Key Lime Poke Cake
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Tangy lime flavors and yummy vanilla cake blend together deliciously in this Key Lime Poke Cake Recipe. This easy-to-make cake is perfect for family get-togethers or potlucks!
Key Lime Poke Cake Recipe
If you’re craving a dessert that perfectly balances sweet and tangy flavors with a creamy texture, look no further! Key Lime Poke Cake is a delightful twist on the classic key lime pie, and it’s about to become your new favorite treat.
Imagine the zesty punch of key lime pie combined with the moist, rich texture of vanilla cake—sounds heavenly, right? The best part is that this Key Lime Poke Cake is it is so easy to make—it uses pretty much the same basic ingredients as a key lime pie, plus a boxed white cake mix.
If you’ve never made a poke cake- it’s exactly what it sounds like. Poke a bunch of holes in a cake and pour liquid or another filling into the holes. The filling will seep into the cake and make for an extra yummy dessert!
Why you’ll love This Key Lime Poke Cake
Ingredients For Key Lime Poke Cake
(Ingredients at a glance, you will find the full printable recipe with ingredient amounts in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.)
- White Cake mix: Any white cake mix.
- Eggs and oil: Whatever is needed to make the boxed cake.
- Sweetened condensed milk: Make sure to use sweetened condensed milk and not evaporated milk.
- Half and half: Half and half or heavy cream will both work.
- Lime juice: Fresh lime juice is best but jarred is a good substitute. Look for key limes or key lime juice for the best flavor.
- Whipped vanilla frosting: Store-bought vanilla frosting works, or you can use lightly sweetened homemade whipped cream. If you make whipped cream you can add a bit of lime juice for more flavor.
- Optional: Green food coloring; if you want your cake to look green, add a few drops of food coloring. Plus a few limes for garnish. (Slices and zest for a decorative touch.)
How To Make
1 Prepare cake. Prepare and bake the cake according to package directions.
2 Poke holes in cake: Using the handle of a spoon poke, lots of holes, the more there are, the better the cake will turn out.
3 Pour the cream. Evenly distribute 1/2 cup half-and-half (or heavy cream, if using) into the holes in the cake.
4 Prepare the filling. In a large bowl, mix sweetened condensed milk and the rest of the half-and-half together (or heavy cream). Add lime juice and pour it over the cake. Work the lime filling into all the holes with a spatula. There will be a good amount of filling left on top of the cake.
5 Refrigerate the cake. Put the cake into the fridge for at least an hour.
6 Frost the cake. Gently spread frosting/whipped cream over the top of cake. Garnish with lime zest and lime slices. Store in the fridge until ready to serve.
Recipe Tips
- Use the handle of a wooden spoon or a chopstick to poke the holes in the cake. You want the holes to be large enough so that you can pour the filling inside.
- Work quickly with the lime filling. Once the lime juice is added to the milk mixture, it sets fast. Pour it over the cake immediately.
- Let the filling set before you add the frosting.
- For even more lime flavor add lime zest to the filling or frosting.
Variations
- Coconut Lime Poke Cake: Add shredded coconut to the topping for a tropical twist.
- Key Lime Cheesecake Poke Cake: Mix some cream cheese into the frosting for an extra layer of creaminess.
- Berry Lime Poke Cake: Top the cake with fresh berries for a fruity complement to the tart key lime.
- Chocolate Lime Poke Cake: Drizzle a bit of melted white chocolate over the top for a decadent touch.
Storage
Store this cake in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
FAQs
Can I use a homemade cake recipe to make this poke cake?
Yes, any vanilla cake will work to make this poke cake.
Can I make this key lime pie poke cake ahead of time?
Absolutely! In fact, the cake tastes even better after sitting in the fridge overnight, allowing the flavors to meld together.
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Print
Key Lime Poke Cake Recipe
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 30
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 slices 1x
- Category: desserts
- Method: oven
Description
Tangy lime flavors and yummy vanilla cake blend together deliciously in this Key Lime Poke Cake Recipe. This easy to make cake is just perfect for family get-togethers or potlucks.
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 15.25 oz box Pillsbury White Cake mix (plus ingredients for the cake – usually a couple of eggs and oil)
Filling
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 and 1/2 cups, divided half and half or heavy cream – you can use either
- 1/2 cup lime juice
- optional: green food coloring
Frosting
- 1 container (12 oz) whipped vanilla frosting or 2-3 cups lightly sweetened homemade whipped cream (you can add a bit of lime juice for a bit more flavor)
- optional: limes for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare cake mix according to package directions.
- Poke holes in cake with handle of spoon. (Poke lots of holes- the more there are, the better the cake will turn out.)
- Evenly distribute 1/2 cup half n half or cream into the holes on the cake
- In a large bowl, mix sweetened condensed milk and 3/4 cup half n half or cream together
- Working very quickly, add lime juice to the mixture and pour it over the cake. (Once you have added the lime to the milk mixture, the filling sets very very fast.) Work the lime filling into all the holes with a spatula. There will be a good amount of filling left on top of the cake.
- Put the cake into the fridge for at least an hour.
- Gently spread frosting/whipped cream over the top of cake.
- Garnish with lime zest and lime slices
- Store in the fridge until ready to serve.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/12 of recipe
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