This Rolo poke cake is built on a chocolate cake that is filled with yummy caramel and topped with fluffy whipped frosting. Add some pieces of Rolo candies and a drizzle of fudge for an extra special dessert.
This cake is a chocolate lover’s dream come true. Moist chocolate cake gets even more decadent with caramel or dulce de leche seeping in.
A fluffy frosting provides a nice buffer between that and chopped Rolo candies and a drizzle of fudge. It all comes together as a bit of heaven in every bite!
It all comes together to make an extra special treat. If you love chocolate and caramel, this is the one for you.
Options for Making the Cake
The first several times I made this cake, I did the whole thing from scratch. Each of the parts is pretty easy to make, but they all take some time.
So when you add it all up, there are several hours of prep work to do it all from scratch. It is totally worth it if you have the time.
The cake – You can use your favorite 9×13-inch chocolate cake recipe. I love using the crazy chocolate cake recipe because it is super simple to make and doesn’t require softened butter or even eggs.
Even though that cake is quick and easy, grabbing a cake mix sometimes feels easier. There is no shame in whatever route you decide to go.
Dulce de Leche – dulce de leche is a milk based caramel. It is a perfect way to use up some milk that is getting close to its expiration date or just make some to use as an ice cream topper.
You just need milk, sugar, and some vanilla to make homemade dulce de leche. It isn’t hard to make, but does take some time and patience.
If you want to go semi-homemade, cook a can of sweetened condensed milk in boiling water. Or just pick up a can of dulce de leche and thin it out with a little bit of milk.
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The frosting – when I think poke cake, I think fluffy frosting. I like using ermine frosting, but really a fudge frosting would be great too.
You can use whipped topping if you prefer. Or, make a frosting from whipped topping and pudding mix for something a little richer in flavor.
The fudge sauce – of course you can pick up a jar of hot fudge from the store, but it is easy to make at home. You won’t need a whole batch of homemade hot fudge sauce, but that shouldn’t keep you from making it.
Keep the rest as an ice cream topping. Or drizzle more over the cake when you serve it as a garnish.
Either way, it keeps well in a jar in the refrigerator. Just warm it up when you want some.
No matter which option you choose to go with, you know this cake is going to be good. So go ahead and make one to confirm that fact!
Rolo Poke Cake
Ingredients
Whipped cream frosting (may sub a tub of whipped topping)
- 5 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup butter softened (must be real butter)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Hot fudge sauce
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup butter
Remaining Ingredients
- 12 rolos quartered
- 1 9×13-inch chocolate cake
- 14 ounces dulce de leche
- 3 Tablespoons milk
Instructions
Chocolate Cake
- Make your favorite chocolate cake recipe or use a mix. Bake according to directions.1 9×13-inch chocolate cake
- When the cake is almost done baking, put dulce de leche in a microwave safe bowl. Add milk and microwave in 30 second bursts until the caramel is warm and the milk is incorporated. It should be thick, but pourable.14 ounces dulce de leche, 3 Tablespoons milk
- While cake is still warm, poke with the round end of a wooden spoon to create holes across the top of the cake.
- Drizzle the warm dulce de leche over the warm cake. Use a spatula to spread it over the cake, allowing most of it to fall into the holes you poked in the cake.
- Cool completely before frosting.
Ermine Frosting
- In a small saucepan, whisk together flour and sugar.5 Tablespoons all-purpose flour, 1 cup granulated sugar
- Add the cold milk a few tablespoons at a time to start, whisking in between to avoid lumps. Once you have a paste, stir in the remaining milk. Make sure there are no lumps, then turn on the burner to medium heat. Continue to whisk and cook until the mixture thickens to a paste consistency. Allow to cool to room temperature or place in the refrigerator to chill.1 cup whole milk
- Once paste is room temperature, add butter and vanilla to mixer bowl. Turn on low and stir until incorporated. Add flour/milk paste and whip on high for about 10 minutes. You want to make sure the frosting has plenty of time to get nice and fluffy.1 cup butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Hot Fudge
- Whisk together sugar and cocoa in a medium saucepan to make sure there aren’t any lumps.2 Tablespoons cocoa powder, ½ cup granulated sugar
- Add milk and butter. Cook over medium-low heat until it comes to a hard boil.¼ cup whole milk, ¼ cup butter
- Boil for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool some before drizzling.
To Assemble
- Spread frosting over cooled cake.
- Sprinkle chopped Rolos over the cake and drizzle with fudge sauce.12 rolos quartered
- Serve small pieces with a scoop of ice cream and additional hot fudge sauce!
Notes
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Hi Carlee, this is too much! I have been on a real sugar binge recently and am starting to feel it in my knickers ( no matter what I may claim I know I haven't accidentally put my knickers in a hot wash!), but seeing recipes like this really doesn't help! Luckily though we only have Rolos when someone brings them over for us and then I'm not sure they would end up in a cake!
I am definitely pinning this for future reference, maybe not just now though!
xx
I've been bad lately too. Usually I save that for the winter, so I am a little scared how holiday baking is going to go if this is what summer virtue looks like! 😉
I love poke cakes and this one looks phenomenal!
Aren't poke cakes so much fun? Thanks, Jen!
OMG, I saw this on the link up and said "I know this is Carlee!" Yum, oh a BIG YUM!! My BF In high school was named Rolonda but her knick name was Rolo of course. I wish I had this NOW!!
I would happily share! Thank you so much, Andrea!
Oh wow, I love rolos! This cake looks and sounds incredible!
Thank you so much, Shelby!
This looks amazing. I've got a Rolo fan here and I think this is going to be one of her favorites! Pinned.
I hope she loves it! Thank you!
Thia looks divine and I can only imagine how delicious it is.
It was worth the effort, that is for sure! Thank you, Debra!
Wow!! I'll I can say thank goodness for Birthdays!! This looks fantastic. I do love my sweets, I've saved this one for reference. Thanks Carlee 🙂
Aren't birthdays the best? Thank you, Sam!
I love poke cakes.They are so moist and creamy and delish 😀 And this sounds like my dream dessert!! Dessert perfection 🙂
Thank you, Deepika! It is hard to go wrong with chocolate and caramel, isn't it?
Sooooo, can I get you to make this for my next birthday? This is basically EVERYTHING I LOVE! I'm going to be dreaming about this all weekend :). Happy Friday, Carlee!
Definitely!! Let's go ahead and plan on it!
I made your frosting for the sugar cookies that I forgot to put out this weekend. I love that recipe. You should have seen the faces light up when dad told your brothers that you left some cake here! 😊 Thank you for another fun recipe