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Kahlua Chocolate Poke Cake Recipe

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This Kahlua Chocolate Poke Cake is a chocolate cake that’s baked in, soaked in, and frosted with Kahlua. It’s the ultimate boozy dessert!

This Kahlua Chocolate Poke Cake is a deliciously boozy dessert that will get any party started! This Chocolate cake is baked with, soaked in, and frosted with Kahlua. It's the ultimate boozy dessert!

Kahlua Chocolate Poke Cake

If you love boozy desserts, you HAVE to try this Kahlua Chocolate Poke Cake!

My husband thinks I have a problem when it comes to making desserts. In fact, he thinks I have several, them being:

  1. I consume too many of them.
  2. I make too many of them.
  3. I tend to go a little over the top when I make them, like my Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cake for example.

But honestly, how could something like this Kahlua Chocolate Poke Cake be a problem? I just don’t see how it’s possible, especially if you like boozy desserts. And trust me, this one is boooooozy!

This Kahlua Chocolate Poke Cake is a deliciously boozy dessert that will get any party started!

Every year on the 4th of July, I get put in charge of drinks and desserts and my mother in law always asks me to bring something patriotic… but I never listen.

This year I served up this delicious cake and my chewy Monster Cookies. Nothing says freedom like a ridiculous dessert, am I right?

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Kahlua Chocolate Poke Cake

This cake is loaded up with 1 1/2 cups of Kahlua and definitely shouldn’t be served to the kiddos! There’s a 1/2 cup baked into the cake, a 1/2 cup soaked into the cake, and a 1/2 cup of it in the frosting, needless to say, it’s a feel-good kind of dessert!

This Kahlua Chocolate Poke Cake is a deliciously boozy dessert!

If you’ve never had a poke cake, it’s basically a sheet cake that’s been baked and then had holes poked into it and had some sort of liquid poured over it, in this case, Kahlua and sweetened condensed milk. The cake absorbs all of the liquid and makes for a super moist and delicious sweet treat.

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Boozy Kahlua Chocolate Poke Cake Recipe

If you’re into boozy desserts, you’re going to go crazy over this cake. It’s rich, sweet, and hits all the right notes. And when you’ve had one of those weeks where you just need a drink and some chocolate, this cake will save you.

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This Kahlua Chocolate Poke Cake is a chocolate cake that's baked in, soaked in, and frosted with Kahlua. It's the ultimate boozy dessert!

Readers are Loving this Cake!

Heidi H. shares the ultimate boozy pour shot!

Kahlua Chocolate Poke Cake Recipe

Erin M. loved this cake too!

Kahlua Poke Cake Recipe

 Classroom Cakes made it, did you make it too? Share a picture on Instagram and tag me to have your photo included here!

Homemade Kahlua Poke Cake Recipe

More Delicious Poke Cakes!

Kahlua Chocolate Poke Cake

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This Kahlua Chocolate Poke Cake is a chocolate cake that's baked in, soaked in, and frosted with Kahlua. It's the ultimate boozy dessert!

Watch how to make this cake in the video below!

5 from 1 vote
This Kahlua Chocolate Poke Cake is a deliciously boozy dessert that will get any party started! This Chocolate cake is baked with, soaked in, and frosted with Kahlua. It's the ultimate boozy dessert!
Print
Kahlua Chocolate Poke Cake
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Total Time
1 hr
 

This Kahlua Chocolate Poke Cake is a chocolate cake that's baked in, soaked in, and frosted with Kahlua. It's the ultimate boozy dessert!

Course: Dessert
Servings: 20
Calories: 478 kcal
Author: Rebecca Hubbell
Ingredients
Cake:
Liquid:
Frosting:
  • 1 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup Kahlua
  • 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1/3 cup instant chocolate fudge Jell-O pudding mix dry
Optional:
Instructions
Cake:
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.

  3. In a large bowl or stand mixer, combined all of the cake ingredients until fully mixed and pour into the prepared pan. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until toothpick comes clean from center of the cake. Remove from oven and poke holes in the cake with the handle of a wooden spoon or a skewer. 

Liquid:
  1. In a medium bowl, combine the Kahlua and sweetened condensed milk until combined.

  2. Pour liquid mixture over the cake. Allow the cake to soak and cool.

Frosting:

  1. Once the cake has cooled, beat all ingredients in a large bowl or stand mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Frost cake and top with chocolate sprinkles if desired.

Nutrition Facts
Kahlua Chocolate Poke Cake
Amount Per Serving
Calories 478 Calories from Fat 234
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 26g 40%
Saturated Fat 16g 80%
Cholesterol 70mg 23%
Sodium 353mg 15%
Potassium 189mg 5%
Total Carbohydrates 51g 17%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Sugars 41g
Protein 5g 10%
Vitamin A 9.1%
Vitamin C 0.9%
Calcium 12.6%
Iron 7.9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  6. For the 3.9 oz package Jell-O Instant Chocolate Fudge Pudding in the cake… do you make up the pudding or put it in dry? Thanks!

    Reply

  7. The cake mix I got it calls for 1 ¼ cup of water. I did not see any liquids for the cake portion of the ingredients. I just want to make sure I’m also adding the liquid protion our not. Thanks!

    Reply

  8. If you choose to refrigerate overnight, is it better to frost and then refigerate or frost right before serving?

    How many total boxes of chocolate pudding is needed for the recipe? Can chocolate pudding be substitute for chocolate fudge pudding if you can’t find it?

    Do the chocolate chips melt during baking?

    Excuse all the questions, it’s for an odfice potluck & I want to make sure it comes out perfect. 🙂

    Reply

    • Hi there! The frosting is always best before serving because it’s always nice and fluffy right after being whipped, but it will still be good and delicious if made ahead of time as long as the cake is stored in the fridge. The max amount of time I would make the frosting ahead is 1 day, because you might have leftovers and want then to last a day or two.

      You will need two 3.9-ounce boxes of pudding, one full box for the cake and only 1/3 cup out of the second box for the frosting. You can definitely use regular chocolate pudding if you can’t find the chocolate fudge – just make sure it’s INSTANT!

      The chocolate chips don’t really melt, but just get soft, they will harden back up as the cake cools but you won’t notice that they’re super hard when eating the cake.

      I hope that answers all of your questions and you love this cake! It’s one of my favorites!!!

      Reply

  9. How many boxes of pudding do we use in total? Is chocolate pudding okay if the fudge is not available?

    Once baked do the Hershey kisses inside the cake melt?

    Reply

  11. I discovered Bailey’s Chocolate Cherry drink and decided to use that instead of the Kahlua. I did everything else exactly the same.When I served it, I topped it with whipped cream and a cherry. I served it to my Bunco ladies and they all went crazy over it.Very delicious, most and decedent. Can wait to make it again with another type of drink. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply

  13. How long before serving should it be taking out of refrigerated? I just made it last nite for a friends gathering and the icing has such a nice taste. Thanks

    Reply

    • Hi Felicia,

      It’s really up to you! Personally, I don’t like cold cake so I would take it out at least an hour or two before. The frosting should be fine as long as it’s not in a super warm area (near a hot stove, fireplace, etc), usually letting set on the kitchen table is the best place for it. I hope you enjoy it! I’m making it again, myself, today for a birthday party, can’t wait!

      Reply

  14. This cake was amazing! My sister made it for my dad’s birthday over the weekend and everyone loved it! Can’t wait to make it for the next celebration. Or maybe I’ll just make it for no reason😜

    Reply

  18. I just made this and we LOVED it!!I. It was simple to make and was delicious. I saw the recipe last week and have wanted it ever since. I am so glad I made it.

    Reply

  19. Hi my name is rose I love this cake my son send it to me I tried with Kailua now I’m using baileys Irish cream we just love this recepiethanks again

    Reply

  20. Instead of buying another Jell-O Instant Chocolate Fudge for just 1/3 cup can you steal the 1/3 cup from the pudding mix that goes into the cake? If not can you take the rest of the pudding and put into the cake???

    Reply

    • Hi Nannette, You can use some of the pudding from the cake as the cake will still bake up. But the recipe will be best if you use a separate 1/3 cup.

      Reply

  21. Hi Rebecca,
    Have you made this with the Bourbon? Would you still use the same quantities or pair back? Thank you! Looks like a great recipe!!!!

    Reply

    • Hey, Deonna, I think straight bourbon would be extremely strong in this cake as the Kahlua is pretty strong to begin with but the milk base helps to tone it down. I might reduce the alcohol in the cake to half and replace it with milk and replace half of the alcohol in the frosting with more heavy cream than that might yield a more desirable flavor. I have been toying with the idea of making a Chocolate Cherry Bourbon Poke Cake real soon. I will say that Irish Cream works as an amazing alternative to the Kahlua as well.

      Reply

  22. In the oven as we speak, I forgot to add the mini chocolate chips. Too late will put in next cake. Smells delicious! Serving with cheese and crackers and drinks….lol

    Reply

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