconut cream whipped cream frosting and sweetened coconut. A Coconut Lover’s DREAM come true!

This Coconut Cream Poke Cake is EPIC.  If you don’t fall in love with the cake, the Coconut Whipped Cream Frosting is sure to hook you. 
 
Now, I am here to tell you, that there aren’t many things I don’t eat.  I’m really not picky at all.  But coconut has never been a favorite of mine.
 
I love it in Pina Coladas … and suntan lotion … even more, when these two things are put together, but to eat? Not so much.
 
 
Coconut Cream Poke Cake with Coconut Whipped Cream Frosting
 
Now, my husband on the other hand? He LOVES coconut, and I make him this Chocolate Macaroon Cake every year for his birthday.
 
 
Chocolate Macaroon Tunnel Cake
 
That cake you see up there?  It has a tunnel of coconut throughout the inside.  I usually just eat around the coconut, and give that part to him, which is just one more thing he can love about me in the end, right?
 
 
 

^Love it?  Pin IT!^

Don’t forget where you found this Coconut Poke Cake recipe!  Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board before you go!

 
 
Coconut Cream Poke Cake with Coconut Whipped Cream Frosting
 
Well, I have to admit, this cake I made here, it has got me starting a love affair with coconut! I actually ate TWO pieces!! (I know, right?)
 
When I was asked to bring dessert for the Super Bowl party my brother and sister in law were hosting, and just like my husband, his whole family LOVES coconut. I’ve seen various coconut cake recipes I wanted to try, but honestly, I couldn’t settle on one.  In the end, I picked components from each one I liked and this was the finished product!
 
I will just tell you, that this is BY FAR the BEST frosting I have ever eaten.  All I did was switch up my whipped cream frosting just a smidgen and it was PERFECTION with this cake!
 
 
Here is my basic Whipped Cream Frosting Recipe. It’s delicious on anything! My first choice?  A spoon! 
 

Ingredients in Coconut Cream Poke Cake:

  • white cake mix
  • instant vanilla pudding
  • milk, sweetened condensed milk, coconut cream
  • eggs, oil
  • sweetened coconut flakes
  • Plus ingredients for Coconut Whipped Cream Frosting

 

 

You will find the complete printable recipe at the bottom of this post.  

 

Preparing the Coconut Cream Poke Cake

 
1. Make sure to grease and flour your cake pans well.  This cake is extremely moist, and getting it out of the pans can be a challenge.
 
2. Using a thicker fork or skewer, poke holes all over the warm cake.
 
3. Top with coconut cream mixture.  I typically only use about 3/4 of the mixture.  You could mix up less if desired.  But it’s easier to mix when you can purchase the cans in the right ounces.  Using all of it will make the cakes a lot wetter, and harder to handle when you layer and frost them.  
 
*try pouring the leftover coconut cream over chocolate ice cream.  Yum!
 
4. After you pour it over the warm cake, use the back of a spoon to spread it over the top.  Place in the refrigerator overnight.
 
5. Use a thin sharp knife and run it around the edge of the cake before flipping it over.  I typically flip it over onto a piece of parchment paper, then place it on the plate to center it.
 
 
 
 
Top the bottom cake layer with frosting and coconut before adding the top layer.  Add the top layer, continue to frost the cake, and top with remaining coconut.  I like to sprinkle some around the bottom, too.
 
 
 
 
This cake takes a bit of time to make, as it has quite a few steps.  Just know that when you take that first bite?  It’ll ALL be worth it!
 
 
 
Just look at it!
 
Coconut Cream Poke Cake with Coconut Whipped Cream Frosting
 
Nobody will ever believe that this cake starts with a box cake mix.  Why is everyone so against them anyway??  I have recipes for cakes from scratch on my site, but I have nothing against a cake that starts with a box mix.  Not ever.   This Coconut Pudding Poke Cake that I make, is one of my most popular recipes.  Guess what? Box mix.  
 
Same with that Chocolate Macaroon Tunnel Cake I talked about earlier, and this Pineapple Coconut Tunnel Cake that tastes like a Piña Colada? Box mix.  How can I hate on the box mix when so many good things come from it?
 

So Why Boxed Cake Mix?

Guess what? Just because I know how to bake a cake from scratch, doesn’t mean that I need to do that every time I want to bake a cake. It isn’t like my license to blog about recipes will get revoked. As I mentioned, this cake already has multiple steps. Using a cake mix not only helps reduce the number of steps but also assures accurate measures. 

Truth be told, the best aspect of a box cake mix? You don’t have to worry about whether or not you perfectly leveled the teaspoon of salt or the couple cups of flour. 

It isn’t like a box mix reinvents the ingredients or anything. It just takes the measuring out of the equation. That comes in handy when you need consistency. 

 

And It Is A “Poke Cake” Because?

The poking in “poke” cake helps let the cream mixture drip down into the cake. This makes the cake beyond moist. It makes it moist and delicious! The thing to keep in mind when you poke the cake is making sure it allows even drainage into the poked holes. 
 
If you do it haphazardly and leave sections un-poked, then plan on those sections of the cake being much drier. The best way to poke the cake so it absorbs evenly? You can start in the center then poke to the edge and work your way around, like spokes on a bicycle wheel. Or, start in the center and spin the cake around as you poke from the inside out and create a “pinwheel” spiral of pokes. 

 

Coconut Mug Cake

Other Favorite Coconut Recipes:

 

 

 

But it’s time to give you what you came here for.  Let’s make this Coconut Cream Poke Cake with Coconut Whipped Cream Frosting.  Shall we?M.

 

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A fork with a bite of the COCONUT CREAM POKE CAKE WITH COCONUT WHIPPED CREAM FROSTING next to the slice of cake on a white plate
4.51 from 117 votes
Print Recipe

Coconut Cream Poke Cake with Coconut Whipped Cream Frosting

This coconut cream poke cake is so moist, and it’s topped with coconut cream whipped cream frosting and sweetened coconut. A Coconut Lover’s DREAM come true!
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Additional Time5 hours
Total Time6 hours
Course: Cake & Cupcakes
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Coconut Cream Poke Cake with Coconut Whipped Cream Frosting
Servings: 9 " layer cake
Calories: 528kcal
Author: Michaela Kenkel

Ingredients

  • Cake:
  • 1 box of white cake mix
  • 1 3.4 ounce box of instant vanilla pudding
  • 1 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/3 cup oil
  • 3 egg whites
  • 1 teaspoon coconut extract
  • "Poke" Cream:
  • 1- 15 ounce can coconut cream
  • 1- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
  • Frosting:
  • 1- 8 ounce package cream cheese softened
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon coconut extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 2 1/2 cups shredded sweetened coconut

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease and flour 2 - 9" cake pans.
  • In your mixer, combine all of the ingredients for the cake for about 30 seconds, then beat for 2 minutes.
  • Distribute evenly in each cake pan and bake for 30 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
  • Combine ingredients for cream and set aside.
  • While cakes are warm poke holes all over with a large fork or skewer.
  • Pour cream mixture over the top of the cakes.
  • Place in the refrigerator for about 5 hours, or overnight is even better.
  • To make the frosting, cream together cream cheese, sugar and extracts until smooth.
  • Then, with the whisk attachment, slowly add the whipping cream and whip until stiff peaks form.
  • To remove the cakes from their pans: This is a little tricky. I took a thin knife and ran it around the edge, and I sat the bottom of the pan in hot water for a minute or two, to loosen it up. I flipped it out onto a piece of waxed paper, then flipped it again onto my plate.
  • Top with bottom layer with a little frosting, and about 1/2 cup of coconut.
  • Place the second layer on top, frost, and top with remaining coconut.

Notes

  • 1. This cake would be super easy to make as a 9x13, so if you're not looking for the presentation of the layers, I would recommend it! If you are making in a 9x13 you wouldn't have to worry about removing the layers from the pans after the cream mixture is added, just frost and top with coconut, and you're done!!
  • 2. I got to thinking that every cake mix isn't the same, so the rule of thumb: Replace water with milk, add pudding of choice, add extract and leave the eggs and oil as per instructions on the box of cake mix!
  • 3. Start with about 3/4 of the cream mixture. If the cakes are too wet, it makes them hard to move and stack.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 528kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 331mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 47g
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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48 Comments

  5. My poke cakes never turn out this pretty 🙂 I am so jealous of your baking skills! This coconut cream poke cake with coconut whipped cream frosting looks SO GOOD!

    Reply

  7. Grampy and I love coconut and your cake looks and sounds just perfectly delicious. I’ve never make a poke cake but in this instance I can see how it would be just the thing to do. Thanks for sharing, I’ve pinned/shared.

    Joanne

    Reply

  9. I wanted to make a coconut cream cake for my step dad’s birthday but had never made one before. Came across your recipe and I knew this was the one to try! It’s all done, in the fridge waiting to be eaten tomorrow. Thanks for posting this!

    Reply

  10. Help! 🙂 trying to make this for my dad’s birthday! My icing seems to be too thin…never got the “stiff peaks”. Any way to correct this?

    Reply

    1. Kristen – Are you using a stand mixer or a hand mixer? It takes some time to get the peaks to form. The heaving whipping cream will form peaks after it’s whisked for a while. (be careful though, too long, and it turns to butter! 😉 lol — yes I have accidentally done that! )

  11. I found your recipe and printed a few weeks ago in order to make for my husband’s birthday over memorial weekend. He loves coconut cake. I had tried another recipe before and it flopped. So I was a bit intimated but I thought, I’m usually pretty good at cakes and frostings so I would give it a try. All I can say is the frosting is amazing and I usually prefer very heavy cream cheese or butter cream frosting. I did pull your ordinal recipe for just your whipped cream frosting. It gave more detail and tips than the one that was with the coconut poke cake recipe (I just substituted the extracts for the coconut poke cake frosting – added a little more coconut extract). I took the extra steps to make sure everything was cold. I used a metal bowel for mixing *After I mixed the cream cheese, sugar and extracts, I put the back into the refrigerator to chill since my cream cheese mixture was pretty warm to ensure that I got the lumps out. I also put my beater into the freezer for a while to get it really cold. After about thirty min., I added the whipping cream very slowly. It was perfect and easy to frost the cake. Wonderful cake and frosting. I also used your warm water trick to remove the cakes but I also put them back into the refrig for a while while I was making the frosting. I think the trick is making everything cold. I also only used about the half of the coconut creme mixture to pour over the pokes. Love this recipe. I look forward to seeing more.

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much for sharing with me! I am so happy that you have found a new recipe to love! I especially loved that you shared your tricks with me. My mom always told me to keep everything cold when making homemade whipped cream, that it always turns out better. I like to listen to my mom! 😉 I hope you visit often, Lori!

    2. We ate it last night for my husbands birthday. Best cake that I have ever made. I have a good Italian creme cake recipe that is good but your recipe is so much better. I look forward to trying some your other recipes.

    1. Pete, You could try it. I think you would be MUCH happier making as a layer cake though, the biggest reason is that yummy middle! Secondly, it might get too wet? If you try it and it works let me now. As far as the print button goes, this is an older recipe before I had my print button installed. I will have to update it. If you’re in a rush, simply copy and paste to a word doc and print. 🙂

    2. I have a nearly identical recipe that uses a 9×13 pan and it works great.
      How do you print out this recipe? I tried print command but it was not a good
      copy. I didn’t see a print button associated with the recipe. Thanks

    3. This was an older recipe of mine, before I had the recipe application. It’s fixed now!! Print away! 🙂

    1. Becky, the recipe is right here, above where you left the comment — Please Enjoy! 🙂

  18. I have made this three times. My family and friends are crazy for it. I just made one this morning for my son’s birthday.

    Reply
4.51 from 117 votes (117 ratings without comment)

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