Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake – Gluten Free, Vegan
This gluten free and vegan Chocolate Caramel Poke cake is crazy delicious! The gluten free cake is the perfect texture and the chocolate caramel flavor is amazing!
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Anyone else feel like they desperately need some cake right now? I’ve pretty much felt this way for the last year. 😆
Well today I’ve got you covered with this gluten free and vegan Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake. Yes, it tastes as amazing as it sounds!
The chocolate cake is so decadent and the perfect texture! Combine that with the vegan caramel sauce and coconut whipped cream and it just can’t be beat!
So let’s talk about how you make this amazing cake!
GLUTEN FREE AND VEGAN CHOCOLATE CARAMEL POKE CAKE RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
Ingredients needed to make the gluten free vegan Chocolate Cake:
- 1 cup (160g) all purpose gluten free flour (I use “Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 All Purpose Baking Flour” or “Better Batter”)
- 1 cup (110g) gluten free oat flour
- 1/2 cup (42g) cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp xanthan gum (omit if your gluten free flour already contains xanthan gum)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cup dairy free milk of choice (I use “So Delicious Unsweetened Coconut Milk”)
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup avocado oil (coconut oil works as well)
- 1 tsp vanilla
Ingredients needed to make the gluten free vegan Caramel Sauce:
Ingredients needed to make the gluten free vegan Coconut Whipped Cream:
- 2 cans full fat canned coconut milk(refrigerated overnight*)
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Note: “So Delicious Cocowhip” can also be used if you don’t want to make the homemade coconut whipped cream
HOW TO MAKE GLUTEN FREE AND VEGAN CHOCOLATE CARAMEL POKE CAKE:
- To make the caramel, add 1/2 cup canned coconut milk to a microwave safe bowl. Unwrap caramels and add them to the bowl. Microwave in 20 second increments stirring between each one until the caramels are completely melted.
- The caramel sauce will still be pretty runny right out of the microwave. Place the caramel sauce in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until the caramel has thickened.
- Place the mixing bowl that will be used for the coconut whipped cream in the freezer for 10 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 7×11 2 quart oblong baking dish.*
- In a large bowl, whisk together gluten free all-purpose flour*, oat flour*, cocoa powder, coconut sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and xanthan gum (if your flour doesn’t contain it).
- Add the dairy free milk, maple syrup, avocado oil, and vanilla to the bowl and stir until combined.
- Pour the cake batter into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- While the chocolate cake is baking, prepare the coconut whipped cream. Open the refrigerated cans of coconut milk and scoop the thick cream that has risen to the top of the cans. Add the cream to the large mixing bowl or stand mixer bowl that has been in the freezer.
- Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, whip the coconut cream until you can form soft peaks with the cream (about 3 minutes).
- Mix in the remaining ingredients until well incorporated. I recommend chilling the coconut whipped cream for 30-60 minutes to firm up.
- Remove the cake from the oven and allow to cool completely. Once the cake has cooled, the caramel has thickened, and the coconut whipped cream is set, assemble the cake.
- Use a straw to poke holes in the chocolate cake (usually about 12 holes). This will allow the caramel to get into the cake. Pour all but 2 tbsp of the caramel sauce over the chocolate cake and use a rubber spatula or spoon to spread the caramel sauce over the cake evenly.
- Spread the coconut whipped cream evenly over the caramel sauce to cover the cake. Use a spoon to drizzle the remaining caramel sauce over the cake. Optionally melt some vegan chocolate chips (in 30 second increments, stirring in between) to drizzle over the cake.
♥ Don’t forget to rate this recipe and leave a comment below if you give this recipe a try! ♥
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Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake – Gluten Free, Vegan
- Prep Time: 25 min
- Cook Time: 35 min
- Total Time: 1 hr
- Yield: 10–12 servings 1x
Description
This gluten free and vegan Chocolate Caramel Poke cake is crazy delicious! The gluten free cake is the perfect texture and the chocolate caramel flavor is amazing!
Ingredients
Scale
Chocolate Cake Ingredients:
- 1 cup (160g) all purpose gluten free flour (I use “Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 All Purpose Baking Flour” or “Better Batter”)
- 1 cup (110g) gluten free oat flour
- 1/2 cup (42g) cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp xanthan gum (omit if your gluten free flour already contains xanthan gum)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cup dairy free milk of choice (I use “So Delicious Unsweetened Coconut Milk”)
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup avocado oil (coconut oil works as well)
- 1 tsp vanilla
Caramel Sauce Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup full fat canned coconut milk
- 1 3.5 oz bag Cocomels vegan caramels
Coconut Whipped Cream Ingredients:
- 2 cans full fat canned coconut milk(refrigerated overnight*)
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Note: “So Delicious Cocowhip” can also be used if you don’t want to make the homemade coconut whipped cream
Instructions
- To make the caramel, add 1/2 cup canned coconut milk to a microwave safe bowl. Unwrap caramels and add them to the bowl. Microwave in 20 second increments stirring between each one until the caramels are completely melted.
- The caramel sauce will still be pretty runny right out of the microwave. Place the caramel sauce in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until the caramel has thickened.
- Place the mixing bowl that will be used for the coconut whipped cream in the freezer for 10 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 7×11 2 quart oblong baking dish.*
- In a large bowl, whisk together gluten free all-purpose flour*, oat flour*, cocoa powder, coconut sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and xanthan gum (if your flour doesn’t contain it).
- Add the dairy free milk, maple syrup, avocado oil, and vanilla to the bowl and stir until combined.
- Pour the cake batter into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- While the chocolate cake is baking, prepare the coconut whipped cream. Open the refrigerated cans of coconut milk and scoop the thick cream that has risen to the top of the cans. Add the cream to the large mixing bowl or stand mixer bowl that has been in the freezer.
- Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, whip the coconut cream until you can form soft peaks with the cream (about 3 minutes).
- Mix in the remaining ingredients until well incorporated. I recommend chilling the coconut whipped cream for 30-60 minutes to firm up.
- Remove the cake from the oven and allow to cool completely. Once the cake has cooled, the caramel has thickened, and the coconut whipped cream is set, assemble the cake.
- Use a straw to poke holes in the chocolate cake (usually about 12 holes). This will allow the caramel to get into the cake. Pour all but 2 tbsp of the caramel sauce over the chocolate cake and use a rubber spatula or spoon to spread the caramel sauce over the cake evenly.
- Spread the coconut whipped cream evenly over the caramel sauce to cover the cake. Use a spoon to drizzle the remaining caramel sauce over the cake. Optionally melt some vegan chocolate chips (in 30 second increments, stirring in between) to drizzle over the cake.
Notes
Make sure you refrigerate the coconut milk overnight before making the coconut whipped cream. We only want the thick cream that rises to the top after being refrigerated overnight. The coconut milk used for the caramel sauce does not need to be refrigerated.
If you use a 9×13 pan for this cake, your cake will be very thin. This 2 quart oblong baking dish is the perfect size for this recipe. You can also use an 8×8 pan for a thicker cake, but you will need to increase the bake time until a toothpick comes out clean.
For the best results, I recommend weighing your flour for this recipe. This is the inexpensive scale I use. Not everyone measures flour the same and in gluten free baking the amount flour can change the texture of the baked goods.
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SHOP THIS RECIPE:
Made this for a “dessert” party and it was a hit with everyone! Was a big plus that those of us with food allergies had something to eat and no one else could tell it was gluten free, dairy free, egg free, etc! Try this! I’m making it again soon!
★★★★★
I’m so happy to hear that everyone loved this cake! It’s one of my favorites too! ☺
I’m dairy free, but not vegan and like the idea of eggs in my baked goods : ) Do you know how I could easily adapt your recipe to include eggs? No worries, if not, I’ll follow recipe as is. It appears to be best poke cake recipe I could find online!
Hi Lisa, I haven’t baked with eggs in almost 10 years now so I’m not sure how I would convert this recipe to use eggs. I promise they aren’t necessary for this specific recipe since it was developed without them. I hope you give it a try, it’s one of my favorites!🙂
The taste and texture of this cake is amazing!!! I haven’t had a chocolate caramel poke cake since before I went gluten free 7 years ago, but there is nothing missing here! Perfectly moist (not wet) with a delightful chew and flavor is outstanding. This is on my list of gluten free baking successes! Thank you so much ; )
★★★★★