Butterfinger Candy Bar Poke Cake Recipe

Sweet Butterfinger Candy Bar Poke Cake Recipe – A Dreamy Treat!

Chocolate cake meets childhood nostalgia in this incredible butterfinger candy bar poke cake that delivers sweet memories with every bite.

Sweet tooths unite around a dessert that captures pure indulgence.

Layers of moist chocolate provide the perfect canvas for crumbled candy bar magic.

Creamy pudding seeps into each carefully poked hole, creating unexpected texture surprises.

Rich caramel notes dance alongside chocolate, promising a decadent experience that feels both familiar and exciting.

Dessert enthusiasts will absolutely adore how simple ingredients combine into something extraordinary.

You can totally impress everyone at the next gathering with this irresistible treat that guarantees smiles and second helpings.

FAQ Guide For Butterfinger Candy Bar Poke Cake

FAQs:

  • What makes this Butterfinger Poke Cake so special?

This cake combines the classic love of boxed cake with the irresistible crunch of Butterfinger candy bars. The sweetened condensed milk and caramel sauce create a super moist texture that makes each bite incredibly decadent.

  • Can I use a different type of candy bar instead of Butterfinger?

Absolutely! While Butterfinger gives a unique peanut butter crunch, you can substitute with Snickers, Heath bars, or Reese’s Pieces if you prefer. The key is to choose a candy that complements the chocolate and caramel flavors.

  • Is this cake best served cold or at room temperature?

For the best experience, chill the cake in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours before serving. The cool temperature helps the layers set and intensifies the flavor blend, making each slice more refreshing and delicious.

  • How long will this cake stay fresh?

When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, this Butterfinger Poke Cake will stay fresh and delicious for 3-4 days. Just make sure to cover it well to prevent it from absorbing other refrigerator odors.

Why Butterfinger Candy Bar Poke Cake Is Loaded With Fun

  • Crush the Convenience: This recipe is a quick and easy dessert that requires minimal baking skills, perfect for busy home cooks who want a delicious treat without spending hours in the kitchen.
  • Elevate Flavor Indulgence: The combination of sweetened condensed milk, caramel sauce, and crushed Butterfinger candy bars creates a decadent, multi-layered taste experience that satisfies sweet cravings.
  • Crowd-Pleasing Dessert: Its simple preparation and crowd-pleasing flavors make this cake ideal for family gatherings, potlucks, or casual celebrations where you want to impress without complex techniques.
  • No-Fuss Crowd Wow: The make-ahead option of chilling for 1-2 hours allows for stress-free party planning, letting you prepare the dessert in advance and look like a baking pro with minimal effort.

Ingredients For Butterfinger Candy Bar Poke Cake

Base Cake:
  • Cake Mix: Convenient base for the dessert, providing structure and flavor. Yellow or chocolate mix works well.
  • Baking Dish: 9×13-inch pan ensures proper cake size and even baking.
Filling and Moisture Ingredients:
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk: Adds rich sweetness and moisture to the cake. Full-fat version recommended for best results.
  • Caramel Sauce: Provides deep, buttery flavor and additional moisture. Store-bought or homemade sauce works great.
  • Hot Fudge Sauce: Optional extra layer of chocolate richness. Can be substituted with chocolate sauce.
Topping Ingredients:
  • Cool Whip or Whipped Cream: Light, creamy topping that complements the rich cake. Cool Whip offers convenience, while fresh whipped cream provides more authentic flavor.
  • Butterfinger Candy Bars: Adds crunchy texture and distinctive peanut butter-chocolate flavor. Crush bars just before topping for maximum crispness.
  • Chocolate Sauce: Optional final drizzle for extra chocolate decadence. Adds visual appeal and additional flavor layer.

Steps To Make Butterfinger Candy Bar Poke Cake

Step 1: Whip Up The Cake Base

Grab your favorite chocolate cake mix and prepare it according to the package directions. Pour the batter into a 9×13-inch baking dish. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean. Let the cake rest and cool slightly while still warm.

Step 2: Create Delicious Holes

Take the handle of a wooden spoon and gently poke holes all across the cake’s surface. The holes should be evenly distributed and go about halfway through the cake. This creates magical pockets for deliciousness.

Step 3: Drench With Sweet Goodness

Pour sweetened condensed milk slowly over the entire cake, allowing it to seep into every single hole. Follow this by drizzling caramel sauce generously. If you want extra decadence, add a layer of hot fudge sauce. Let the cake cool completely, allowing all those sweet sauces to absorb.

Step 4: Fluffy Cloud Topping

Spread a thick layer of whipped cream or Cool Whip across the entire cake surface. Make sure it’s smooth and covers every inch.

Step 5: Candy Bar Magic

Crush Butterfinger candy bars into delightful crumbly pieces. Sprinkle these golden-orange nuggets all over the whipped topping. Cover the entire cake generously.

Step 6: Final Flavor Explosion

Drizzle additional caramel and chocolate sauces in beautiful zigzag patterns across the top. This adds visual appeal and extra flavor.

Step 7: Chill And Serve

Refrigerate the cake for 1-2 hours to let all the flavors meld together. The chilling helps the cake set and intensifies the deliciousness.

Slice, serve, and watch everyone’s eyes light up with pure dessert joy!

Tips For Rich Butterfinger Candy Bar Poke Cake

  • Hole-Punch Technique: Create evenly spaced, deep holes using a wooden spoon handle to maximize condensed milk absorption throughout the cake, ensuring each bite is deliciously moist.
  • Candy Bar Crunch Tip: Crush Butterfinger bars just before topping to maintain their crispy texture and prevent soggy crumbs, giving the cake a satisfying golden-brown crackle.
  • Chill for Perfection: Refrigerate the cake for at least 1-2 hours to allow flavors to meld and create a more cohesive, smooth dessert experience that's refreshingly cool.
  • Sauce Swirl Strategy: Drizzle caramel and chocolate sauces in a zigzag pattern for a professional-looking presentation that adds extra indulgence and visual appeal.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare this cake a day in advance to let the flavors develop fully, making it an ideal make-ahead dessert for parties and gatherings.

How To Store Butterfinger Candy Bar Poke Cake Without Mess

  • Preserve your delectable Butterfinger Cake's freshness by storing it covered in the refrigerator.
  • Keep the cake in an airtight container or tightly wrap it with plastic wrap to prevent drying out and absorbing other refrigerator odors.
  • Enjoy your cake within 3-4 days for the most delicious taste and optimal texture.
  • When ready to serve, remove the cake from the refrigerator about 15 minutes before enjoying to allow the flavors to soften and become more vibrant.
  • Always use a clean utensil when cutting and serving to maintain the cake's pristine appearance and prevent bacterial growth.
  • Refrigeration helps maintain the cake's creamy consistency and keeps the whipped topping and candy pieces perfectly intact.

Tasty Pairings With Butterfinger Candy Bar Poke Cake

  • Pair Creamy Caramel Coffee: Serve a rich, caramel-infused latte or cappuccino that complements the cake's sweet caramel and chocolate undertones. The coffee's warmth balances the cool, creamy cake texture.
  • Enhance with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Top a slice with a scoop of premium vanilla bean ice cream. Its smooth, classic flavor provides a delightful contrast to the crunchy Butterfinger pieces and rich cake base.
  • Match with Chocolate Milk: Offer cold, creamy chocolate milk as a nostalgic beverage that echoes the cake's chocolate and candy bar elements. The drink's sweetness perfectly harmonizes with the dessert's decadent profile.
  • Sip Salted Caramel Martini: For adult gatherings, a salted caramel martini offers a sophisticated pairing that mirrors the cake's caramel notes while adding a refined alcoholic twist.

Fun Variations Of Butterfinger Candy Bar Poke Cake

  • Peanut Butter Blast: Replace Butterfinger with crushed Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, adding extra peanut butter drizzle for intense nutty flavor.
  • Chocolate Crunch: Swap Butterfinger with crushed chocolate-covered toffee bars like Heath, creating a rich and crunchy dessert experience.
  • Oreo Dream: Top the cake with crushed Oreo cookies instead of Butterfinger, adding a classic chocolate cookie crumble that complements the creamy base.
  • Nutty Caramel Crunch: Sprinkle chopped pecans or almonds alongside the crushed candy bars for added texture and a deep, roasted nut flavor.
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Butterfinger Candy Bar Poke Cake Recipe

Butterfinger Candy Bar Poke Cake Recipe


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4.5 from 36 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x

Description

Indulgent Butterfinger candy bar poke cake delivers a symphony of chocolatey richness with crushed candy bar layers. Sweet caramel and creamy frosting create an irresistible dessert that will delight chocolate enthusiasts seeking pure comfort.


Ingredients

Scale

Primary Ingredients:

  • 1 box chocolate or yellow cake mix
  • 1 (14 ounces / 397 grams) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 (8 ounces / 226 grams) tub Cool Whip (or 2 cups whipped cream)
  • 4 Butterfinger candy bars

Sauce and Drizzle Ingredients:

  • ½ cup caramel sauce
  • ½ cup hot fudge sauce (optional for extra chocolate flavor)
  • ¼ cup caramel sauce (for drizzling)
  • ¼ cup chocolate sauce (for drizzling, optional)

Additional Ingredients:

  • Ingredients listed on the cake mix box

Instructions

  1. Craft a moist chocolate cake according to package directions in a rectangular baking vessel, ensuring even baking and golden edges.
  2. While the cake is still warm, methodically puncture deep holes across the entire surface using a wooden spoon handle, creating pathways for rich, sweet infusion.
  3. Gently cascade sweetened condensed milk throughout the perforated landscape, allowing the liquid to penetrate and saturate each crevice and channel.
  4. Artfully drizzle caramel and chocolate sauces across the cake’s surface, ensuring the sauces seep into the carefully created holes, enhancing the dessert’s moisture and depth of flavor.
  5. Allow the cake to cool completely, permitting the liquid ingredients to fully integrate and stabilize within the cake’s tender crumb.
  6. Delicately spread a smooth, billowy layer of whipped topping across the entire cake surface, creating an elegant, cloud-like canvas.
  7. Crush Butterfinger candy bars into rustic, uneven fragments and generously sprinkle the golden, crispy pieces across the whipped topping.
  8. Create an additional decorative flourish by drizzling extra caramel and chocolate sauces in elegant, crisscrossing patterns.
  9. Refrigerate the cake for 1-2 hours to allow flavors to meld and the dessert to set, ensuring a perfectly chilled and decadent treat.

Notes

  • Select a high-quality cake mix for a more robust base flavor that complements the Butterfinger’s sweet crunch.
  • Ensure holes are evenly distributed across the cake to maximize sauce absorption and create consistent moisture throughout.
  • Crush Butterfinger bars while slightly frozen to achieve a more uniform and controlled texture without creating powdery crumbs.
  • Consider using reduced-fat whipped topping or Greek yogurt as a lighter alternative to traditional Cool Whip for a slightly healthier version of the dessert.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 12
  • Calories: 320
  • Sugar: 30 g
  • Sodium: 210 mg
  • Fat: 14 g
  • Saturated Fat: 8 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 45 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 35 mg
Emily Morgan

Emily Morgan

Food Critic & Kitchen Tips Specialist

Expertise

Global Food Exploration & Critique, Simple Kitchen Hacks & Time-Saving Tips, Presentation & Plating Techniques, Culinary Research & Storytelling.

Education

New York University

  • Program: Bachelor’s in Journalism
  • Focus: Combined foundational journalism training with deep dives into global food traditions, restaurant criticism, and the cultural role of cuisine.

Emily Morgan has journeyed across the globe, collecting culinary secrets that turn everyday ingredients into impressive meals.

Based in Seattle and armed with a Journalism degree from NYU, she blends thorough research with a flair for presentation, ensuring every dish looks just as good as it tastes.

Focusing on fresh flavors, simple methods, and a bit of fun, Emily shows home cooks how to elevate their daily cooking without fancy gadgets or complex steps.

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