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Moist Easy Lemon Poke Cake with lemon glaze and whipped cream topping.

Easy Lemon Poke Cake

A bright and cheerful dessert that features a moist cake infused with a lemon mixture, perfect for potlucks and gatherings.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 280
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Cake
  • 1 box lemon cake mix or yellow cake mix plus lemon zest Use lemon zest for extra flavor.
  • 3 large eggs As per cake mix instructions.
  • 1/2 cup oil As per cake mix instructions.
  • 1 cup water As per cake mix instructions.
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk Or 1 box instant lemon pudding mix for poke filling.
  • 1 container whipped topping or homemade whipped cream For topping.
For the Glaze
  • 1 cup powdered sugar Adjust based on desired thickness.
  • 2-3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice Start with less and add more to desired consistency.
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest Optional but adds more flavor.

Method
 

Baking the Cake
  1. Preheat the oven according to the cake mix instructions.
  2. Prepare the cake batter according to package instructions using eggs, oil, and water.
  3. If using yellow cake mix, add extra lemon zest and possibly lemon extract.
  4. Grease the pan well, especially the corners.
  5. Bake the cake until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs (do not overbake).
  6. Let the cake cool for about 10 to 15 minutes.
Poking and Filling
  1. Poke holes all over the cooled cake using the handle of a wooden spoon.
  2. Pour in the sweetened condensed milk or instant pudding, letting it soak into the holes.
  3. Chill the cake in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or overnight for best flavor.
Making the Glaze and Serving
  1. Mix together the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and zest to create the glaze.
  2. Spread whipped topping over the top of the cake.
  3. Drizzle the lemon glaze over the whipped topping before serving.

Notes

Serve cold for the best texture. Consider adding thin lemon slices or a sprinkle of zest on top before serving.