Raspberry Almond Poke Cake

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This Raspberry Almond Poke Cake is seriously delish! It’s a wonderful almond cake soaked with sweetened condensed milk and pureed raspberries, which make it a little sweet and a little tart. Topped with a light almond whipped cream!

Raspberry Almond Poke Cake in a 9x13 pan

Raspberry Almond Poke Cake

Do you ever have an experience where you watch an old movie – one you’ve been watching since you were a kid – and realize so many things about it you never realized before?

For example. As a kid, I used to watch Dirty Dancing all.the.time. I’m pretty sure I was like 2 when I started watching it. You might be thinking that’s waaaaay to young to watch that movie, but truthfully the only part I payed any attention to was the dancing. It’s still my favorite part.

But now I know that there’s a whole other storyline going on in there that I never understood. I’m not even sure I’d caught on until after college.

Then there’s the stuff that you just never question and then one day you’re like, “Wait, that couldn’t actually happen.”

Like I was watching The Little Mermaid the other day. Another classic and my favorite old school Disney flick. And there was a moment at the beginning that I’d never questioned – until now.

You know near the beginning when the ship is burning up and Eric is trying to save his dog before jumping ship (which ultimately leads to him being on the ship when it blows up)? Well, he’s all “Come here, boy! Jump!” and the dog jumps – from what looks like it’s pretty high. And Eric catches him without a problem. The dog lands perfectly, like he weights about 2 lbs, right in his arms.

Raspberry Almond Poke Cake slice on a plate
Overhead view of Raspberry Almond Poke Cake on a plate

Dude.

I have a big dog. She weighs about 88 lbs. And I’ll telling you right now if she jumped and was hoping for me to catch her – there’d be very little chance that would end well. She is heavy and that’d be some crazy dead weight. I mean, I’d try to save her for sure and I’d probably make her jump and try to catch her, I’m just saying it wouldn’t end as nice and neatly as it did with Eric. Obviously he’s super strong. Or just an animated character, but whatevs.

Not exactly life-changing realizations, but still. Occasionally these random things occur to me. 🙂

Onto the cake, which might just change your life.

This one is second generation. First generation didn’t turn out like I wanted. All the same flavors and still delicious, but I initially combined the raspberry puree and sweetened milk and then poured that on top of the cake. It got too thick and didn’t soak into the cake. That’s not how a poke cake is supposed to work. For the final version, I separated the milk and puree.

How to Make Fresh Raspberry Puree

To make the raspberry puree, you’ll just add some raspberries, a bit of water and some sugar to a food processor and puree until smooth. The water helps things mix a little better, so don’t leave it out. And you could leave out the extra sugar if your raspberries are super sweet, but I preferred it. It took the edge off of the tartness of them, without loosing it completely.

This is actually one of the desserts that I gave my mom when she visited a couple weeks ago. She needed desserts to take to a getaway with some friends and I thought this would travel pretty decently for her in a cooler. Of course, it was kind of cut up from taking pictures but she didn’t mind.

Not only did my mom and I love it, but it was apparently a big hit! Such a fun flavor combo!

Close-up of Raspberry Almond Poke Cake slice on a plate
Raspberry Almond Poke Cake slice on a plate

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Raspberry Goat Cheese Cheesecake
Raspberry Chambord Chocolate Poke Cake
Raspberry Chocolate Layer Cake
White Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Cake
Raspberry Mint Sorbet

Print
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Raspberry Almond Poke Cake slice on yellow plate
Recipe

Raspberry Almond Poke Cake

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 15-18 Slices
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Description

This Raspberry Almond Poke Cake is seriously delish! It’s a wonderful almond cake soaked with sweetened condensed milk and pureed raspberries, which make it a little sweet and a little tart. Topped with a light almond whipped cream!


Ingredients

CAKE

  • 15.25 oz box white cake mix (plus ingredients on box)
  • 4 tsp almond extract
  • 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
  • 6 oz raspberries
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp water

WHIPPED TOPPING

  • 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp almond extract
  • raspberries
  • almond slivers

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×13 cake pan.
2. Add dry cake mix, cake mix ingredients and almond extract to a mixer bowl and mix according to box instructions.
3. Pour batter into cake pan and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs.
4. Once cake comes out of the oven, poke holes in the warm cake with the end of a wooden spoon or something similar.
5. Pour can of sweetened condensed milk over the cake and allow to soak into the holes.
6. Place raspberries, sugar and water into a food processor and puree until smooth.
7. Pour pureed raspberries over the cake and allow to soak into the holes.
8. Place cake in refrigerator for 2-3 hours while it cools and soaks up mixture.
9. To make the whipped topping, whip heavy cream until it begins to thicken.
10. Add powdered sugar and almond extract and whip until stiff peaks form.
11. Spread whipped topping onto completely cooled cake. Topped with raspberries and almond slivers.
12. Refrigerate cake until ready to serve.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice
  • Calories: 154
  • Sugar: 8.9 g
  • Sodium: 28.6 mg
  • Fat: 11.6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 10.8 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Cholesterol: 23.1 mg

Filed Under:

Enjoy!

Raspberry Almond Poke Cake slice on a plate

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17 Comments
  1. Cindi

    I love this cake but my friend wants me to make an almond pistachio poke cake. Is this possible? I just don’t know how to go about it!!!

    1. Lindsay

      I think people tend to use pistachio pudding mix to flavor a poke cake. You could try that and then add an almond topping.

  2. Catherine Morgan

    I made the raspberry almond poke cake and it was awesome. Everyone wanted the recipe. One lady said it tasted just like her wedding cake.

  3. Kathy

    I made this for my adult daughter’s birthday. She requested raspberries and almond with a light frosting so this fit the bill! We all loved it. The only thing I wasn’t sure of was how many holes to poke. The condensed milk seemed to fill the holes and the raspberry purée seemed to stay mostly on top. But it was delicious! 






  4. Joanne Clemons

    We’ve been blest with an abundance of raspberries in our garden this summer. And this cake is now our family’s favorite cake. I’ve already made it three times this season, and the last time, it was eaten up even more quickly than the first. Always people rush to finish dinner so they can have this dessert. Excellent and easy recipe. Thank you.

  5. Jamie

    Just made this the other night. It was delicious!! Everyone loved it and my 13 year old son said it his his new favorite dessert!

  6. Judy

    This looks so good! The only poke cakes that I have had are the ones at family picnics made with jello with cool whip spread on top. Those were ok but this, with the real fruit and homemade whipped cream would be so much better! I might just make this for Memorial weekend!

  7. Dorothy+@+Crazy+for+Crust

    LOL – whenever I see that happen in a Disney movie I think that SAME THING! Love this cake too!

  8. Julie @ Julie's Eats & Treats

    Totally get what you mean with the movies! Or the sexually innuendos in kids movies you never realize till your an adult! Come on Disney! 🙂 But hey this poke cake looks divine… love anything almond!

  9. Allison @ Celebrating Sweets

    This cake looks delish. I love the combo of raspberries and almonds – so good! Dirty Dancing is one of my all time favorite movies. And yes, about 90% of it went over my head when I watched it as a kid. Ha!

  10. Katy | Her Cup of Joy

    There are so many movies I am looking forward to watching all over again with my toddler. I feel like a kid again lately, with mini tea parties and playing dress up. It’s so exciting! You are the queen of poke cakes by the way! Amazing like always 🙂

  11. Mir

    Disney movies defy gravity. Like, the characters almost fly when they walk around. And they catch other human beings like it’s nothing, too!
    This looks SO good. Almond extract sells me every time!

Lindsay
About Lindsay

I’m the baker, recipe developer and photographer behind Life, Love and Sugar. I love sharing trusted recipes with helpful tips to give you great results.

Scripture I’m Loving

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29