10 Party-Worthy Poke Cakes You'd Invite Anywhere

By Vanessa Greaves
March 03, 2021
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

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

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

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

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." ā€”rjordan77

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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!" ā€”The Dutch Girl

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Mexican Tres Leches Cake (Pastel de 3 Leches)

Credit: Magda
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"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!" ā€”mega

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Pumpkin Caramel Bourbon Poke Cake

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

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

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

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

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.
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