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Key Lime Poke Cake is a delicious white cake that is seeping with a sweet and tart mixture that soaks into the holes. Topped with fresh whipping cream and strawberries this makes a delicious dessert!
Hi, it’s Jenn, from Eat Cake For Dinner. Every Summer, I suddenly become obsessed with key lime everything and I have been craving it like crazy lately. I love that super tart, make you pucker-up, flavor of key limes. Key lime was not a flavor I ever ate growing up, but I have been hooked ever since my first bite of that key lime pie 6 or so years ago.
This poke cake satisfies my craving for both key lime and cake. If you have ever made a poke cake, then you know how easy they are.
This delicious cake starts with a boxed white cake that you prepare according to package directions. After it’s baked, you poke holes all over and then cover it in a sweet and tart key lime mixture that soaks down into the cake and fills all those holes. Top it all off with some fresh whipped cream and strawberries. The perfect blend of tart and sweet. What’s your favorite key lime recipe?
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Key Lime Poke Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box white cake mix plus ingredients called for on the box
For the Key Lime Filling:
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk 14 oz.
- 3/4 cup whipping cream
- grated zest of 1/2 a lime
- 4 drops yellow food coloring opt.
- 1 drop green food coloring opt.
- 1/2 cup bottled key lime juice I use Nellie and Joe's
For Topping:
- 1 1/4 cup whipping cream
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 3 Tbl. sugar
For Garnish:
- Fresh strawberries sliced
- lime slices opt.
- grated lime zest opt.
Instructions
- Prepare and bake cake according to package directions for a 9x13-inch pan. Remove from oven, cool for 5 minutes and then poke holes all over the cake using the handle of a wooden spoon, being careful not to poke all the way to the bottom; set aside.
For the Filling:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, whipping cream, lime zest and food coloring. Last, stir in the key lime juice. Once you add the key lime juice, it will start to thicken pretty quickly. Pour filling over the top of the cake, spread back and forth so it fills the holes. Refrigerate for at least one hour or up to overnight.
For the Topping:
- Add the whipping cream to a medium bowl that has been chilled in the freezer. Using a hand mixer, mix cream until frothy. Add the vanilla and gradually add the sugar as you mix. Mix until peaks form. Spread over cake and garnish with sliced strawberries, sliced limes and grated lime zest, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Made this using fresh key limes and my great-aunts juice press which made it even more pleasurable to eat than expected. Thanks for the recipe.
Tasted delicious! The liquid is a little too thick to soak through the holes into the cake. Mine just kind of sat on top of the cake, despite me applying pressure & trying to force it into the holes. Any tips?
Hi, thanks for your question! The holes have to be fairly big, like the handle of a thick wooden spoon, big. I don’t know how warm your cake was when you poured the liquid over it, but the cake should be pretty warm when it’s spread over the top. If you want it thinner, a few splashes of milk will thin it down just enough. But be careful, it shouldn’t be thin like the liquid for tres leches. I hope that helps!
This was delicious and oh, so simple! What a great thing to take to any BBQ this summer!
Do you have to refrigerate this poke cake for a next day serving?
Yep! That’s the best way to store it since it’s made with condensed milk.
Can you use fresh lime juice instead of bottled?
Yes!
The filling was so thick that it wouldn’t go into the holes even though I poured it immediately.
This key lime poke cake turned out great! It’s the perfect light dessert
was good but 1 can of milk
plus other ingredients didn’t even fill up holes even 1/2 full. Bummer cause that was best part.
I had so much that it covered the cake as well as going in the holes. Hmmmm
Yum! Key Lime is the BEST, especially in the summer!
Is the 3 T sugar granulated or powdered? It seems that if you use granulated, the frosting would be grainy. Thanks
My sister-in-law introduced me to lemon poke cake years ago, and it was an instant favorite. For the longest time, I had no idea you could do other poke cakes, lol. This one has been printed, and I can’t wait to try it!
hey girl this looks so yummy!