Vegan Butterscotch Cinnamon Poke Cake

This vegan poke cake begins with a young cinnamon sheet cake crammed with gooey channels of butterscotch pudding, then will get topped with luscious dairy-free cream cheese frosting. It’s a decadent dessert that’s good for birthdays, holidays, or anytime you are feeling like treating your self!

For those who lived via the 80s, you in all probability loved a slice of poke cake at one level or one other. It was a well-liked dessert again then, and the concept is easy: bake a boxed cake combine in a 9 x 13 inch pan, poke holes in it, then pour prompt pudding or Jell-O excessive so it fills the holes, and end all of it off with frosting. Tremendous simple and enjoyable, in a really 80s processed-dessert type of approach.

Soar to:

I made a decision it was time to make a vegan poke cake. Generally we get fortunate and discover that veganized variations of outdated favorites grow to be a lot less complicated than the originals. This is not a kind of events — we’re making the whole lot from scratch. Nevertheless it’s so value it. This vegan poke cake is a few zillion occasions higher than the sort you in all probability grew up consuming!

This model begins with a cinnamon cake that is tremendous moist and flavorful. I tailored it from my vegan spice cake, however toned down the spices just a little as a result of this cake additionally will get crammed with my vegan butterscotch pudding and topped with vegan cream cheese frosting with a contact of cinnamon. It is type of like a cinnamon roll with cream cheese frosting. In cake kind. Oh, and with pudding. Sure, it is value it!

Elements You may Want

Under you will discover a record of components on this recipe, with notes and substitutions. Scroll all the way in which to the underside of the put up to see the total recipe, together with the quantity of every ingredient.

Flour. I’ve solely examined this recipe with all-purpose wheat flour, so I like to recommend sticking with that selection.
Sugar. A number of standard granulated sugars are processed utilizing animal bone char, so use natural sugar, which is processed in a different way, with out animal merchandise.
Cornstarch.
Spices. You may want just a little nutmeg and many cinnamon.
Baking powder.
Baking soda.
Salt.
Non-dairy milk. Use any unflavored and unsweetened selection that you just may drink, equivalent to almond milk, cashew milk, or oat milk. Learn my guide to dairy-free milk should you need assistance selecting.
Vegetable oil. Any impartial baking oil will work — corn oil, avocado oil, and canola oil are just some.
Brown sugar. Ensure that is additionally natural.
Maple syrup.
Vanilla extract.
Apple cider vinegar. Want another? Try my information to apple cider vinegar substitutes for baking.
Water.
Coconut milk. Use full-fat coconut milk from a can for the richest, creamiest pudding attainable.
Vegan butter. Search for this within the fridge case on the retailer, close to the common butter.
Whiskey. Completely optionally available! Nevertheless it does add some wealthy, genuine butterscotch taste.
Coloring. You’ll be able to add a yellow tint to your pudding with some yellow meals coloring or turmeric, however that is fully optionally available!
Vegan cream cheese. I like to recommend sticking with Tofutti model right here. It typically provides me the most effective and most constant outcomes.
Lemon juice. Non-obligatory, however it should improve the flavour of your frosting.
Powdered sugar. Similar to with the opposite sugars, be certain that that is natural.

How It is Made

Under is an in depth photograph tutorial on the right way to make this dish. Scroll all the way in which down if you would like to skip proper to the recipe!

Steps 1 & 2: Put together. Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F and greasing the within of a 9 x 13 inch baking pan.

Dry ingredients for cake in a mixing bowl with wire whisk.

Step 3: Mix dry components. Whisk collectively your flour, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a big mixing bowl.

Wet ingredients for cake in a liquid measuring cup with spoon.

Step 4: Mix moist components. In a separate container, stir collectively the milk, oil, brown sugar, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and apple cider vinegar.

Cake batter in a mixing bowl with wooden spoon.

Step 5: Combine the batter. Pour the moist combination into the dry combination, then stir till the components are mixed and kind a batter. It does not must get completely easy.

Steps 6 & 7: Pour and bake. Pour the batter into your ready baking pan, then pop it into the oven for about 24 to 26 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the middle ought to come out clear when it is achieved.

Step 8: Cool. Let the cake cool fully on a cooling rack.

Brown sugar and water simmering in a pot.

Steps 9 & 10: Start the pudding. First, stir some cornstarch and chilled non-dairy milk collectively in a small container. Subsequent, whisk collectively the brown sugar, salt, and water in a saucepan. Deliver it to a simmer, scale back the warmth, and let it prepare dinner for about 5 minutes. No stirring!

Vegan butterscotch pudding in a pot with wire whisk.

Steps 11 & 12: End the pudding. Now, whisk within the coconut milk, then the cornstarch combination. Deliver the pudding again to a simmer and let it prepare dinner till it thickens. Take away the pot from warmth, then add the vegan butter, whiskey (if utilizing), vanilla, and coloring (if utilizing).

Step 13: Cool. Give the pudding an occasional whisk to stop a pores and skin from forming because it cools. You wish to get it to a barely heat temperature. It’s going to thicken an excessive amount of should you let it cool fully.

Hand with wooden spoon poking holes in a cake.

Step 14: Poke. Use a utensil with a thick deal with, like a wood spoon, to poke holes in your cake. Area them about an inch or barely additional. We have a lot of pudding, so you will need a lot of holes!

Rectangular cake covered with a layer of butterscotch pudding.

Step 15: Add pudding. Pour the pudding over your cake, then unfold it out, ensuring to get it in all these holes. You may find yourself with a skinny layer on high. Chill the cake for two hours to set the pudding.

Vegan cinnamon cream cheese frosting in a mixing bowl with electric mixer and spatula.

Steps 16 & 17: Make the frosting. Begin by beating chilly vegan cream cheese with room-temperature vegan butter. Add the lemon juice (if utilizing), vanilla, and cinnamon, then start beating within the powdered sugar, including a bit at a time till the frosting is thick and creamy.

Slice of vegan poke cake on a dish with a bite resting on a fork.

Steps 18 & 19: Frost and serve. Slather the frosting over your cake, being light to not disturb the highest layer of pudding. Pop the cake into the fridge or serve it immediately — simply slice and luxuriate in!

Variations

Shortcuts. Be happy to exchange any portion of this recipe — cake, pudding, or frosting — with a store-bought model. For those who substitute the pudding, be certain that it is about as thick as that basic prompt Jell-O pudding.
Flip up the spices. Add warming spices to the cake batter, equivalent to ginger, cloves, cardamom, and allspice.
Frosting swaps. Not into cream cheese frosting? Do that recipe with my vegan chocolate frosting or vegan buttercream frosting.
Stir-ins. Conserving in thoughts that this cake already has so much happening, you are welcome so as to add stir-ins to the batter, equivalent to vegan chocolate chips or nuts.

Often Requested Questions

Can this cake be made gluten-free?

I have not tried, so I am unable to say for positive. If you would like to take a crack at it, attempt utilizing an all-purpose gluten-free flour mix, and make sure to let me know the way it seems!

Can this recipe be made with out alcohol?

Completely! Simply skip the whiskey. No want to exchange it with something.

Can I make this cake in a distinct sort of pan?

I do not suggest it. A 9 x 13 inch pan is admittedly the one sort that provides you with a pleasant huge flat cake that can take up a lot of pudding.

How ought to I retailer this cake and the way lengthy will it preserve?

Retailer your vegan poke cake within the unique baking pan, lined tightly in plastic. It is going to preserve for 3 to 4 days within the fridge.

Extra Spiced Vegan Cake Recipes

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Recipe

Slice of vegan poke cake on a dish with fork.

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Prep Time 30

Cook dinner Time 35

Chilling Time 2

Complete Time 3 5

Elements

For the Cake

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup natural granulated sugar
¼ cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon floor cinnamon
¼ teaspoon floor nutmeg
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 ¼ cups unflavored and unsweetened non-dairy milk
⅔ cup vegetable oil
½ cup natural brown sugar
¼ cup maple syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

For the Pudding

1 ½ cups unflavored and unsweetened non-dairy milk, chilled
¼ cup cornstarch
⅔ cup natural brown sugar
½ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons water
1 cup full-fat coconut milk
3 tablespoons vegan butter
2 tablespoons whiskey, optionally available
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Yellow meals colour or turmeric, optionally available

For the Frosting

8 ounces vegan cream cheese (Tofutti model works finest), chilled
½ cup vegan butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon floor cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon juice, optionally available
Pinch salt
4 ¼ cups natural powdered sugar, plus extra as wanted (as much as 5 ½ cups)

Directions

To make the cake, first preheat the oven to 350°F.
Grease the within of a 9 x 13 inch baking pan.
Whisk the flour, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, and salt collectively in a big mixing bowl.
Stir the milk, oil, brown sugar, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and apple cider vinegar collectively in a small container or bowl.
Add the milk combination to the bowl containing the flour combination. Stir till the mixtures are mixed and a comparatively easy batter is fashioned. It does not must be good — a couple of lumps are high quality.
Pour the batter into the baking dish.
Bake the cake for twenty-four to 26 minutes, or till a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clear.
Place the cake on a cooling rack and let it cool within the pan.
Make the pudding whereas the cake cools. Whisk the non-dairy milk and cornstarch collectively in a small bowl or liquid measuring cup. Set the combination apart.
Whisk the brown sugar, salt, and water collectively in a medium saucepan. Place the saucepan over medium warmth and produce the combination to a simmer. Decrease the warmth if wanted and let it simmer, uncovered and with out stirring, for five minutes.
Whisk within the coconut milk, adopted by the cornstarch combination. Deliver the whole lot again as much as a simmer and let it prepare dinner, whisking steadily, for a minute or two, till it thickens up.
Take away the pot from warmth and whisk within the butter, whiskey, vanilla, and meals coloring or turmeric, if utilizing.
Let the pudding cool till only a bit heat. The pudding will thicken because it cools, and also you need it to stay barely on the runny facet whenever you add it to the cake. You’ll be able to pace up cooling by putting the pot in a chilly water bathtub, if desired. Give it an occasional whisk or stir to stop a pores and skin from forming because it cools.
Use a big mixing spoon to poke holes within the cake, spacing them about 1 to 1 ½ inches aside. This recipe consists of lots of pudding, so that you need loads of holes.
Pour the pudding over the cake, spreading it out evenly so it fills the holes. You may find yourself with some further pudding on high of the cake. Unfold it out into a fair layer. Chill the cake till the pudding feels set, at the very least 2 hours.
To make the frosting, first use an electrical mixer on excessive pace to beat the cream cheese and vegan butter collectively in a big mixing bowl, till creamy. Beat within the cinnamon, vanilla, lemon juice (if utilizing), and salt.
Start beating within the powdered sugar at low pace, including about 1 cup at a time till the frosting reaches your required consistency.
Unfold the frosting over the cake. The pudding layer on high must be set sufficient that you are able to do this with out it combining with the frosting, so long as you’re light.
Cowl and chill the cake till able to serve, then slice and luxuriate in.