Pumpkin Poke Cake with Butter Pecan Drizzle

Pumpkin Butter Pecan Poke Cake — a rich, fall-inspired poke cake layered with sweetened condensed milk, caramel, and pumpkin pudding, then finished with whipped topping, toffee bits and chopped pecans. It’s an indulgent seasonal dessert that’s perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any cozy autumn gathering.

This poke cake combines classic pumpkin flavor with buttery pecan notes for a decadent, crowd-pleasing treat. The cake soaks up the sweetened condensed milk, caramel and pumpkin pudding for an impossibly moist texture, while the whipped topping and crunchy toffee and pecans add contrast and flair.

Why Is It Called a Poke Cake?

A poke cake gets its name from the simple technique used after baking: you poke holes all over the top of the warm cake (a wooden spoon handle or skewer works well), then pour a liquid—such as sweetened condensed milk, pudding, jello, or a flavored syrup—over the cake so it settles into the holes. The result is an ultra-moist, flavorful cake that’s easy to make yet looks impressive.

More Pumpkin Love

• Pumpkin Magic Custard Cake
• “CopyCat” Starbucks Pumpkin Pound Cake
• Amish Country Pumpkin Custard Pie
• Pumpkin Lasagna Dessert

Ingredients You Need

• 1 box Butter Pecan cake mix
• 14 oz pumpkin puree
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk (low-fat or regular)
• Caramel ice cream topping or salted caramel, about ½ to 1 cup (adjust to taste)
• 1 (3.4 oz) box instant pumpkin pie pudding
• 1½ cups milk of choice (almond milk or regular milk)
• 8 oz tub whipped topping (Cool Whip or similar)
• ¼ cup Heath toffee bits (or toffee pieces)
• ¼ cup chopped pecans

How to Make Pumpkin Butter Pecan Poke Cake

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 9×9-inch baking pan with non-stick spray.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter pecan cake mix, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice. Beat on low speed with an electric mixer until evenly moistened and a thick batter forms, scraping the bowl occasionally.
3. Spread the thick batter into the prepared pan. It may look small but the cake will rise during baking.
4. Bake 30–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
5. Allow the cake to cool about 10 minutes. Use the bottom of a wooden spoon or a skewer to poke holes all over the top of the cake.
6. Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the cake, letting it fill the holes.
7. Carefully drizzle or spoon caramel sauce into the holes as well—use sparingly, as a little caramel goes a long way.
8. Whisk the instant pumpkin pudding mix with 1½ cups milk until smooth and slightly thickened, following package instructions.
9. Pour the pudding over the condensed milk and caramel layer, spreading it evenly. Refrigerate the cake for about 30 minutes to let the layers settle.
10. Spread the whipped topping evenly over the chilled pudding layer.
11. Sprinkle the toffee bits and chopped pecans over the whipped topping, then drizzle a bit more caramel on top if desired.
12. Refrigerate the cake for at least 4 hours, or overnight, to let the flavors meld and the cake fully set.
13. Store loosely covered in the refrigerator; the cake keeps well for several days when chilled.

Tips & Cake Options

• The longer the sweetened condensed milk, caramel and pudding soak into the cake, the more flavorful and moist it becomes—overnight chilling is ideal.
• This recipe is best in a 9×9 pan for the intended thickness. If you want to use a 9×13 pan for more servings, double the recipe to avoid a very thin cake (about 1–1½ inches high). For a taller cake with the same texture, stick to the 9×9 or double the ingredients for a larger pan.

Storing and Serving

Keep the cake refrigerated, loosely covered, for up to several days. Serve chilled or slightly warmed slices at room temperature if preferred. This dessert is a favorite at holiday meals and potlucks—plan for it to disappear quickly!

Serve this Pumpkin Butter Pecan Poke Cake at Thanksgiving or any fall gathering. Its creamy pumpkin layers, buttery pecan flavor and crunchy toffee topping create a memorable seasonal dessert that guests will love.