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  6. 10 Party-Worthy Poke Cakes You'd Invite Anywhere

10 Party-Worthy Poke Cakes You'd Invite Anywhere

Vanessa Greaves
By Vanessa Greaves March 03, 2021
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slice of Mexican Tres Leches Cake (Pastel de 3 Leches) and sliced cake
Credit: Magda

Poke cake is fun to make and endlessly versatile. You start with a boxed cake mix (or bake from scratch), poke holes in the baked cake, pour a flavorful liquid over the top, and let the cake soak it all up before frosting or glazing. No more dried out cake, even days after you make it (if it lasts that long). And with an almost infinite variety of cake + pour-over combos, you can make poke cakes for any season and any reason. While poke cakes are popular for casual eating, here are 10 extra-nice poke cakes we think are just right for your next special occasion. Stick around and we'll share our top tips for making poke cakes, too.

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Triple Berry Cheesecake Poke Cake

squares of triple berry cheesecake poke cake on glass plates
Credit: Allrecipes
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A yellow cake is drenched with a berrylicious filling and topped with no-bake cheesecake before resting in the fridge overnight to let the flavors come together. Reviewers agree it's the overnight soak that really makes the difference, so be patient.

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Lemon Poke Cake II

slice of lemon poke cake topped with whipped cream and lemon slice
Credit: Jessica Murphy
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The recipe calls for yellow cake mix and lemon pudding, but some reviewers amped up the lemony flavor by using lemon cake mix and a full cup of lemon juice in the glaze. You could switch up the citrus in the glaze for an extra layer of fun.

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Tiramisu Poke Cake

Tiramisu Poke Cake
Credit: Allrecipes
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Inspired by the classic Italian dessert, this poke cake starts with white cake mix and gets soaked with a heady concoction of coffee-flavored liqueur, cocoa powder, and espresso powder. It then gets a creamy topping before chilling out in the fridge. Mmmmm so good.

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Coconut Poke Cake

square of coconut poke cake topped with shredded coconut
Credit: Autumneyes
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"This cake was absolutely delicious! I was nervous about using everything out of a can/box/tub, but it turned out great. Coconut cake is my hubs favorite, so I made it for his birthday and he can't stop raving about it." —rjordan77

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Banana Pudding Poke Cake

Banana Pudding Poke Cake
Credit: cbailey
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"Folks, it doesn't get any easier than this. And talk about a CROWD PLEASER! I've made this one several times since finding it 8 months ago and have done different variations now. The two favorites have been lemon and oreo with chocolate cake. Thanks for posting, this is now my go-to!" —The Dutch Girl

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Mexican Tres Leches Cake (Pastel de 3 Leches)

slice of Mexican Tres Leches Cake (Pastel de 3 Leches) and sliced cake
Credit: Magda
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

"Pastel de 3 leches literally means 'cake made with three milks' in Spanish, and this classic Mexican cake is soaked in just that. Super moist and delicious, this cake is easy to make and will be the talk of your next party!" —mega

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Pumpkin Caramel Bourbon Poke Cake

Pumpkin Caramel Bourbon Poke Cake on a white plate
Credit: Stasty Cook
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Homemade pumpkin cake goes for a warm and cozy soak with a caramel sauce spiked with bourbon. (Wouldn't you?) Then real whipped cream goes over the top along with a drizzle of caramel sauce.

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Refreshing Limoncello Cake

limoncello bundt cake with glaze and fruit garnish
Credit: naples34102
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Soaked with limoncello liqueur, this grown-up version of a lemon cake can be baked as a layer cake, a sheet cake, a Bundt cake, or as cupcakes. No matter which way you choose to go, you're going to spread sunshine and happy smiles.

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Coconut Tres Leches Cake

slice of coconut tres leches cake topped with coconut flakes and lime zest
Credit: Smart Cookie
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This easy made-from-scratch cake is soaked with coconut milk and topped with coconut whipped cream, toasted coconut, and lime zest.

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Boozy Irish Whiskey Cake

slice of irish whiskey poke cake
Credit: Yoly
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This adults-only poke cake is literally has whiskey in the batter and whiskey over the top. Proceed with caution.

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Top Tips to Make the Best Poke Cakes

A square slice of cake made with white cake mix and orange Jell-O, frosted with whipped topping
Credit: Dianne
  • For best results, cake should be warm but not hot to the touch when you pour the liquid over.
  • If the liquid you're pouring is thick, you can poke larger holes with skewers, chopsticks, or the handle of a wooden spoon.
  • Get creative with cake, pour-over mixture, and frosting colors to go with special holiday themes.
  • Most poke cakes are even better if you let them chill in the fridge overnight before serving.
  • Get More Poke Cake Recipes
  • 7 Ways to Make a Box Cake Mix Taste Homemade

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By Vanessa Greaves

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    1 of 11 Triple Berry Cheesecake Poke Cake
    2 of 11 Lemon Poke Cake II
    3 of 11 Tiramisu Poke Cake
    4 of 11 Coconut Poke Cake
    5 of 11 Banana Pudding Poke Cake
    6 of 11 Mexican Tres Leches Cake (Pastel de 3 Leches)
    7 of 11 Pumpkin Caramel Bourbon Poke Cake
    8 of 11 Refreshing Limoncello Cake
    9 of 11 Coconut Tres Leches Cake
    10 of 11 Boozy Irish Whiskey Cake
    11 of 11 Top Tips to Make the Best Poke Cakes

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    10 Party-Worthy Poke Cakes You'd Invite Anywhere
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