Skim by Section
★ Why You'll Love this Recipe ★
All the Flavor of Tiramisu — Way Easier
You get the cozy flavor of classic tiramisu without all the layering and fuss. No fancy techniques or complicated steps here — just an easy poke cake that tastes impressive enough for holidays, parties, or weekend dessert cravings.
Thick Coffee Syrup in Every Bite
This tiramisu poke cake gets soaked with a rich coffee syrup that infuses into every bite of cake. It makes the texture incredibly soft and moist without turning mushy or soggy. The cake holds together beautifully while still giving you that creamy, coffeehouse-style tiramisu vibe.
Light and Creamy Whipped Mascarpone Topping
Instead of a heavy frosting, this cake is topped with a fluffy whipped mascarpone layer that feels light, smooth, and perfectly balanced with the bold coffee flavor underneath. It’s creamy and dreamy without being overly rich.
Perfect Make-Ahead Dessert
This cake actually gets even better after chilling, making it perfect for prepping ahead of time. Dust the top with cocoa powder right before serving and you’ve got a simple dessert that looks bakery-worthy with very little effort.
★ Ingredients You'll Need ★
Here's a look at everything you'll need to make this easy yet sophisticated dessert.
- Yellow cake mix. White cake mix can also be used.
- Water, Oil and Eggs to complete the cake batter
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Strong cold brewed coffee or espresso.
- Mascarpone cheese — softened to room temperature
- Cool Whip — thawed
- Cocoa powder — for dusting the top of the cake. Shaved chocolate could also be used.
Optional garnish ideas:
- Chocolate shavings. Use a peeler for lager curls of chocolate or a grated for smaller pieces.
- Ladyfinger cookies can be layered on top for looks and as a nod to the classic Tiramisu dessert.
- Chocolate-covered espresso beans. A couple can be added to each slice for an individual serving.
★ How to Make this Recipe ★
Here's a look how this poke cake comes together, step-by-step:
- Make cake batter and pour into greased pan and bake.
- Poke cooled cake.
- Mix coffee ingredients to make syrup. Pour over cake.
- Mix together whipped topping ingredients. Spread over cake.
- Sprinkle cocoa powder over top of cake.
- Cover and chill until ready to serve or serve right away.
★ Tips & FAQs ★
Yes! This cake is actually better after chilling for a few hours because the coffee syrup has time to soak into the cake and the flavors blend together beautifully.
It has a rich coffee flavor similar to classic tiramisu, but the creamy whipped mascarpone topping balances it out so it’s not overpowering.
No — the thicken coffee syrup keeps the cake soft and moist without making it mushy. The texture stays fluffy while still soaking up all that delicious flavor.
Yes, you can substitute stabilized homemade whipped cream if preferred. Just make sure it’s whipped firmly enough to hold up after chilling.
Cover the cake tightly and store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For the freshest look, add the cocoa powder dusting right before serving.
★ More Easy Cake Mix Recipes ★
Browse all my easy cake mix recipes.
Tiramisu Poke Cake
Equipment
- chop stick or use a straw or clean finger to poke holes
Ingredients
- 15.25 oz yellow cake mix
- 1 cup water or milk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 3 eggs
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup strong coffee
- 8 oz mascarpone cheese room temperature
- 8 oz Cool Whip thawed
- 2 tablespoon cocoa powder
Mighty Mrs. is a #WalmartPartner.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 13 baking pan with nonstick spray.
- In medium bowl, beat together cake mix, water, oil, and eggs for 2 minutes. Pour batter into the pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Remove cake from oven and using a chopstick or a straw, poke holes all over the cake.
- In a medium mixing bowl, stir together sweetened condensed milk and coffee. Pour mixture over the cake, filling all the holes and covering the whole cake.
- Chill cake in the refrigerator for 1 hour to allow coffee mixture to absorb into the cake.
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat mascarpone cheese until light and fluffy then fold in the Cool Whip. Spread whipped mixture over top of the cake, then sprinkle with cocoa powder. Slice and serve or cover and chill until ready to serve.
Notes
- The best way to get clean cuts is to wipe the blade of the knife between each slice.
- You can brew your own espresso or strong coffee and chill it.
- Cool Whip – Choose from original, low-fat, or zero sugar options.
- For more rich cake, milk can be used in place of water for the batter.
Leave a Reply