Pumpkin Poke Cake

Active Time:
15 mins
Chill Time:
1 day 1 hr
Total Time:
1 day 1 hr 50 mins
Servings:
12

Ingredients
1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin purée

1 (15.25 oz.) box yellow cake mix

1/4 cup whole milk

1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 (8 oz.) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

Topping ideas: chopped pecans, caramel topping sauce, toffee bar pieces, cinnamon spice, walnuts, mini white chocolate chips, chocolate covered almond pieces, Mellowcreme Pumpkins, Halloween sprinkles

Directions
Prepare oven and baking dish:
Preheat the oven to 350°F, and spray a 9- x 13-in. glass baking dish with cooking spray.

Make cake batter:
In a medium bowl, stir together the yellow cake mix, pumpkin puree, and milk until well combined.

Southern Living Pumpkin Poke Cake mixing the batter
Jessica Furniss
Add batter to baking dish:
Using a spatula, spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish. This is a very thick batter, so be sure to spread it as evenly as possible.

Southern Living Pumpkin Poke Cake spreading the batter in the pan
Jessica Furniss
Bake cake:
Bake in preheated oven 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few crumbs attached. Allow the cake to cool in the dish on a cooling rack 10-15 minutes, until cooled slightly.

Make milk mixture:
While the cake is cooling, stir together the sweetened condensed milk and pumpkin pie spice.

Southern Living Pumpkin Poke Cake stirring together the sweetened condensed milk and pumpkin pie spice
Jessica Furniss
Poke holes:
Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes in the cake.

Southern Living Pumpkin Poke Cake poking the cake with the handle of a wooden spoon
Jessica Furniss
Pour milk mixture:
Pour the condensed milk mixture over the entire cake, taking special care to fill all the holes.

Southern Living Pumpkin Poke Cake drizzling the cake with the sweetened condensed milk mixture
Jessica Furniss
Cover and chill:
Cover and chill at least 3 hours, up to 24 hours. (A full 24 hours will give you the most moist, flavorful cake.)

Southern Living Pumpkin Poke Cake getting ready to chill the cake
Jessica Furniss
Add whipped topping:
Frost the cake with the whipped topping.

Southern Living Pumpkin Poke Cake frosting the cake with the whipped topping
Jessica Furniss
Add your toppings of choice. We used caramel sauce, toffee bar pieces, and chopped pecans.

Southern Living Pumpkin Poke Cake adding the toppings
Jessica Furniss
Chill:
Chill cake for at least 1 hour before serving. Store in the refrigerator, and eat within 3 days.

Southern Living Pumpkin Poke Cake cut and ready to serve
Jessica Furniss