Kahlua Chocolate Poke Cake
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!
You can finally have your cake and drink it too! This delicious cake recipe is perfect for parties and everyone always loves it! It gets RAVE reviews! People also enjoy my Irish Cream 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:
- I consume too many of them.
- I make too many of them.
- 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!
How Boozy Is It?
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!
What Is A Poke Cake?
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.
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.
How To Make It
- Begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F and spraying a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- 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.
- Then, in a medium bowl, combine the Kahlua and sweetened condensed milk until combined.
- Pour liquid mixture over the cake. Allow the cake to soak and cool.
- Finally, once the cake has cooled, beat all of the frosting ingredients in a large bowl or stand mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Frost the cake and top with chocolate sprinkles if desired.
Readers are Loving this Cake!
Heidi H. shares the ultimate boozy pour shot!
Erin M. loved this cake too!
Classroom Cakes made it, did you make it too? Share a picture on Instagram and tag me to have your photo included here!
More Delicious Poke Cakes!
- Coconut Poke Cake
- Butterbeer Poke Cake
- Banana Split Poke Cake
- Easy Oreo Poke Cake
- German Chocolate Poke Cake
Kahlua Poke Cake
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Kahlua Chocolate Poke Cake
Ingredients
Cake:
- 1 Box Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
- 3.9 oz package Jell-O Instant Chocolate Fudge OR Vanilla Pudding
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- ½ cup Kahlua
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- 1½ cup mini chocolate chips
Liquid:
- 1/2 cup Kahlua
- 12 oz. sweetened condensed milk
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:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- 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:
- In a medium bowl, combine the Kahlua and sweetened condensed milk until combined.
- Pour liquid mixture over the cake. Allow the cake to soak and cool.
Frosting:
- 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.
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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???
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.
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
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.
I’m so glad you loved it, it’s one of my favorite desserts to make for large groups!
So…there is Kahlua In the cake portion and another 1/2 cup in the “poke” portion?
Hi JK, you are correct, there is also 1/2 cup in the frosting. Everything is listed in the recipe card 🙂
Hi. Do you think these could be made as cupcakes following same measurements?
You can definitely make cupcakes out of the cake mix, but I’m not sure how they would hold up with liquid from the poking because they’d be smaller and less stable. I might recommend skipping the filling and just doing the cupcake mix and then using the frosting.
I have made these in cupcake form! They turned out perfect!! Super moist in the middle!!
I will have to try that next!
Where can I find this recipe?
Hi AnneMarie, the recipe card is in the post above!
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?
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Lisa!
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
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!
Yummy
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!
So glad you all enjoyed it, Debbie! And it sounds like I need to get my hands on that Bailey’s Chocolate Cherry!
Wow, this is my favorite. Love Kahlua!!!
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?
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. 🙂
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!!!
Hey! Just saw your response after I reposted my question…thought it didn’t go through. THANKS So much!! 🙂
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!
Hi Marissa, you’re just using the dry cake mix with the liquids listed in this recipe (vegetable oil and Kahlua), NOT the liquids listed on the box. Hope that helps. Rebecca
Thank you that was my question as well. I’m making it right now
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!
You add it in dry!
can i make the Kahlua Chocolate Poke Cake the day before i know lots of the poke cakes its better ty for your help
Of course, if you frost it, make sure to store it in the fridge. Or you can make everything but the frosting and frosting just before serving!
Sounds so good. Could you please tell me what size cake mix you use?
I use this one: https://www.duncanhines.com/products/cakes/classic-dark-chocolate-fudge-cake-mix/ it’s 16.5 ounces, but this recipe will work with any general chocolate box mix.
Wow! This cake looks so incredibly rich and decadent! And so fudgy, too. I want to make it right now!
This looks incredibly decadent. I’d love some right now!
Thank you, Johnna!
A boozy poke cake? Wow, that sounds amazing!
Thanks girl, this is probably my favorite poke cake to date!
I have been making a version like this for years! I add pudding on top instead of the frosting, add crushed up health bars for that toffee nutty texture, and top it off with a nice thick layer of whipped cream. It’s my go to holiday favorite!
Way too much Kahula!! Tried it & wont make it again.
I’m sorry you didn’t like the cake, Barb, it’s definitely boozy, as advertised.