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This Death By Chocolate Poke Cake is for the serious chocolate lover! A chocolate cake that has been poked, filled, and covered with so much chocolate … Can you handle it?! 

chocolate poke cake slice on plate

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Death By Chocolate Poke Cake

Take my advice …. y’all might wanna sit down for this one. And say a prayer. Ask for forgiveness, because what you are about to see is a sin, I’m sure! You HAVE to make this Death By Chocolate Poke Cake – soon!!

What’s a girl to do when she wants chocolate? Go all out, of course! I seriously don’t think I could have stuffed much more chocolate into this cake without needing some sort of resuscitation! And we’re not talking about any kind of chocolate here folks …. when you have a serious chocolate deprivation, you go all out!

finished chocolate poke cake in pan

Feast your eyes upon this dark chocolate cake with luscious dark chocolate pudding and oozy dark chocolate topping ….. marry that with a divine mousse-like chocolate layer and for good measure, give it a full giant-sized dark chocolate bar. Be still my heart! I told y’all you would need to sit for this!

Some will call this cake a dream come true … and others will wonder what they got themselves into!! ? Apparently, I don’t need help finding temptation – I can find it all by myself! And I found it for you too! ? This would be a huge hit for any chocolate lover. Be forewarned, people WILL ask for the recipe so be sure to have it handy!

chocolate poke cake slices on plates with cake pan in background

Recipe for Chocolate Poke Cake

  • dark chocolate cake mix
  • Ingredients listed on the box to make the cake
  • instant Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate Pudding mix
  • milk
  • Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate topping
  • frozen whipped topping, thawed
  • Hershey Dark Chocolate candy bar
death by chocolate poke cake slice on plate

How to make Chocolate Poke Cake

  1. Bake the cake according to package directions using a 9×13-in. baking pan.
  2. Mix one of the pudding mixes with the 2 cups of milk in a medium bowl. Poke holes in the hot cake with the round end of a wooden spoon and slowly pour this mixture over the cake, trying to fill the holes.
  3. Microwave the chocolate topping (with the lid off) for about 45 seconds or until it pours easily. Pour evenly over the top of the cake. Let the cake cool completely.
  4. In a medium bowl, combine the second pudding mix with the additional 2 cups of milk. Carefully fold in the Cool Whip. Spread the mixture evenly over the top of the cake. Sprinkle the chopped candy bar over the top.
  5. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Store the cake (covered) in the refrigerator.
death by chocolate poke cake slice on plate

Poke Cake Tips and Tricks

If you have questions about making Death By Chocolate Poke Cake recipe, I have answers! Take a look at this section before leaving a comment if you run into trouble or just want some suggestions.

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  • If you cannot find the Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate Pudding at your local store – you may substitute any instant chocolate pudding in its place.
  • I found the chocolate topping near the ice cream toppings at my local big box store.
overhead view of chocolate poke cake slice on plate

Other poke cake recipes you may enjoy:

chocolate poke cake slice on plate
slice of death by chocolate poke cake on a small white plate
4.46 from 907 votes
Servings: 24 servings

Death By Chocolate Poke Cake

By Jamie Sherman
This Death By Chocolate Poke Cake is for the serious chocolate lover! A chocolate cake that has been poked, filled, and covered with so much chocolate … Can you handle it?! 
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 33 minutes
Total: 53 minutes

Would you like to save this?

We’ll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

Ingredients 

For the Cake:

  • 1 package dark chocolate cake mix, 15.25 oz.
  • Ingredients listed on the box to make the cake
  • 1 box instant Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Pudding mix, 3.56 oz.
  • 4 cups milk, divided
  • 1 box Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate topping, 12.8 oz.

For the topping:

  • 1 box instant Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Pudding mix, 3.56 oz.
  • 1 container frozen whipped topping, thawed, 8 oz.
  • 1 Giant Hershey Dark Chocolate candy bar, chopped, 6.8 oz.

Instructions 

  • Bake the cake according to package directions using a 9×13-inch baking pan.
  • Mix the pudding mix with 2 cups of milk in a medium bowl. Poke holes in the hot cake with the round end of a wooden spoon and slowly pour this mixture over the cake, trying to fill the holes.
  • Microwave the chocolate topping (with the lid off) for about 45 seconds or until it pours easily. Pour evenly over the top of the cake. Let the cake cool completely.
  • In a medium bowl, combine the second pudding mix with the additional 2 cups of milk. Carefully fold in the whipped topping. Spread the mixture evenly over the top of the cake. Sprinkle the chopped candy bar over the top.
  • Refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Store the cake (covered) in the refrigerator.

Notes

  • If you cannot find the Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate Pudding at your local store – you may substitute any instant chocolate pudding in its place.
  • I found the chocolate topping near the ice cream toppings at my local big box store.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g, Calories: 252kcal, Carbohydrates: 37g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.003g, Cholesterol: 5mg, Sodium: 336mg, Potassium: 248mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 23g, Vitamin A: 77IU, Vitamin C: 0.03mg, Calcium: 98mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

Originally published on July 25, 2016. Updated on June 21, 2020.

Jamie

Jamie Sherman founded Love Bakes Good Cakes in February 2012. She is a self-taught home cook passionate about sharing easy, delicious, and family-friendly recipes. From comforting classics to irresistible desserts, I believe homemade food brings people together. Join me on my journey of creating and sharing meals that bring joy to every table!

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4.46 from 907 votes (906 ratings without comment)

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135 Comments

  1. Sheri says:

    I made this for my son’s 17th birthday. He is a chocoholic so I thought this would be perfect. My whole family including me took one bite and our eyes glazed over and we just kept spooning it into our mouths 😁 I made it with devils food cake mix and regular jell-o brand chocolate pudding and Hershey’s special dark fudge sauce. I forgot to buy the candy bar so I put mini chocolate chips on top that I had on hand. This is a definite keeper recipe!!! Thanks so much for sharing!!

  2. Jen says:

    This looks amazing!! I bought chocolate milk to use instead. I will be making this for a college football game tomorrow! Go Hawkeyes!!

  3. Diane says:

    Made this for work and everyone loved it! I had multiole servings myself. Just delicious! Followed the recipe exactly. Will definitely make again!!!

  4. Michele says:

    Just finished making this. It looks decadent! Inviting family over to share so I don’t eat all of it!

  5. Connie says:

    I just made this. Waiting for it cool and add the topping. I have no doubt it will be awesome. My boyfriend was standing by me watching me spread the pudding and fudge topping. He’s drooling already. Lol. I did use milk chocolate cake mix, pudding and fudge cuz he isn’t a dark chocolate fan. He always has a sweet tooth and he was scrolling through Pinterest and seen the pic and said he wanted this cake! Off to the store we went! Looking forward to eat it tonight for dessert!!

  6. Sara says:

    I’ve scrolled through this page for the death by chocolate poke cake multiple times, on both mobile and desktop computer, and can’t locate a recipe card or instructions. Have they been taken down? I would love to try this recipe.

    1. Jamie says:

      Sorry! There was a hiccup with the website but it is fixed now. I apologize for the inconvenience.

  7. Kayla says:

    I know I am probably being dumb, but I cannot find how to get the recipe on this cake. I am so sorry to bother you with this!

    1. Jamie says:

      Sorry! There was a hiccup with the website but it is fixed now. I apologize for the inconvenience.

  8. Sandi says:

    Where is the recipe for the Death by Chocolate Poke Cake? Went thru all comments to get to recipe card…nothing. Found ingredients but not how it’s made!

    1. Jamie says:

      Sorry! There was a hiccup with the website but it is fixed now. I apologize for the inconvenience.

  9. Brenda says:

    Where is the recipe? Not here!

    1. Jamie says:

      Sorry! There was a hiccup with the website but it is fixed now. I apologize for the inconvenience.

  10. Tim says:

    Way too hard to just find the recipe on this site!

    1. Jamie says:

      Sorry! There was a hiccup with the website but it is fixed now. I apologize for the inconvenience.