This Almond Joy Poke Cake starts with a chocolate cake that gets poked and drizzled with a coconut cream sauce and topped with whipped cream, toasted coconut and sliced almonds. It's a flavor-packed cake perfect for any gathering!

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When people ask what my favorite candy bar is, it's usually a surprise when Almond Joys or Mounds bars are at the top of my list. I get it - not everyone likes coconut, but I can't get enough of it!!!

If you are a fan of coconut and love a good poke cake, you're in for a real treat with this one!! It's got all of the flavors of an Almond Joy candy bar in a 9x13" cake!

What's "Poke Cake?"

If you've never had a poke cake, you need to....like ASAP! A poke cake is a cake (can be any flavor) that has holes poked into it that are filled with some type of syrup or pudding mixture. That sets the tone for a super moist cake that'll get topped with whipped cream or a mousse and other garnishes.

Ingredients Needed

Chocolate Cake Mix - Devil's food cake mix or dark chocolate cake mix will work great, too! You can also opt to make a homemade chocolate cake baked into a 9x13" pan.
Sweetened Condensed Milk - Do NOT confuse this with evaporated milk! 🙂
Cream of Coconut - This is the brand I prefer! It can be found at most grocery stores in the wine/liquor section with the mixers. You'll want to be sure to shake it well before measuring.
Shredded Sweetened Coconut
Whipped Topping
Sliced Almonds

pouring chocolate cake batter into a greased 9x13" pan

How to Make Almond Joy Poke Cake

First, you'll make the cake. As mentioned above, you can use a box mix or make one from scratch. Either way, you'll want to bake it in a greased 9x13" pan.

chocolate cake in a 9x13" pan with a pink straw poking holes into it

Once the cake is out of the oven, you'll poke the holes (while it's hot). To do this, you can use the end of a wooden spoon, a meat fork or a thick straw.

chocolate poke cake with sweetened condensed milk mixture being poured over top

Next, you're going to pour a mixture of sweetened condensed milk and cream of coconut over the cake, again while it's still warm. This will allow the mixture to soak into the holes of the cake, bringing lovely moisture and flavor!! Next up is a layer of coconut.

9x13 pan with a cake topped with whipped topping

Next up is a layer of whipped topping! I used a frozen (and thawed) tub of Cool Whip, but a stabilized homemade whipped cream would work great, too!

sheet pan with toasted coconut and sliced almonds

And last but not least, the toasted coconut and almonds!! Though toasting the coconut and almonds is optional, I love the additional depth of flavor and crunch it brings. Once they're toasted, you'll let them cool and then sprinkle them onto the cake.

top down view of a cake topped with toasted coconut and sliced almonds

Does a Poke Cake need to be refrigerated?

Yes, most all poke cakes need to be refrigerated, including this Almond Joy Poke Cake. Simply cover the cake with plastic wrap or a tight-fitting lid and keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days after making.

a forkful of chocolate cake with coconut flakes

Try more Poke Cake Recipes!!

Triple Lemon Poke Cake

Chocolate Peanut Butter Poke Cake

Berry Cheesecake Poke Cake

Hot Chocolate Poke Cake

piece of almond joy poke cake on a wooden board with another piece of cake in the background

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