TIRAMISU POKE CAKE!! VALENTINE'S DAY DESSERT IDEA!!

Since Valentine's day is coming up this weekend, I thought it would be fun to share a decadent and delicious dessert option that you can make for your sweetheart or your family. This Tiramisu poke cake is super simple. It uses pantry staples and is so deliciously inspired by one of my favorite special ocassion desserts, I just know you are going to love this! The coffee, cream and tangy taste of a traditional tiramisu, flipped into this inspired poke cake is near perfection! I mean, who doesn't love a poke cake? I know you are going to love this one!

First of all, if you are not familiar with a poke cake, let me enlighten you. To the best of my memory, I believe poke cakes came on the scene some time in the 70's. J-ello was a huge nostalgia brand and still is today. Instant pudding and flavored gelatin were all good things, along with frozen whipped topping you could make a dessert fit for a king that your family would love and nobody would refuse at a church potluck. Bake a cake, poke some holes in it and pour some not quite set mixed up instant pudding over that bad boy. Then refrigerate and top with a container of cool whip. what could be bad about that? Back then your choices for flavors of cake mix, pudding or gelatin were limited. Now they are vast with everything from your every day yellow and devil's food cake to more exotic strawberry or coconut options. No matter what you choose it's going to be good!

This particular poke cake is inspired by one of my top three desserts of all time, Tiramisu. It means "pick me up" in Italian and the traditional version requires the making of a cooked custard, lady fingers, espresso, simple syrup and a whipped marscapone cream on top. Very decadent and very delicious. But what if you could make this same flavor profile in an old fashioned poke cake? Well, I'm telling you this is amazing!

Start by baking your favorite boxed yellow cake mix in a 9x13 pan. I used Duncan Hines butter recipe yellow and made it with 1 cup of milk, 1 stick of softened butter and 4 eggs. This goes against the box instructions, but over time I have perfected this quick and easy pound cake version of a box mix. You should use what you have, what you love and follow the box instructions. The cake will serve as the base for the creamy filling and topping.

Once your cake is completely cooled, you will want to take the handle of a wooden spoon and poke several holes in your cake. I might add that I recommend that you give those holes a good swirl, to be sure that they are large enough. You can also use a boba straw instead of the spoon handle. this will push the cake out and leave a lovely sponge for the filling.

Mixing up the filling could not be easier. I started with 2 small boxes, 4 serving size each, of vanilla instant pudding. I added 1/4 cup of instant coffee granules. I like the Anthony's organic brand that I get from Amazon. Then I add 2 cups of milk and 2 cups of heavy cream. You can use all milk, or all half and half if you like. I enjoy the body and texture of the pudding using the cream or half and half and my mom always used this method to mimic homemade pastry cream without the fuss or work. Trust me here, it really is good! I used my electric mixer to whip this up just until blended and slightly thickened.

Get my favorite instant coffee here: https://amzn.to/3jK2QHS

Now you can slowly pour this mixture over your pokey cake. Use a spatula to get all that goodness down in those holes and pour as much as your pan will receive. You may end up with extra and you can just pour that into a container and allow it to set in the fridge. It is an amazing coffee creme'! Put your cake in the fridge while you make your topping.

The topping is made with cream cheese which replaces the more traditional and expensive marscarpone in Tiramisu. The cream cheese and heavy cream with just a touch of sugar are whipped up well until stiff peaks form then spread gently over the top of the slightly chilled cake. Don't worry if things bleed into each other, just get it nice and smooth then hit the top with a couple tablespoons of cocoa powder. TaDa! Tiramisu poke cake! Refrigerate for at least two hours and serve with abandon!

I hope you give this poke cake a try sometime soon and I hope you love it!

Happy eating!

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