Easiest Snickerdoodle Cake Recipe

This cake is so easy, and although it needs a few hours to chill, the amount of active hands on time is literally five minutes, which in my book means this cake is a fast one to make. And it’s convenient. If you want to make an amazing 100% from-scratch snickerdoodle cake, make this Snickerdoodle Bundt Cake. It’s a reader favorite and amazing. I was surprised by how much snickerdoodle flavor this cake has. The Greek yogurt gives the cake the slightest bit of tang for an authentic snickerdoodle flavor profile. 

And like all poke cakes, this one is moist and succulent thanks to the sweetened condensed that seeps into all the nooks and crannies of the cake.  It doesn’t read overly sweet though. Yes it’s sweet but not cloyingly sweet. The whipped topping is perfect here because it’s light, airy, and not too sweet. I gave away most of this cake to my daughter’s school in the interest of waist management (mine) and it got rave reviews. If only they knew how ridiculously easy it was to whip up.

What’s in the Snickerdoodle Poke Cake? 

I made this snickerdoodle cake with box cake mix to save time, but I suppose you can make a yellow cake from scratch instead if desired. I wanted to save myself the time and effort though, so here’s what I used to make the poke cake: 

Boxed yellow cake mix  Eggs Water Oil Greek yogurt or sour cream Cinnamon Vanilla extract Sweetened condensed milk Whipped topping

How to Make Snickerdoodle Poke Cake 

This cake, however, starts with a box of yellow cake mix that you doctor up with Greek yogurt, ample cinnamon, and vanilla extract. After baking and cooling briefly, poke holes all over the cake using the blunt end of a wooden spatula. Then pour a can of sweetened condensed milk over the cake, allowing it to seep into the holes.  Top the cake with a container of whipped topping, aka Cool Whip, and allow the cake to set up in the fridge for a few hours.

Can This Cake Be Made in Advance? 

Yes! If you’re hosting a party or event and want to knock out the dessert a day or two in advance, this is the perfect make-ahead cake. It keeps beautifully in the fridge, staying moist without becoming soggy, and your guests will be none the wiser that you made it a day or two beforehand. I recommend not garnishing with cinnamon until just before service. The whipped topping will stay looking ‘fresher’ if you sprinkle the cinnamon on right at the time of service. Plus, it adds a wow factor to sprinkle away with cinnamon in a dramatic fashion in front of your guests. Putting the finishing touch on your ‘masterpiece’ and all.

Tips for Making a Snickerdoodle Cake

You can substitute sour cream for Greek yogurt. I don’t recommend fat-free products because they won’t leave you with as moist of a cake. I was tempted to use a cream cheese frosting and while you could, in my opinion it will cause the cake to become overly rich and heavy tasting, whereas with the whipped topping, it doesn’t. Be sure to use a whipped topping like Cool Whip and not actual whipped cream. Whipped cream is more prone to deflating and doesn’t hold up as well in the fridge. 

More Snickerdoodle Desserts: 

Snickerdoodle Cake— The interior of this addicting snickerdoodle cake is soft, buttery, dense, and has an almost pound cake-like texture. The cinnamon-sugar filling is my favorite part! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes!

The BEST Snickerdoodles Recipe — Soft, pillowy puffs that are so irresistible! The closest recipe to Mrs. Fields snickerdoodles that you’ll find!

Chai Snickerdoodle Cookies — The soft, buttery dough soaks up the warming notes of the chai spices beautifully! 

Soft & Chewy Molasses Gingerdoodles— These soft molasses cookies taste like a cross between chewy gingerbread cookies and crinkly snickerdoodles. An unbeatable holiday cookie recipe!

Snickerdoodle Bread — Bread that tastes like snickerdoodle cookies!! Loaded with cinnamon chips and a cinnamon-sugar crust! Delish!!!

Snickerdoodle Bars — These soft and chewy bars taste just like snickerdoodle cookies minus the work of dragging out your mixer to cream ingredients, chilling dough, or making individual cookies.

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