This delicious coconut poke cake is the best! It’s easy to make, filled with incredible flavors and the perfect texture — you’ll love it!
I’m so excited to share our Caribbean Princess cruise trip with you in partnership with Princess Cruises.
This classic coconut poke cake is a favorite homemade recipe in our family. It reminds me of the island desserts we enjoyed while traveling. Be sure to check out my favorite key lime pie recipe, too.
Today’s award-winning dessert is an old-fashioned poke cake straight from my Southern Nannie’s recipe box.
It’s so easy to make from scratch and delivers the best, moist flavor. It’s impressive how quick and simple it is, yet its flavor is so delicious.
Coconuts always remind me of island time, and with this coconut poke cake recipe, I’m transported back to a magical vacation day.
Earlier this year, Steve and I had the chance to escape from daily reality for an amazing cruise vacation.
We love to travel and visit new places together. There are few things as exciting to me as trying out new food and having new adventures. There is so much to do on a Caribbean cruise after all!
This is especially true after a long, cold winter! The opportunity to bask in the sunshine together was incredible.
Our entire trip was packed with experiences, big and little. I’m thrilled to bring you along for a glimpse of the magical moments we enjoyed.
Psst, you’ll also want to check out my tips for what to pack for a Caribbean cruise.
Our second port stop was Roatan, Honduras. After leaving the ship, we were greeted by a cluster of shops and a group of singers. I could have stood and danced all day along with their drum beat. The music was intoxicating.
We did some shopping, then headed to the coast to take a trip in glass bottom kayaks. The water was beautiful and cool. It was so fun to see the water through the glass bottoms of the kayaks. In my many kayak adventures, that was a first for me!
After kayaking, we sat in the shade to eat dessert. I am positive dessert is better on vacation. 😉
When we returned home, I couldn’t wait to try this classic recipe from my Nannie. She’s Southern and her homemade dessert recipes are the best. This old fashioned coconut poke cake is no exception.
What is a Poke Cake?
It’s pretty straightforward: it’s a cake that you poke holes into while it’s still hot after baking. The holes are then filled with a liquid or filling — like condensed milk, pureed fruit, chocolate cream, or pudding. It makes each bite moist and delicious.
Coconut Poke Cake Ingredients
To make this coconut poke cake recipe from scratch, you’ll need to gather a few things. After that, it’s simple and quick to bake!
- 1 box yellow cake mix with pudding
- 2 cups shredded coconut
- 15 ounce can cream of coconut milk
- 16 ounces Cool Whip
This sweet poke cake needs only four basic ingredients to create its impressive flavor!
We use yellow cake mix but I’ve seen some recipes call for white cake mix. I haven’t tried it that way, so I’m not sure how much it would change the taste.
I love the coconut milk in this recipe – most poke cakes are made with sweetened condensed milk. I think this version offers another layer of yummy flavors!
I love the single layer of Cool Whip on top – I think it’s so creamy and tasty. I’ve also seen recipes with cream cheese frosting. I’m sure that would be good, too. I think this whipped version helps make the poke cake light and fluffy.
You could also add in crushed pineapple if you’d like to try that.
How to Bake Coconut Poke Cake
This poke cake is a breeze to put together. Grab a 9×13 pan and bake the cake mix as directed on the box, but also add 1 cup of shredded coconut.
How to Make Coconut Poke Cake
Remove from the oven and while it’s still warm, use a large meat fork to pokes holes evenly throughout the cake.
Next, pour the cream of coconut milk across the cake, so it seeps down into the holes. Allow to cool.
Then, mix the remaining cup of shredded coconut with the 16 ounces of Cool Whip and use to frost the cake.
How to Store Coconut Poke Cake
If you are able to practice self-control and not devour every last morsel of this coconut poke cake immediately, you’ll want to store it covered in the fridge until you’re ready to serve again.
Since it’s so easy to make, this is an ideal dessert to serve to guests that pop over or take along to a summertime potluck.
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Dirty Rice
- Pineapple Dream Dessert
- Butter Pecan Crunch
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Lasagna
- Oreo Pie
- Lemon Lush
- Jello Poke Cake
I’m confident you’ll agree this award-winning homemade coconut poke cake is a new favorite dessert — you might even be able to taste the islands hidden inside. 😉
Coconut Poke Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix with pudding
- 2 cups shredded coconut
- 15 ounce can cream of coconut milk
- 16 ounces Cool Whip
Instructions
- Bake the cake mix according to box directions but also add 1 cup of shredded coconut.
- Remove from the oven and while it's still warm, use a large meat fork to pokes holes evenly throughout the cake.
- Pour the cream of coconut milk across the cake, so it seeps down into the holes. Allow to cool.
- Mix the remaining cup of shredded coconut with the 16 ounces of Cool Whip and use to frost the cake.
Video
Nutrition
Delicious!!! Such an amazing cake perfect for the warmer months.
This is definitely a great summertime treat. Your vacation looks amazing too. Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty
Is a can of cream of coconut milk the same as a can of coconut milk?
They’re actually two different things 🙂