Cannoli Poke Cake Recipe | Moist Vanilla Cake Recipe (2024)

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This Cannoli Poke Cake is a lovely vanilla cake soaked with sweetened condensed milk and covered in sweet cannoli filling. It’s a moist, indulgent dessert that will rock your socks off!

Cannoli Poke Cake Recipe | Moist Vanilla Cake Recipe (1)

Cannoli Poke Cake Recipe | Moist Vanilla Cake Recipe (2)

Cannoli Poke Cake

Can you believe I’ve never made a poke cake before? I’ve been wanting to for forever, but never quite got around to it. Until now. And boy have I been missing out! This Cannoli Poke Cake is super easy to make and SO tasty!

If you don’t know much about poke cakes, they are basically a cake that’s baked, covered in sweetened condensed milk which soaks up into the cake, making it incredibly moist, and then usually topped with some kind of whipped topping. There are a ton of variations out there. The sky is the limit!

Cannoli Poke Cake Recipe | Moist Vanilla Cake Recipe (3)

A friend requested something “cannoli flavored” for her husband’s birthday a while ago and since I’ve been wanting to make a poke cake for so long, it just popped into my head and I knew I had to do it!

There are so many ways to make cannoli’s – particularly the filling – and when done right, they are absolutely delicious!

The filling really is the best part – and that’s exactly what this cake is covered in. Get pumped!

Cannoli Poke Cake Recipe | Moist Vanilla Cake Recipe (4)

The cannoli filling “icing” on this cake is one of those things that you just cannot get your finger out of. I was lucky any of it made it onto the cake.

And my small group felt exactly the same way! They were basically licking the sides of the pan where the topping was left behind – using their finger of course. So stinkin’ good.

Cannoli Poke Cake Recipe | Moist Vanilla Cake Recipe (5)

One thing I did a little differently with this poke cake is that I didn’t use an entire can of sweetened condensed milk when pouring it over the cake. I didn’t want to the cake to be too soggy, but I wanted it to have the moist-ness and delicious-ness that the sweetened condensed milk gives.

But since it didn’t all go into the cake, and I hate wasting things, I put it into the cannoli filling.

Best. Decision. Ever.

It sweetened the topping up just enough and made it even harder to resist. Pure deliciousness.

Cannoli Poke Cake Recipe | Moist Vanilla Cake Recipe (6)

Have you seen my Baklava Poke Cake? Or my Cannoli Icebox Cake? So yummy!

Update 6/10/14: One thing to note about the topping on this cake is that it is not like a traditional icing. It is meant to be more like cannoli filling. The texture is kind of like whipped cream at the soft peak stage. If you’d prefer it to be thicker, you can do one or both of these two things – leave the sweetened condensed milk out of the topping (as it thins it out a bit) and/or add up to about 3 cups of powdered sugar (which would thicken it). I chose to leave it thinner so that I didn’t dilute the cannoli flavor from the cheeses – I love that flavor! And though it’s thinner, it’s still plenty thick to be on top of the cake. I’ve made this cake a couple of times and it has sat out at parties and the icing stays in place. So it isn’t so thin that it runs or anything, it’s just not a traditional icing. I hope that helps, as I know many have been surprised the fact that it isn’t thicker.

You might also like

Cannoli Layer Cake
Cannoli Cheesecake
Cannoli Tart
Cannoli Icebox Cake
Baklava Poke Cake
Cannoli Stuffed French Toast

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Cannoli Poke Cake Recipe | Moist Vanilla Cake Recipe (7)

Recipe

Cannoli Poke Cake

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 16 reviews

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: Box Directions
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 15-18 Servings
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

This Cannoli Poke Cake is a lovely vanilla cake soaked with sweetened condensed milk and covered in sweet cannoli filling. It’s a moist, indulgent dessert that will rock your socks off!

Ingredients

  • 1 box white cake mix, plus ingredients on box
  • 1 14 oz cans sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
  • 1 1/2 cups mascarpone cheese
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon, optional
  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
  • powdered sugar, for dusting

Instructions

  1. Bake cake according to directions on box for a 9×13 pan.
  2. Remove cake from the oven and poke holes all over the top of the cake. (I used a straw)
  3. Reserve half a cup of sweetened condensed milk and pour the rest of the sweetened condensed milk over the cake.
  4. Put cake in refrigerator for about an hour to absorb milk.
  5. Combine ricotta cheese, mascarpone cheese and vanilla extract in a mixer bowl. Mix until smooth.
  6. Add powdered sugar and cinnamon, if using and mix until combined.
  7. Add reserved sweetened condensed milk and mix until combined.
  8. Once cake has absorbed milk, spread cannoli topping evenly over cake.
  9. Top with mini chocolate chips and a sprinkling of powdered sugar.
  10. Cover cake and allow to set in refrigerator for 2-3 hours. Cake should keep for 4-5 days.

Notes

Do consider straining the ricotta before using, especially if it’s a particularly watery brand. Also, when mixing together the ricotta and mascarpone cheese, DO NOT over mix it. If mascarpone cheese is over mixed, it becomes very thin.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Slice
  • Calories: 429
  • Sugar: 28.5 g
  • Sodium: 144.5 mg
  • Fat: 22.7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 50.6 g
  • Protein: 8.3 g
  • Cholesterol: 75.7 mg

Filed Under:

  • Cakes and Cupcakes
  • Recipes
  • Sweets and Treats

Enjoy!

Cannoli topping modified from The Vintage Mixer.

Cannoli Poke Cake Recipe | Moist Vanilla Cake Recipe (8)

Cannoli Poke Cake Recipe | Moist Vanilla Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my poke cake soggy? ›

Make sure the holes aren't too close together or too far apart—if they're too close together, your cake could be too moist; if they're too far apart, there may not be enough filling throughout the cake. Once you've poked holes throughout the cake, pour the filling on top.

What is cannoli cake made of? ›

Inspired by a classic Italian dessert, vanilla sponge cake is frosted with amaretto ricotta frosting and topped with pistachios and chocolate chips.

Why is it called poke cake? ›

Both cakes called for hole-poking action long before the 1970s. Even though Jell-O isn't quite the potluck-table staple it once was, there are still plenty of home bakers poking holes in their cakes and filling them with sugary semi-liquids.

How long does cannoli cake last in the fridge? ›

Cannoli Cake will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days. The cake will dry out in the fridge, so be sure to cover it well with plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container.

How do you make a cake less soggy? ›

Adjusting the cooking time and temperature

If your cake has a soggy middle, the first thing to try is bringing the temperature down a little and baking for slightly longer.

How to poke holes for poke cake? ›

After baking, use the handle of a wooden spoon or a skewer to poke quarter-inch holes about an inch apart in the cake. Pour the dessert sauce or syrup over the cake and into the holes. Top the cake as desired, but it' not necessary.

What is the difference between cannoli and cannoli? ›

In Italian, cannoli is plural; the singular is cannolo ( Italian: [kanˈnɔːlo]; Sicilian: cannolu, Sicilian: [kanˈnɔːlʊ]), a diminutive meaning 'little tube', from canna, 'cane' or 'tube'. This form is uncommon in English and not even mentioned in most dictionaries.

What does cannoli mean in Italy? ›

What Does 'Cannoli' Mean In Italian? In Italian, "cannoli" is the plural of "cannolo." "Cannolo" roughly translates to "little tube."

How unhealthy is a cannoli? ›

Worst: Cannoli

The filling is full of more fat and calories, in the form of ricotta cheese and sugar. Sprinkle the top with some powdered sugar for the final touch. Think of it as a "once-in-a-blue-moon" dessert.

Can you take a poke cake out of the pan? ›

Instructions. Bake cakes according to box directions! Let cakes cool for 15 minutes. Remove from pans and cool for an additional 15 minutes.

Why is it called Devil cake? ›

There are a few theories as to how it got its name. One, it's the decadent counterpart to angel food cake. Two, it's sinfully delicious. Finally, devil's food cake came about during a time when food that was spicy, rich, or dark was described as deviled, like deviled ham and deviled eggs.

Why is it OK to eat poke? ›

At their core, poke bowls consist of lean protein from fish like tuna or salmon, which are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids, essential for heart health and cognitive function. The inclusion of fresh vegetables adds fiber, vitamins, and minerals, enhancing the meal's overall nutritional profile.

What is traditional cannoli filling made of? ›

Traditionally, cannoli filling is a sweet, simple filling made with ricotta cheese and powdered sugar. We also use vanilla and a hint of cinnamon in our cannoli filling recipe.

How to prevent cannoli from getting soggy? ›

Assemble the cannoli yourself. Just before serving them. Or coat the inside with chocolate and let it solidify. The chocolate film protects the cannoli from getting soggy.

Can you eat a cannoli left out overnight? ›

Do Cannolis Need to Be Refrigerated? Yes, cannolis need to be refrigerated. Don't leave them at room temperature for more than two to three hours at a time. Store them in an airtight container lined with paper towels in the refrigerator for up to one week.

How do you fix a soggy fruit cake? ›

What do I do with a cake that's too wet? Rebake it for a few minutes at the temperature you originally baked it at. If only the middle of the cake is partially cooked, remove the fully cooked edges and rebake just middle part.

Why did my cake turn out soggy? ›

Problem: The edges of my cake are soggy.

This happens when the cake isn't turned out onto your cooling rack soon enough and condensation has built up on the inside of the tin.

How do you rescue a soggy cake? ›

put it back in the oven for 12 or so minutes, at a slightly lower temperature. if the top is getting brown, cover the cake with foil before you put it back in the oven. take it out, check it with a skewer, if it comes out clean, its done, if not, put it back in the oven for another 10 minutes.

How do you store cake so it doesn't get soggy? ›

Place plastic wrap against the cut edges, then place the cake in an airtight cake saver if you have one. If you don't, you can use a large Tupperware-style bowl or container flipped upside-down to create a dome.

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