If ever there were two flavors that go together amazingly, it's chocolate and Bailey's Irish Cream. So, this Bailey's chocolate poke cake recipe is a natural fit and match made in heaven! A homemade chocolate cake with the added flavor of Bailey's is then topped with a chocolate sauce and homemade chocolate whipped cream to create the ultimate cake recipe.
Bailey's Chocolate Poke Cake Recipe
We never say no to cake, and this one is certainly one we will love having on our menu. Bailey's Irish Cream is a delicious mixture of cream, cocoa, and Irish whiskey and that flavor match a classic chocolate cake wonderfully. Adding it into a fun poke cake just made sense. It turned into a fun little boozy cake that the adults in your life will beg you to make for every event.
Of course, if you want some non-alcoholic recipes to share, you can always whip up this chocolate cheesecake recipe or this basic chocolate mousse recipe. Both are fantastic options to serve the kids that are free from alcohol but just as decadent as this cake.
What is a Poke Cake?
A poke cake is just what it sounds like. After a cake has baked, holes are punched into the cake at random and a liquid is poured over the top to soak down into those holes. This can range from pudding mixes, sweetened condensed milk, melted chocolate, to just a sugar syrup. For this recipe, it is a homemade cake with chocolate and Bailey's flavored sweetened condensed milk poured over the top.
Can I Use a Cake Mix Instead of Homemade Cake?
Typically when you see a poke cake, it will be made with a boxed cake mix. This is usually to save time and effort in the kitchen. For this version, a homemade chocolate cake is made so that you can add extra flavor easily with Bailey's Irish Cream. If you prefer to use a boxed mix, I recommend going with a rich chocolate or Devil's food flavored cake and substituting the water in the ingredients list with ½ cup of the Bailey's and ½ cup buttermilk. The remainder of the liquid needed (if needed) can be water.
Is Bailey's Cake Safe for Kids to Eat?
While the cake itself, alone, maybe okay since the alcohol is cooked, I would not recommend serving this to children as it is written. There is alcohol in the poured mixture as well as the whipped topping that is not cooked out. It may not be that much alcohol per portion, but it still is alcohol and thus not recommended for children or adults, not of legal drinking age.
If you want to know more about cooking alcohol down, this article really helps understand how long it takes to remove all alcohol from a recipe. It often takes a significantly longer cooking time to reduce it enough to no longer be a concern in a recipe. Thus my reasoning for saying this is not a kid-safe dessert.
Poke Cake Tips and Tricks
- Make sure your cake pan is properly greased or lined before baking to make it easier to remove to serve.
- Use a wooden spoon handle to make holes in the cake before pouring topping over the cake. The larger holes will help make sure more of the rich sauce seeps into the cake itself.
- Poke the holes into the top of the cake when still warm so it won't crumble easily.
How Long do Poke Cakes Last?
Once you finish topping the cake, you will want to cover and refrigerate. This is good for 3 to 4 days when refrigerated properly. You can also freeze this cake, wrapped and labeled, for up to 3 months. Just remove from the freezer and let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Ingredients for Bailey's Cake
- All-purpose flour
- Sugar
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Eggs
- Buttermilk
- Vegetable oil
- Bailey's Irish Cream
- Vanilla extract
- Water
What Goes Into the Pourable Poke Cake Topping?
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Bailey's Irish cream
Ingredients for Whipped Topping
- Heavy whipping cream
- Powdered sugar
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
- Bailey's Irish Cream
- Vanilla extract
Handy Kitchen Tools
- 9x13-inch baking pan
- Wooden spoon
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Hand mixer
- Microwave-safe bowl
How to Make a Bailey's Cake
Preheat the oven to 300°F/148°C. Line a 9"x13" baking pan with parchment paper or grease the bottom and sides lightly, then set it aside.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt and whisk well.
To the dry mixture, add the eggs, buttermilk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and ½ cup Bailey's Irish Cream. Mix well until combined.
Slowly add the water into the batter, mixing well until completely combined and no lumps.
Pour the batter into the cake pan and bake for 40 to 45 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Using a wooden spoon handle, poke holes all over the top of the baked cake.
How to Make Bailey's Cream Sauce
As soon as you remove the cake from the oven, begin making your chocolate cream sauce. Begin by placing your chocolate chips into a medium bowl and setting them aside.
In a separate microwave-safe bowl, add the sweetened condensed milk and ½ cup Bailey's Irish Cream. Heat in 30-second increments on high power until the mixture begins to boil. This can also be done in a pan on the stovetop if preferred.
As soon as the milk mixture begins to boil, pour it over the chocolate chips and begin stirring.
Whisk the chocolate mixture until smooth.
Once smooth, pour over the top of the cake spreading it so it covers the top and begins dripping down into the holes you created.
Cover and place the cake into the refrigerator to cool completely.
How to Make Homemade Chocolate Whipped Cream
Once the cake has cooled, prepare the whipped cream topping.
In a large bowl, add the heavy cream, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, Bailey's Irish Cream, and vanilla extract.
Beat the heavy cream mixture on high speed until stiff peaks form (6 to 8 minutes typically).
Spread the chocolate cream over the top of the cooled cake.
You may drizzle with additional chocolate syrup and mini chocolate chips before serving.
More Cake Recipes
Cake never fails to be a hit so you need a few good recipes under your sleeve for those occasions you just have to have dessert. While this adult boozy cake is always a favorite, below are some more traditional options that can be served to everyone at your next dinner party.
- Decadent Layered Berry Chantilly Cake
- Semi-Homemade Strawberry Crunch Cake
- The Easiest Old Fashioned Pound Cake
- Coconut Cake Recipe with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting
📖 Recipe
Insanely Delicious Bailey's Chocolate Poke Cake Recipe
Whip up this decadent boozy Bailey's Irish Cream chocolate poke cake for a perfect adults only dessert that is packed with flavor and sure to be a hit at any party!
Ingredients
Ingredients for Chocolate Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (260 g)
- 2 cups granulated sugar (414 g)
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (85 g)
- 2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk (180 ml)
- 1 cup vegetable oil (240 ml)
- ½ cup Bailey's Irish Cream (120 ml)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (5 ml)
- 1 cup boiling water (180 ml)
Ingredients for Chocolate Cream Sauce
- 1 cup sweetened condensed milk (240 ml)
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (127 g)
- ½ cup Bailey's Irish cream (120 ml)
Ingredients for Chocolate Whipped Cream
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream (480 ml)
- ¾ cup powdered sugar (86 g)
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (29 g)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (5 ml)
- 2 tablespoon Bailey's Irish Cream (30 ml)
Optional Garnish
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
- ½ cup chocolate syrup
Instructions
How to Make a Bailey's Cake
- Preheat the oven to 300°F/148°C. Line a 9"x13" baking pan with parchment paper or grease the bottom and sides lightly, then set it aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt and whisk well.
- To the dry mixture, add the eggs, buttermilk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and ½ cup Bailey's Irish Cream. Mix well until combined.
- Slowly add the water into the batter, mixing well until completely combined and no lumps.
- Pour the batter into the cake pan and bake for 40 to 45 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Using a wooden spoon handle, poke holes all over the top of the baked cake.
How to Make Bailey's Cream Sauce
- As soon as you remove the cake from the oven, begin making your chocolate cream sauce. Begin by placing your chocolate chips into a medium bowl and setting them aside.
- In a separate microwave-safe bowl, add the sweetened condensed milk and ½ cup Bailey's Irish Cream. Heat in 30-second increments on high power until the mixture begins to boil. This can also be done in a pan on the stovetop if preferred.
- As soon as the milk mixture begins to boil, pour it over the chocolate chips and begin stirring.
- Whisk the chocolate mixture until smooth.
- Once smooth, pour over the top of the cake spreading it so it covers the top and begins dripping down into the holes you created.
- Cover and place the cake into the refrigerator to cool completely.
How to Make Homemade Chocolate Whipped Cream
- Once the cake has cooled, prepare the whipped cream topping.
- In a large bowl, add the heavy cream, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, Bailey's Irish Cream, and vanilla extract.
- Beat the heavy cream mixture on high speed until stiff peaks form (6 to 8 minutes typically).
- Spread the chocolate cream over the top of the cooled cake.
- You may drizzle with additional chocolate syrup and mini chocolate chips before serving.
Notes
Use a wooden spoon handle, skewer, chopstick or any other round kitchen item thati s clean to poke holes in the cake.
Recommended Products
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 878Total Fat: 43gSaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 24gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 512mgCarbohydrates: 107gFiber: 4gSugar: 83gProtein: 10g
Betsy Davis
Any ideas on how to make this amazing cake Vegan?
Thanks!!
Katie Hale
You could find substitutes for the dairy. Bailey's does have a vegan version with almond milk. Otherwise you would need a vegan egg and whipped cream substitute as well as to make sure the chocolate was vegan.