Creating Scrumptious Poke Cakes
Poke cakes are easy to prepare and totable—making them easy to bring to gatherings. The pockets created when poking the cake get filled with eye-catching and delicious fillings that infuse flavor into the cake—how can you miss? It’s fun to dive into a forkful of cake, finding the filling surprise. Pump up the flavor and textures of customized poke cakes with the fillings and toppings.
MAKE YOUR POKE MIXTURES PLAY HARD
Adding the right poke mixture to a cake can:
Infuse Flavor to excite your taste buds
Create Contrast with texture and color
Layer Lusciousness between the cake and the topping in one step
POKING PERFECTION
Depending on the texture of the cake and the filling, recipes have different instructions for when to poke and fill the holes in the cake. This is so each cake will have optimum textures for a yummy eating experience.
Poking Cake Too Soon: The cake texture condenses, making it gummy and less fluffy.
Filling Cake Too Soon: The cake becomes gummy or the filling melts.
If you’re not sure when to poke and fill, a good guideline is to cool the cake completely before poking and filling it.
THE SCIENCE OF THE POKE
Here’s how to choose which method for poking your cake. Poke holes about halfway down into the cake unless noted otherwise in a specific recipe.
Long-Tined Fork: Use for thinner mixtures, and poke the cake no more than every ½ inch so the mixture doesn’t make the cake too wet.
Wooden Spoon Handle: Use for thicker mixtures so you can get in more filling (and flavor) per bite. Poke holes about every 1 inch to keep the structure of the cake intact when filled and served.
LAYER UP
When creating a poke cake, think about adding layers of flavor and texture to create interest.
Double Duty: Use a thicker poke mixture and make enough of it to fill not only the holes but also to spread on top of the cake. Pudding or whipped cream–based mixtures work well.
Spread a Topping: Top the poke mixture with a thick layer of Sweetened Whipped Cream or frosting. You’ll want about 3 cups of Sweetened Whipped Cream or 1 container of frosting to make the layer thick enough.
Sprinkle on the Crunch: Add chopped nuts or seeds, dried bite-size pieces of fruit, crumbled cookies, chopped candy bars, mini chips, toffee bits or sprinkles to the poke mixture, or sprinkle them on top of the finished cake.
