Baileys Poke Cake

This Bailey’s Poke Cake is deliciously rich and mouthwateringly amazing. This is the perfect dessert for anytime that you need a special treat!

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If you love Baileys Irish Cream and you love chocolate cake, I must introduce you to your new favorite dessert. This fantastic treat marries the two together and is the most perfect treat.

What is a Poke Cake

A poke cake is made by poking holes in a freshly baked cake and pouring a liquid such as jello, sweetened condensed milk, or in this case, Baileys Irish Cream, over the cake into the holes. The result is a super moist and rich dessert.

How to Make Baileys Poke Cake

Below is a brief overview of how this chocolate poke cake with baileys Irish cream comes together. For the full recipe including all measurements, please scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Mix dry ingredients. Whisk together the sugar, flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt in a large bowl.
Add the wet ingredients. To your large bowl of dry ingredients, add the eggs, milk, vegetable oil, mint extract, and coffee. Mix until just combined.
Bake the cake. Pour the batter into a 9×13 pan and bake until a toothpick comes out with just a few crumbs.
Add Baileys. Let your cake cool for 10 minutes. Poke holes in the top and pour the Baileys into the holes.
Frost your cake. Refrigerate your cake overnight then frost it with homemade stabilized whipped cream or Cool Whip and chopped Andes mints or Andes baking chips.

Stabilized Whipped Cream

This homemade whipped cream comes together with just three ingredients and your mixer. It is so easy to make and even more delicious!

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mason jar full of stabilized whipped cream frosting that has been pipped into it

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The Best Baking Pan

This is my favorite pan to make cakes and bars in. They come out perfect every time, and you can't beat those smooth crisp edges.

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Tips and Tricks

Use mint extract. Peppermint extract will give the cake a different taste (think of the difference between a candy cane and an Andes mint) so I would not recommend using it.
Make sure your baking soda and baking powder are fresh. Drop a little baking soda in some vinegar and mix some baking powder with water to test their freshness. They both should bubble right away. If they don’t it’s time to replace them. Baking powder and baking soda should be replaced every six months.
Measure your flour correctly. See more on this important step below.
Wait to poke your holes. After your cake comes out of the oven, wait a little bit to poke the holes. If you poke too soon, you are going to end up with more cake on the handle of your wooden spoon than in the pan.
Pour the Baileys while the cake is warm. This will allow it to soak into the cake.
Replace the coffee. This cake is made with freshly brewed coffee, but it doesn’t taste like coffee. If you are still nervous, just replace the coffee with hot water.

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Andes Baking Chips

These baking chips are the perfect size and chocolate minty flavor for topping your baileys poke cake.

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baileys poke cake on a plate with a fork digging into it

Measuring Flour

Getting the right amount of flour can make or break your baking recipe. By using the wrong type of measuring cup or scooping it directly from the container it’s stored in, you can get too much flour which will result in a cake that is really dry. Follow these steps to measure your flour correctly.

Whisk the flour in the bag or container it’s stored in.
Use a spoon to scoop the flour from the container it’s stored in into a dry measuring cup. Don’t scoop it directly with the measuring cup.
Use the flat side of a spatula to level off the measuring cup.

FAQ

Why is my poke cake soggy?

This could be because there are too many holes in your cake. I recommend poking 20-30 holes. Don’t add any more Baileys than what the recipe calls for, using too much liquid won’t absorb into the cake and will make it soggy.

Can I use a boxed cake mix?

You could make this recipe with a chocolate boxed mix. Bake the cake according to the box’s directions and then follow the recipe starting with step 5.

Making in Advance

This is a great dessert recipe to make in advance because it needs to sit overnight. Bake your cake then add the Baileys and keep it in the refrigerator for up to two days in advance. I recommend frosting it right before serving.

Storing

Since this cake is made with dairy, it should be refrigerated. Cover the pan with plastic wrap or tinfoil and store your Baileys poke cake in the refrigerator for up to four days. To freeze your chocolate poke cake with Baileys, cover tightly with foil and freeze for up to three months. Allow to thaw before enjoying.

close up of a piece of baileys poke cake with a bite missing

Other Chocolate Dessert Recipes

If you make this chocolate poke cake recipe with Baileys or any of my other recipes, please leave a comment and let me know what you think. I love hearing from you.

5 from 6 votes

Baileys Poke Cake

Serves: servings

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This Bailey's Poke Cake is deliciously rich and mouthwateringly amazing. This is the perfect dessert for anytime that you need a special treat!

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Ingredients

2 cups granulated sugar (396 grams)
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (210 grams)
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (63 grams)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk skim or a higher fat content milk will work here (236.59 ml)
1/2 cup vegetable oil (118.29 ml)
1 teaspoon mint extract not peppermint extract
1 cup strongly brewed coffee (236.59 ml)
1 cup Baileys Irish Cream (236.59 ml)
8 ounces stabilized whipped cream or Cool Whip (226.8 grams)
1 cup Andes baking Chips (213 grams)

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9 by 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
2 cups granulated sugar, 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt
Now mix in the eggs, milk, vegetable oil, mint extract, and coffee. Stir until the batter is just combined.
2 eggs, 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon mint extract, 1 cup strongly brewed coffee
Pour into the baking dish and bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted two inches from the edge of the pan comes out with just a few crumbs.
Let the cake cool for about 10 minutes then poke with about 20 to 30 holes. Pour the Baileys into the holes making sure to get some in each hole.
1 cup Baileys Irish Cream
Let the cake sit overnight. Before serving top with the stabilized whipped cream and then the andes baking chips.
8 ounces stabilized whipped cream