Chocolate Poke Cake

Ingredients

• one 15.25 ounce box chocolate cake mix
• one 3-ounce package of chocolate fudge instant pudding mix (dry)
• 5 ounces plain greek yogurt or sour cream
• 3/4 cup vegetable or canola oil
• 1/2 cup milk
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup chocolate syrup (such as Hershey's)
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/3 cup chocolate fudge instant pudding mix (dry)

Instructions

1. 1

   --- For the Cake: ---

2. 2

   Preheat oven to 350F and spray a 9x13-inch pan with cooking spray; set aside.

3. 3

   To a large mixing bowl, add all the ingredients and mix with a handheld electric mixer or stir by hand. Note that the batter will be thick*.

4. 4

   Bake for about 28-32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 30 minutes.

5. 5

   Using the tines of a fork, poke holes all over the cake, going down nearly do the base of the cake, and I estimate I poked the cake in about 50 different places.

6. 6

   --- For the Filling: ---

7. 7

   To a medium bowl, add both ingredients, and whisk to combine.

8. 8

   Evenly pour the filling mixture over the cake, noting that it may take a few minutes for all of the mixture to soak in, but it will so have patience.

9. 9

   --- For the Frosting: ---

10. 10

    To a large mixing bowl, add all the ingredients and beat with the whisk attachment of a handheld electric mixer or do it in your stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.

11. 11

    Evenly spread the frosting over the top of the cake, cover, and refrigerate** until serving.