Cherry Coke Poke Cake

This Coke Cake is an ooey-gooey-moist-and-sweet cake recipe that has a cherry coca cola cake taste. It’s a basic chocolate cake mix but I upgraded it by substituting Cherry Coke for the water in the recipe. 

Unlike traditional Coke Cakes that use a thick icing, this ‘Poke Cake’ style ensures that the soda flavor is infused throughout the entire dessert. By pouring a mixture of Cherry Coke and chocolate ganache into the holes, you are effectively creating internal pockets of moisture that prevent the cake from drying out, even after several days in the fridge.

Essential Ingredient Tips for Coke Cake

• The secret to a professional-style Coke Cake is the fizz. The carbonation in the soda acts as a secondary leavening agent, working alongside the baking powder in your mix to create a lighter, fluffier crumb. This is why it is essential to use a freshly opened can of Cherry Coke; flat soda will lead to a dense, gummy cake that lacks that signature airy lift.
• Chocolate Cake Mix is the base of the cake recipe. Use a regular 15-ounce box, any brand, any kind of chocolate flavor.
• For the cake soak we will use Sweetened condensed milk. Fat-free condensed milk works just fine, just be sure it’s condensed milk not evaporated milk.
• Use my 5-minute hot fudge recipe for the poke as well.
• I made the Cherry Pie Filling easily from scratch but you can use a 20 ounce can from the store.
• Use any kind of Cool Whip, Whipped Topping, or even Homemade Whipped Cream or Whipped Cream Frosting for the topping. This is a lighter than normal frosting because of the soak – you don’t need a heavy buttercream since the cake is soaked with the hot fudge mixture.

How to make Chocolate Coke Cake Step-by-Step

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Mix all cake ingredients in a large bowl until smooth. 
2. Pour into a 9×13-inch baking pan. Bake for 25-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool your cake to room temperature before pouring in any mixtures.
3. Stir together sweetened condensed milk and half of the Cherry Coke.
4. Heat up your hot fudge until liquid (but not too hot!) then stir in the remaining Cherry Coke into the hot fudge liquid.
5. Poke several holes in the top of your cooled cake. I used the handle of my wooden spoon to do this.
6. Pour your mixtures evenly over the top of your cooled cake. Starting with the sweetened condensed milk mixture followed by the fudge mixture. Make sure you get them in all of the poked holes. 
7. Spread cherry pie filling and Cool Whip evenly over the cake
8. Chill the frosted cake with plastic wrap for at least 4 hours