Christmas Red Velvet Chocolate Poke Cake
This cake is DE-LI-CIOUS. It’s so easy to make, and look how gorgeous it is! You don’t even have to try to make this cake look beautiful – just follow a few simple steps and you have a lovely, delicious cake.
This cake is perfect for a crowd – it’ll pretty easily serve 16-20 people (with decent helpings – no stingy helpings on this cake! Merry Christmas to you & your family! I hope the season is full of blessings, joy, and gratitude for all of you!
Christmas Red Velvet Chocolate Poke Cake
yield: 16-20 SLICES prep time: 3 MINUTES cook time: 30 MINUTES inactive time: 4 HOURS 57 MINUTES total time: 5 HOURS 30 MINUTES
INGREDIENTS
FOR THE CAKE:
2.5 c all-purpose flour
1.5 c granulated sugar
2 tsp cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp white distilled vinegar
2 c vegetable oil
4 tsp food coloring*
3 eggs
1 c buttermilk**
1 tsp vanilla
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FOR THE CHOCOLATE SAUCE
14oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 c milk chocolate chips
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FOR THE FROSTING:
2 c heavy whipping cream
1/2 c powdered sugar
2 tsp baking cocoa
1 tsp vanilla
green food coloring
1/2 c mini chocolate chips
Christmas sprinkles
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat the oven to 350.
- Mix dry ingredients for cake (flour, granulated sugar, 2 tsp cocoa, soda, salt) together.
- In a separate bowl, mix the oil and eggs together, beating the eggs with a fork.
- Add eggs and oil to dry mixture and blend together (you can do this by hand, but I always do this with my stand mixer).
- Add buttermilk to the batter a little at a time, blending the batter between additions.
- Add food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla and mix until batter is well-blended.
- Pour into a greased 9x13 pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- While the cake is baking, pour sweetened condensed milk and 1 c milk chocolate chips into a small sauce pan. Place on stove over medium heat.
- Stirring regularly, allow the chocolate chips to melt in the sweetened condensed milk and stir regularly until the two create a chocolate sauce - just a few minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Once the cake comes out of the oven, allow it to cool for about 10-15 minutes. Use the handle of a wooden spoon (or something of similar diameter) to poke holes in the cake. Try to evenly space the holes and make sure you poke holes all the way to the edges of the cake.
- Pour the chocolate sauce all over the red velvet cake and spread with a spatula.
- Set cake aside and allow it to fully cool. Place it in the refrigerator until it chills (at least an hour or two, or even overnight).
- To make the frosting, add heavy cream, powdered sugar, 2 tsp cocoa, and vanilla into a bowl. Using a stand or a hand mixer, beat those ingredients until stiff peaks form in the cream - probably at least 5 minutes. Once your frosting has reached your desired consistency, drop in green food coloring and mix until you're pleased with the shade of green.
- Spread frosting evenly over top of chilled cake and sprinkle on chocolate chips and Christmas sprinkles. Serve immediately or return cake to the fridge and serve at a later time!