Easy chocolate poke cake with homemade chocolate syrup & whipped cream frosting. To make the chocolate poke cake, use any base chocolate cake of your choice. To make the recipe vegan just use any vegan cream or coconut cream.
For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips.
1½cupswheat flouror all-purpose flour or pastry flour
4tablespoonscocoa powder(¼ cup)
1teaspoonBaking soda(recheck the expiry date)
½teaspoonsalt
1cupsugar(or 1½ cups powdered jaggery)
1cupmilk(or water for vegan version)
1/3cup melted butter or oil
1tablespoonvinegar(apple cider)
1tablespoonvanilla extract
For chocolate sauce
6tablespoonssugar(or ½ cup jaggery or palm jaggery or brown sugar)
3tablespoonscocoa powder
¾cupwater
½teaspoonvanilla extract
For frosting
1cupwhipping cream(or coconut cream for vegan)
1tablespoonpowdered sugaror confectioners sugar
½teaspoonvanilla extract
How to make the recipe
Bake the cake
Grease a 6 inch square cake pan. Preheat the oven to 170 C for at least 15 mins.
Place a sieve over a mixing bowl and add flour, baking soda, salt and cocoa powder. Sieve it at least thrice. Add sugar and mix it well.
Make a well in the center and pour water or milk, oil or melted butter, vanilla and vinegar.Mix the wet ingredients gently and then slowly incorporate the flour with the liquid ingredients. Do not over mix but ensure there are no lumps in the batter.
Pour this to the grease tray and bake for 23 to 25 mins. When done a tester inserted comes out clean. Cool down the cake in the pan itself over a wire rack until it cools down a bit but still warm.
Making chocolate syrup
Mix together cocoa powder, sugar and water in a pot. Mix well to break the lumps and boil the syrup until it thickens. It took me about 7 to 9 minutes. The mixture must turn thick & coat the back of a spoon. If using palm jaggery or jaggery, just filter the chocolate syrup and use. Cool this a bit.
Making whipped cream
Chill the bowls and the beaters for few hours. Pour the whipping cream to the chilled bowl. Begin to whip on a low speed initially and then increase the speed to medium. When the mixture turns bubbly add the sugar and beat until you see stiff peaks. Take care not to over whip as it can turn to butter. Keep this chilled until needed.
How to make poke cake
When the temperature of the cake comes down, poke the cake several times with a chop stick about ¾ inch apart. Avoid poking the cake towards the edges. Make several holes all over the cake. Ensure the holes are deep reaching the base.
The temperature of the chocolate syrup should have come down slightly but still warm. Mix well and pour the syrup all over the cake. The syrup must go through the holes. Set this aside to cool the cake completely. You can also chill it in the fridge.
Spread the whipped cream generously all over the cake. Decorate with some sprinkles or chocolate shavings. Chill the chocolate poke cake until served. Slice the cake when needed and serve.