Double chocolate poke cake with vanilla bean frosting

With a secret ingredient that brings out all the chocolate goodness from both the baking chocolate and cocoa powder, this made from scratch double chocolate poke cake with vanilla bean frosting will be everyone’s favorite!

I’m a chocolate girl all the way! There’s no doubt about it! Some days I go for semi-sweet, but most of the time, 70% chocolate is my guilt free pleasure. And when I don’t wanna feel guilty (pretty much every day) I choose flavored chocolate bars, you know – coconut chocolate, caramel chocolate, hazelnut creme chocolate, peanut butter chocolate to name just a few.

When grocery shopping, I always pick a flavor I haven’t tried before! My latest is strawberry waffle wild chocolate.

Although I’m pretty adventurous when it comes to chocolate bars, when making my own desserts, I prefer the classic flavors. After all, you can never go wrong with a double chocolate cake topped with a generous layer of vanilla bean frosting!

This cake has been in the works for a couple of weeks. In fact, I wanted to recreate it at the retreat I hosted last month to showcase all our amazing sponsors!

But, I was not fully satisfied with the results and have been working on this double chocolate poke cake since! And let me tell you, it was worth it!

Unlike the Irish cream chocolate poke cake I shared with you last month, this double chocolate poke cake starts with melted chocolate. Melted chocolate is always a good sign 🙂 While you measure all the ingredients you brew a fresh pot of coffee, pour it over the chocolate and let it slowly melt.

While you measure all the ingredients you brew a fresh pot of coffee, pour it over the chocolate and let it slowly melt.

If you don’t like coffee, don’t run away! Once the cake is baked and frosted the coffee flavor is barely noticeable.

Plus, the coffee brings out all that chocolate goodness, so you don’t wanna substitute it!

Now that we took cake of one chocolate, let’s talk about the cocoa powder!

Dutch process unsweetened cocoa powder!

I’m not going to start talking Dutch, nor do you need to eat this cake while wearing wooden shoes. No, it’s just the name given to the cocoa powder which acidity has been neutralized. I guess that’s why sometimes is also called alkalized cocoa powder.

Unlike the natural unsweetened cocoa powder, Dutch cocoa powder does not interact with baking soda in baked desserts. Recipes calling for Dutch cocoa powder need baking powder as a leavening agent.

But, because my cake calls for chocolate, coffee and buttermilk, you’ll need both baking soda and baking powder.

Baking soda to interact with the acidity in chocolate, coffee and buttermilk and baking powder to help rise the cake.

I hope I didn’t get you all confused with my nerdy talk about cocoa powder. It took me a while to learn the difference between the two. And now that I know, I can celebrate with a piece of cake!

In addition to the acidic ingredients (chocolate, coffee and buttermilk) and the Dutch process cocoa powder, you’ll also need eggs, all-purpose flour, sugar, oil, vanilla extract and both baking soda and baking powder.

The process is very simple!

You beat the eggs until frothy, add in the wet ingredients and the melted chocolate and last but not least stir in the dry ingredients. Pour into the pan and bake! Once the cake was baked and cooled, I decided on the classic condensed milk ( chocolate condensed milk is a great substitute) but with a twist!

To combine both the vanilla and chocolate flavors in the cake, I stirred a teaspoon of Rodelle vanilla paste into the condensed milk. Oh my! Why didn’t I think about this sooner??

The vanilla flavor is just so delicate!

For the vanilla bean frosting, I used the same recipe as for these cupcakes! It’s my favorite!

The cake is incredibly moist and rich! Combining the classic chocolate and vanilla flavors will satisfy both teams!

I know it takes a little bit of time to make the cake since you have to let it soak for a couple of hours, but with a little bit of planning, you can make it every time you crave both chocolate and vanilla!

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Double chocolate poke cake with vanilla bean frosting recipe

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Roxana

Yields one 13X9" baking pan

With a secret ingredient that brings out all the chocolate goodness from both the baking chocolate and cocoa powder, this made from scratch double chocolate poke cake with vanilla bean frosting will be everyone's favorite at the next potluck!

20 minPrep Time

1 hrCook Time

1 hr, 20 Total Time

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Ingredients

• 4 oz unsweetened baking chocolate , roughly chopped
• 1 1/2 cups freshly brewed black coffee, hot
• 3 eggs , room temperature
• 3/4 cup grapeseed or vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups Dutch process unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla paste
Vanilla bean frosting
• 1 cup butter, room temperature
• 1 vanilla bean
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 2-4 tablespoons heavy cream

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 325F. Line a 13X9" baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
2. In a small bowl add the chopped chocolate. Pour the hot coffee over it and let it sit for about 1 minute. With a small whisk or spatula, stir until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.
3. In the mixing bowl of your stand mixer, add the eggs. With the paddle attachment on, beat on medium-low speed until frothy and pale.
4. Beat in the oil, buttermilk, vanilla extract and melted chocolate.
5. Gently fold in the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
6. Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan.
7. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Remove the cake from the oven and let cool completely.
9. With the handle of a wooden spoon poke holes into the cake.
10. Stir 1 teaspoon of vanilla paste into the can of condensed milk. Pour it over the cake.
11. Let the cake soak up the milk for a couple of hours, or better, overnight.
12. Make the vanilla bean frosting
13. In a mixing bowl add the butter. With the paddle attachment on, beat on low speed until light and fluffy about 3-5minutes.
14. Meanwhile, split the vanilla bean lengthwise into two halves with a sharp pairing knife, holding onto the bean's "hook" with your fingers.
15. With the flat, unsharpened side of the knife, scrape the seeds as much as possible from the two vanilla bean halves.
16. Add the vanilla seeds to the creamed butter.
17. Gently beat in the powder sugar, a little at a time.
18. When all the sugar is added, increase the mixer's speed to medium-high and beat for 2-3 more minutes.
19. If you think your frosting is too thick, add a few drops of heavy cream until you reach desired consistency.
20. Spread the frosting over the cake.
21. Cut into bars and enjoy!

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Roxana Yawgel http://atreatsaffair.com/ All images and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, or simply link back to this post for the recipe. Thank you.

Disclosure – Blog’n Bake Retreat was sponsored by Dixie Crystals, Safest Choice Eggs and Rodelle Vanilla with product offered by Gold Medal Flour, Theo Chocolate and Ninja Coffee Bar Brewer. I was under no obligation to develop this recipe or write this blog post.