This Red Velvet Poke Cake with a cream cheese syrup filling & topped with the best ever cream cheese buttercream is even better than the original.

If you love red velvet you are in for a treat with this easy poke cake. It’s so moist and rich with a decadent cream cheese filling and frosting. Use your favorite boxed mix to make it easy and watch it disappear when you serve it.

photo of a slice of cake

I wasn’t a big red velvet cake fan until I married my husband. His mom makes a killer one! I never really knew that red velvet had chocolate in it until I made my own for the first time and now I am a fan. Add chocolate to anything and I will love it.

The only thing that makes a regular red velvet cake better is to turn it into a poke cake. If you’ve never made one it’s just a simple way to dress up a cake with a filling, in this case, a rich cream cheese syrup is poured over the top so it oozes inside creating a delicious filling.

And the frosting. Every cake needs it, right? So, we’re adding a rich swath of cream cheese frosting on top to complement the filling. 

overhead photo of a red velvet cake in a pan with slices being removes

This red velvet poke cake is so amazing. Rich, moist, and creamy. Many poke cakes are made with just a sweetened condensed milk filling, so you should know the cream cheese filling I use elevates it to platinum level status. It’s so hard to resist.

overhead photo of a baked red velvet cake

How do you make Easy Red Velvet Poke Cake?

  • You can use your favorite recipe, or to make it easy to use a box mix. Follow the directions on the box using a 9×13 pan.
  • Once baked, let it cool, then poke holes in it. I prefer to use the end of a spatula to make even holes. Set aside while you make the cream cheese syrup.
photo of cake with holes poked in it
It’s so easy to make the filling:
  • In a small mixing bowl beat, by hand, cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk, and almond extract for 1-2 minutes.
  • Drizzle over the holes. Use a spatula to spread over the holes evenly. If there is any extra or a pool of frosting, continue to spread the filling until it is all absorbed into the holes. Chill in the fridge, while you make the buttercream frosting.

photo of the filling being spread over the cake

For the amazing cream cheese frosting:

  • Using an electric mixer, handheld or stand, beat butter on medium speed until creamy. Add cream cheese and almond extract; beat until well combined and no chunks.
  • Increase mixer speed to high and continue to beat until the frosting is light and fluffy, scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  • Slowly, 1/2 cup at a time, add 4 cups powdered sugar, beating on low speed until well incorporated. Beat on high speed until smooth and light.
  • Remove cake from the fridge. Frost and serve immediately, or cover and set in fridge until ready to serve.

overhead photo of the frosted cake

A Few Recipe Tips

  • If you’re not a fan of almond, you can substitute the same amount of vanilla extract.
  • If your filling is thick after you mix it you can thin it with a tablespoon or two of milk. Or, if needed, you can warm it up in the microwave. 
  • You can make the cake day in advance, tightly wrap it and keep it in the refrigerator. When I make it ahead I wait to frost it before I serve it.
  • Leftovers should be kept in the refrigerator. They will keep well for two to three days.

Kids Review – Jordan, my 8-year-old daughter, declared this is her “most favorite cake ever!” There wasn’t one complaint or suggestion.

Try this decadent dessert today, you will not be left disappointed.
Enjoy! XOXO San

photo of a slice of cake on a plate

Looking for more red velvet recipes? Try these: Red Velvet Cake PopcornRed Velvet Donut Holes, Easy Red Velvet Fudge, and the kids’ favorite Fudge Brownie Red Velvet No-Bake Cheesecake.

Don’t forget to pin this to your favorite Pinterest board to save for later!

 Easy Red Velvet Poke Cake pinterest image

Easy Red Velvet Poke Cake

Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
Servings: 12 -16
Calories: 605 kcal
This Red Velvet Poke Cake with a cream cheese syrup filling & topped with the best ever cream cheese buttercream is even better than the original cake.
photo of a slice of cake on a plate

Ingredients
 

  • 1 box red velvet cake mix follow package directions

Cream Cheese Syrup

  • 8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk (add an extra tbsp if it is too thick to drizzle)
  • 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract

Best Ever Cream Cheese Buttercream

  • 1 cup butter softened
  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
  • 4-4 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions
 

Red Velvet Cake

  • You can make your own red velvet cake recipe, or to make it easy use a box mix. Follow the directions on the box using a 9x13 pan. 
  • Once baked, let it cool, then poke holes in cake, I prefer to use the end of a spatula to make even holes. Set aside while you make the cream cheese syrup.

Cream Cheese Syrup

  • In a small mixing bowl beat, by hand, cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk, and almond extract for 1-2 minutes.
  • Drizzle over the holes of the cake. Use a spatula to spread over the holes evenly. If there is any extra or a pool of frosting, continue to spread the filling until it is all absorbed into the holes. Chill in the fridge, while you make the buttercream frosting.

Best Ever Cream Cheese Buttercream

  • Using an electric mixer, handheld or stand, beat butter on medium speed until creamy. Add cream cheese and almond extract; beat until well combined and no chunks.
  • Increase mixer speed to high and continue to beat until the frosting is light and fluffy, scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  • Slowly, 1/2 cup at a time, add 4 cups powdered sugar, beating on low speed until well incorporated. Beat on high speed until smooth and light.
  • Remove cake from fridge. Frost and serve immediately, or cover and set in fridge until ready to serve.

Notes

Cream Cheese Buttercream adapted from Wicked Good Kitchen Cream Cheese Syrup adapted from Brunch Time Baker
Calories: 605kcalCarbohydrates: 86gProtein: 6gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 65mgSodium: 628mgPotassium: 267mgSugar: 72gVitamin A: 720IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 154mgIron: 1.7mg
photo of a slice of cake on a plate
Tried this recipe?Let us know what you think!

 

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32 Comments

  1. Hi San! Thanks so much for stopping by the Wednesday Roundup! This awesome post is being featured this week! Come on by and grab a featured button! I’ve also pinned this to our Link Party Pinterest board!

    1. Thanks girl, I am remote and can’t link up but will tomorrow. I SO appreciate the feature!!! xo San

  2. This looks amazing !
    Could I make this into cupcakes?
    I need something stunning( in cupcake form) for a baby shower and this looks perfect….
    Please advise.
    Thank You.

    1. I have never tried cupcakes, but I think it would be lovely!!! Yes you could. Oh, can’t wait to hear how they turn out!!! xo San

  3. Just a follow up:
    I made these in cupcake form for a baby shower. Normally don’t ever use a first time recipe for strangers, in case it all goes wrong. Should never worried. I just poked the cream cheese syrup into each cupcake using a squeeze bottle. YUMMY ! Turned out beautifully and they tasted as good as they looked. A huge hit. Thank you for making me look so good 🙂

  4. Just wondering if I could stiffin the icing somehow to be able to make it crust, any ideas? I was thinking of using this recipe for my step-daughters 16th bday cake with some modeling chocolate decorations like zebra stripes and bows etc. It looks so yummy, I am so tempted to experiment. Want the cake to taste as good as it looks.

    1. Justina – Have you tried this out yet? I would make a butter cream if you want to have a stiffer icing but that takes away from the red velvet – I think. But my mother-in-law makes a red velvet with buttercream and it still taste wonderful. Let me know what you end up doing. xo San

  5. I don’t like almond extract will it taste ok to use vanilla? Can’t wait to make this for my kids Valentine school party!!

  6. Hey Sandra! I was wondering if you had a recipe for Red Velvet Cake? My oldest LOVES red velvet and I would love to find a great recipe! I made your German Chocolate cake and it was a HUGE hit! Great recipe! Thanks

  7. This Cake was a hit..Made it for Mothers Day for a family Affair,Can’t wait to make it again..
    Oh and but the way…It was soooooooo Good.

  8. The frosting was amazing, but the syrup was too thick and sat on top of the cake instead of getting absorbed. It didn’t taste like a poke cake.

    1. The thickness of the syrup didn’t seep into the cake for me even after adding more milk. Like you, Linda, it just sat atop the cake. It was still tasty, but the poke was not present.

  9. Hi! I’ve made your Red Velvet Poke Cake a couple times, huge hit with my co-workers. However, the cream cheese syrup for me has been more like loose peanut butter consistency; not something I can “drizzle’ in the holes. Any suggestions? I followed the recipe except for vanilla instead of almond. But my ‘syrup’ is too thick to drizzle. Thanks!

    1. I would suggest adding another tbsp of milk until you reach the right consistency! It definitely varies time to time but that should definitely help. Be sure you use cream cheese that’s at room temp. If you don’t have the time to soften it completely then pop it in the microwave for a couple seconds like Kayla suggested. I’m glad you like it despite it being so thick!

  10. 1 star
    This cake was so overwhelmingly almond-ey it completely took away from the true taste of red velvet cake including the icing.. Vanilla extract would have complimented the taste much better. Ended up throwing this away. Very upsetting.

    1. I’m so sorry you didn’t like the almond extract in the recipe! The kids LOVE almond flavor especially with the chocolate cake so we’re used to adding more. You can definitely adjust it to your preference and use less almond or sub it for vanilla extract next time!

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