Key Lime Poke Cake – A Cool, Creamy, Citrus Dream

First, a big thank you for being here — you’re the reason recipes like this get shared and loved! I’m so excited to bring you this Key Lime Poke Cake, a dessert that captures all the sunshine and sweetness of summer in one irresistible bite.

This cake is tangy, creamy, and cool — a perfect blend of zesty lime flavor and light, fluffy cake. It’s simple to make, stunning to serve, and absolutely refreshing.

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What Is Key Lime Poke Cake?

A poke cake is exactly what it sounds like — a baked cake that you poke holes into, then pour a luscious filling over so it soaks through every bite.

In this version, a tender white cake becomes the perfect canvas for a tangy, creamy key lime filling made with sweetened condensed milk and lime juice. It’s topped with a cloud of whipped frosting and garnished with lime zest for that fresh, citrusy finish.

It’s bright, beautiful, and delightfully easy!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Tastes like key lime pie — in cake form!
No fancy equipment needed — just a mixing bowl and spoon handle.
Make-ahead friendly — even better after chilling overnight.
Perfect for parties, picnics, or potlucks.
Gorgeous presentation with minimal effort!

What It Tastes Like

Every bite of this cake is cool, creamy, and bursting with citrus flavor. The white cake base keeps things light, while the tangy lime filling adds a burst of tropical freshness. The whipped topping balances it all with sweetness and softness.

It’s like a key lime pie met a tres leches cake — moist, melt-in-your-mouth, and totally irresistible.

Benefits of This Recipe

Simple pantry ingredients.
No need to make pie crust or custard from scratch.
Great make-ahead dessert (it needs chilling time).
A guaranteed crowd-pleaser for any season!

Ingredients

For the Cake

1 box (15.25 oz) Pillsbury White Cake Mix
Ingredients listed on the box (typically eggs, oil, and water)

For the Filling

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 ½ cups half-and-half or heavy cream, divided
½ cup lime juice (fresh or bottled key lime juice)
Optional: few drops of green food coloring for color

For the Frosting

1 container (12 oz) whipped vanilla frosting
or
2–3 cups homemade whipped cream, lightly sweetened (add a dash of lime juice for flavor)

Garnish (Optional)

Lime zest and lime slices for decoration

Tools You’ll Need

9×13-inch baking dish
Mixing bowls
Hand whisk or mixer
Spatula
Wooden spoon (for poking holes)

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions

Make it a coconut-lime version: Add ½ cup shredded coconut to the cake batter.
Extra tart: Use more lime juice or add lime zest directly to the filling.
Dairy-free option: Use coconut cream instead of half-and-half and whipped coconut topping for frosting.
Feeling tropical? Add a drizzle of pineapple juice before frosting for a fun twist.