If You Have Snickers, Boxed Cake Mix, And A Jar Of Caramel, You Have An Easy And Rich Dessert In 35 Minutes

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Boxed cake mix is a magical thing. All you need is a little water, vegetable oil, and some eggs to whip up a cake you can pass off as homemade — especially if you add a pantry staple for more flavor and better texture before serving. Whether you add nut butter, leftover apple pie filling, or simply frosting and sprinkles, your guests will never know the difference. One of our favorite ways to elevate boxed cake mix is by turning it into a poke cake — and if you have a chocolate cake mix, a Snickers bar, and a jar of caramel, you're one step closer to making a super rich, Snickers-inspired dessert in less than an hour.

A poke cake gets its name from the holes poked into the freshly baked cake while it's still warm, allowing you to pour liquid syrup over it. This helps the cake absorb the liquid and creates an extra-moist texture. For this Snickers-inspired version, you'll star with a chocolate cake. 

Poke holes into the warm cake and pour caramel sauce over it, ensuring that it covers every corner. You might have to use a knife or an offset spatula — like this one from King Arthur — to ensure that the sauce is evenly distributed and reaches each of the holes. Once you do that, let it cool, and get creative with your toppings.

When it comes to topping your Snickers poke cake, you can keep it simple and just add a chopped-up Snickers bar on top of the cake, but to make it a truly indulgent dessert, we recommend adding a couple more toppings. Frosting might be your first thought, but poke cakes are commonly topped with whipped topping of some sort, like Cool Whip. While you can absolutely use frosting or icing of some sort, it might prove to be a bit too sweet.

Once you add a layer of whipped topping, start decorating. Beyond the chopped-up Snickers bar, if you have any leftover caramel sauce, you can drizzle it over the top to enhance the cake's presentation. Do the same with chocolate sauce if you're feeling extra fancy. Coops and Trader Joe's were our favorites in our ranking of the best caramel and chocolate sauces.

Additionally, if you don't have a Snickers bar on hand, try chopped peanuts instead to ensure you don't miss out on the classic nutty Snickers flavor. Really, as long as your toppings include caramel, chocolate, or peanuts in some form, you're on the right track to making a deliciously rich, candy bar-inspired poke cake.