Easy Margarita Poke Cake
During this busy time of year, I turned to Jamie Sherman’s The Poke Cake Cookbook for an effortless, decadent dessert like this Easy Margarita Poke Cake!
This Poke Cake Recipe has a citrus twist with lemon cake mix, lemon pudding, and lime zest! Plus, it’s as easy to make as it is to eat!!
Why You Must Make
Word had gotten around at my oldest son’s workplace that his mom was a food blogger. He signed up for their Halloween pitch-in under the dessert category with “Mom’s leftovers.” Now doesn’t that sound appetizing? Basically, it was a disclaimer that there would be pieces missing that were used for photographs. I have to admit that sometimes a LOT of pieces need to be sliced before I get that beautiful, blog-worthy slice!
- This is perfect for those times you need a super easy dessert recipe!
- It’s guaranteed to be moist with those pockets of pudding!
- Once you’ve made a poke cake, you can invent your own versions with different cake and pudding flavors!
My friend Jamie’s cookbook was just recently released and I had to try one of her poke cakes. This dreamy Margarita Poke Cake caught my eye!
Recipe Tips
- After the cake is baked and has cooled for about 15-20 minutes, use the handle end of a wooden spoon and poke holes about every 1/2 to 1 inch. I re-poked each hole with my scrupulously clean finger to press down any excess crumbs.
- Let the pudding thicken a bit before pouring it into the holes you created and across the top of the cake. It should be of pourable consistency.
- Carefully smooth the doctored-up Cool Whip over the surface, then pop it into the fridge for at least 4 hours so that the pudding can thicken even more and the awesome margarita flavors can meld.
- I’ve shared a Boston Cream Pie Poke Cake, a Turtle Poke Cake, and a Triple Chocolate Poke Cake on the blog, but now there will be a whole lot more, thanks to Jamie’s cookbook!
The Poke Cake Cookbook
Jamie’s first cookbook, The Poke Cake Cookbook: 75 Delicious Cake and Filling Combinations, is chock full of amazing poke cake recipes, 75 to be exact. There are sections on the classics, like Black Forest and Chocolate Cream Pie poke cakes, chocolate poke cakes, simple fruit poke cakes, and even kid-friendly poke cakes. Honestly, there is something for everyone! The Mudslide Poke Cake is certain to happen at our house soon, and I’ve also been eyeing the Better Than Sex Cake. Hello, caramel topping and chopped toffee bars!
If you’re bringing desserts to pitch-ins, work potlucks, or just want an easy treat for your family, you’ll love this cookbook! Check out Jamie’s wildly popular blog, Love Bakes Good Cakes, too.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re new to poke cakes, they’ve been around since the ’70s, but back then, it was jello poke cakes that were de rigueur! Jello was poured over a baked, strategically “poked” cake to give it more richness, moisture, and a colorful flair. More recently, these doctored-up cake mix recipes have turned to pudding mixes instead plus the traditional Cool Whip Topping. Sounded perfect for the lab rats Tom works with.
In this “Margarita” version, the base was a lemon cake mix with some added lime zest, tequila, and margarita mix; the pudding was vanilla with a boost from Triple Sec, tequila, and lime juice; and finally, the topping was Cool Whip with a touch more tequila.
Yes, if the recipe calls for baking a 9 x 13-inch box cake mix, just make sure to make a homemade version of the same size.
Yes, the Cool Whip can be replaced with sweetened whipped cream. Make sure to add some vanilla extract, too. Note that real whipped cream may start to separate after a day or so. Using powdered sugar to sweeten or a product like Whip-It will help to stabilize the cream.
You May Also Like
- Chocolate Kahlua Poke Cake
- More Than 15 Irresistible Poke Cakes from Beyond Frosting
- Creamsicle Orange Poke Cake from Spend with Pennies
- Lemon Burst Poke Cake from Melissa’s Southern Style Kitchen
- Snickers Poke Cake from Crazy for Crust
- Plus all my Best Cake Recipes
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Easy Margarita Poke Cake
An easy dessert recipe with all the flavors of your favorite margarita cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1 (15.25-oz) box lemon cake mix
- Nonalcoholic margarita mix (enough to substitute for the amount of water listed in cake mix directions)
- 4 tablespoons tequila, divided
- Zest of 1 lime
- 1 (3.4-oz) package lemon instant pudding mix
- 2 cups cold milk
- 1 tablespoon Triple Sec
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 (8-oz) tub frozen whipped topping, thawed
- Lime slices, for garnish
- Lime zest for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare and bake the cake according to package directions, substituting margarita mix for the water and adding 2 tablespoons of tequila and lime zest to the batter, using a 13 x 9-inch cake pan.
- Let the cake cool for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Using the round end of a wooden spoon, poke holes in the cake every 1/2 inch to 1 inch.
- Empty the pudding mix into a medium-sized bowl and add the milk. Whisk briskly for 2 minutes or until the pudding is dissolved.
- Add 1 tablespoon of tequila, the Triple Sec, and lime juice. Mix well.
- Evenly pour over the poked cake, filling the holes as much as possible.
- Place the covered cake in the refrigerator for 2 to 4 hours or until the pudding is set.
- Combine the whipped topping and the remaining 1 tablespoon of tequila in a large bowl until well combined.
- Evenly spread the whipped topping mixture over the cake.
- Garnish with lime slices and zest. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.
Notes
Store covered in the refrigerator.
Recommended Products
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
18Serving Size:
1 sliceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 293Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 328mgCarbohydrates: 53gFiber: 1gSugar: 8gProtein: 3g
16 Comments on “Easy Margarita Poke Cake”
This part is very hard to understand; any chance of an update?
“ Nonalcoholic margarita mix (enough to substitute for around of water listen in cake mix directions)”
Hi, Kristina, this is a recipe from a friend’s cookbook, so I used it word for word. Basically, since this is made with a cake mix, do not use the water listed on the box, but replace it with margarita mix. This gives a boost of margarita flavor to the cake. I hope that makes sense!
Great. I would love to make this at home. This looks so delicious. Thanks for the recipe.
The pudding oozing out of the cake looks irresistible! I haven’t made many and the cookbook sounds like one I would like to add to my collection.
Poke cakes are just not a thing in the UK, which is a shame because they look awesome. I think it’s because we don’t have instant pudding like you guys in the US. I must try making one, one day just to see if I can UK style it 😉 love citrus flavours so I know I’d love this one.
Love the fun tropical twist on this cake! Can we all be transported to a warm tropical island, too?! 🙂
Wow, your photos are so professional! Do you use retouching? Tell me what you think about these tips and ideas for food photography retouching http://fixthephoto.com/blog/retouch-tips/how-to-edit-food-photos.html. I would like to hear your advice. Thanks in advance!
What a fun way to eat cake, and it sounds delicious!
No to be now confused with the Hawaiian Poke dish lol. But yum margarita flavored, looks so good. I want Liz’s leftovers.
This sounds FABULOUS! Margaritas are my favorite drink but I’d much rather have one in cake form than as a beverage.
I remember baking a poke cake in my teens, the family loved how moist it was. This one sounds perfect for a festive dessert this holiday season.
Bet this has wonderful flavor! Such a fun cake — and I’d take your “leftovers” any old time! It is amazing how many slices we need to cut for photos, isn’t it? And for quality control purposes, of course. 🙂
this cake looks great! I love poke cakes
I love the idea of a poke cake and yours looks delicious!
I’d sign up for a slice of your leftovers too:@) Poke cakes sound like a lot of fun and this one looks delicious!
What a fun and delicious recipe! I have never baked a poke cake and it’s time to start now since it’s holiday season.