Pumpkin Poke Cake - seriously delicious! Yellow Cake, pumpkin, pumpkin spice, caramel sauce, sweetened condensed milk, toffee bits, and cool whip. Even pumpkin haters LOVE this easy cake! Great for all your Fall get-togethers. A real crowd pleaser!
1box yellow cake mix,plus ingredients to make the cake
1cuppumpkin puree
1tsppumpkin spice
1(12.25-oz)jar caramel ice cream topping
1(14-oz)can sweetened condensed milk
1cupHeath toffee bits
1(8-oz)tub Cool Whip
Instructions:
Prepare cake mix according to package directions. Stir in pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice. Bake cake in a 9x13-inch pan according to direction on the package.
While the cake is baking, mix condensed milk and caramel topping until well blended. When the cake is done and while it's still hot, poke holes in it with a fork, straw, or end of a wooden spoon. Pour milk mixture over the cake. Allow cake to cool completely.
Sprinkle half of the Heath bits over cake. Spread Cool Whip over the top, then sprinkle the remaining Heath bits on top. Drizzle cake with more caramel sauce, if desired
Chill for at least 4 hours to overnight.
Notes:
Can use any flavor cake mix you prefer. Yellow, Butter pecan, spice cake mix all work great.
Make sure to use pureed pumpkin and NOT pumpkin pie filling.
I don’t have pumpkin pie spice. What can I use instead? Pumpkin spice is a combination of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves.
Here is what I use for my homemade pumpkin spice mix: 2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp ginger ½ tsp nutmeg, ½ tsp allspice, and ¼ tsp cloves. Feel free to mix up the amounts according to your personal preference.
Variations/Additions:
pecans
walnuts
chocolate chips
Can I make Pumpkin Poke Cake in advance? Yes. The cake actually tastes better if you make it a day in advance and store it in the refrigerator. That gives the flavors time to meld together.
Can use low-fat or fat-free Cool Whip.
Feel free to substitute homemade whipped cream for the whipped topping.
I use a jar of Smuckers caramel ice cream topping.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.