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How to Make Key Lime Poke Cake - A Step-by-Step Guide

Key Lime Poke Cake is a refreshing and delightful dessert that is perfect for warm weather or any time you're craving a tangy and sweet treat. This cake is bursting with the zesty flavor of key limes, and it's incredibly moist and tender thanks to a few special ingredients and a unique baking technique.

The key lime flavor in this cake comes from freshly squeezed key lime juice and zest, giving it a bright and citrusy taste that is both refreshing and indulgent. The addition of sweete...

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Ingredients

  • 1 (15.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix (such as Duncan Hines®)
  • 1 cup water
  • 3 eggs
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 (3 ounce) package lime-flavored gelatin mix (such as Jell-O®)
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • ¼ cup key lime juice, or more to taste
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • ¾ cup lime juice, or more to taste
  • 4 teaspoons lime zest, or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon cornstarch
  • ¼ cup butter
  • 2 drops green food coloring (Optional)
  • 1 (8 ounce) container whipped topping (such as Cool Whip®)

Information

  • Prep Time: 30 mins
  • Cook Time: 40 mins
  • Additional Time: 4 hrs 30 mins
  • Total Time: 5 hrs 40 mins
  • Servings: 12
  • Yield: 1 9x13-inch cake

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
  • Combine cake mix, water, eggs, and oil in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer on low speed until moistened. Increase speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes. Pour batter into the prepared baking pan.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 24 to 29 minutes.
  • Dissolve gelatin mix in boiling water. Add key lime juice and mix well.
  • Use a fork to poke holes all over the cake. Spoon gelatin-key lime mixture all over cake. Refrigerate until completely cool and ready to use.
  • Meanwhile, whisk eggs and egg yolks together in a large glass bowl. Combine sugar, lime juice, lime zest, and cornstarch in a smaller heat-proof bowl.
  • Place bowl with the sugar mixture over a pot of simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until mixture comes to boil, about 5 minutes.
  • Slowly whisk hot sugar mixture, little by little, into the beaten eggs. Place bowl over the pot of simmering water and whisk until curd coats the back of a spoon, up to 10 minutes. Remove from heat; mix in butter until melted.
  • Drop food coloring into the curd and mix to achieve your desired shade. Let cool to room temperature, at least 30 minutes. Cover surface directly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until completely cool, about 2 hours.
  • Transfer 3/4 of the curd into another bowl. Add whipped topping and fold together until well combined. Spread frosting over the cake. Refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours more. Top with the plain curd.

    • Nutrition

    433 cal.

    • Total Fat: 21g
    • Saturated Fat: 9g
    • Cholesterol: 113mg
    • Sodium: 329mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 57g
    • Dietary Fiber: 1g
    • Total Sugars: 43g
    • Protein: 5g
    • Vitamin C: 7mg
    • Calcium: 69mg
    • Iron: 1mg
    • Potassium: 88mg

    Categories

    Baking recipes
    Dessert recipes
    Sweet recipes
    Cake recipes
    Key lime recipes