This lemon raspberry poke cake is a sweet summertime treat filled with lemon raspberry flavor! It’s an easy lemon cake recipe soaked in sweetened condensed milk and fresh raspberry sauce, topped with fluffy whipped cream.

a slice of lemon cake on a plate next to a fork with a bowl of raspberries and a lemon in the background

The Best Lemon Raspberry Poke Cake

Is there any fruit duo more dynamic than lemon and raspberry? I don’t think so. This lemon raspberry cake is a homemade lemon buttermilk cake soaked in sweetened condensed milk and topped with fresh raspberry sauce, homemade whipped cream, and fresh lemon zest. What’s not to love?!

This is one of those cakes that disappears in minutes. It’s so sweet and so refreshing! If you love fruity desserts, this lemon raspberry poke cake is similar to my equally summery strawberry cheesecake poke cake. This creamy lemon version is filled with condensed milk, layered with raspberry sauce, and topped with whipped cream frosting.

Why You’ll Love This Poke Cake Recipe

Easy to make. There’s the option to make your poke cake with or without the shortcut of a boxed cake mix. Either way, the ingredients are simple and the cake comes together in minutes.
Fresh, fruity flavors. I love the combination of moist lemon cake with creamy filling, topped with fresh raspberries and homemade whipped cream. It’s the ultimate dessert to make when berries are in season.
Make-ahead friendly. This cool and creamy, fruit-filled cake is the perfect dessert to bring to all your summer BBQs and potlucks. It’s easy to make ahead of time, too!

Why Is It Called Poke Cake?

Poke cakes, also called poke-and-pour cakes, are some of my favorite desserts to make. A poke cake involves poking holes in a freshly baked cake and then adding some kind of pourable topping, such as condensed milk or Jell-O. The topping soaks into the cake as it cools, for an ultra-moist cake with endless flavor combinations.

side view of a slice of cake on a white plate

Key Ingredients

Here are a few tips and notes to keep in mind as you gather the ingredients for your lemon poke cake. Be sure to scroll to the recipe card for a full list of ingredients and amounts.

Eggs and Egg Yolks – whole eggs add moisture and act as a binding agent to hold the cake together. Adding extra egg yolks creates a richer flavor and a softer, more moist texture.
Sour Cream – sour cream creates a moist, yet fluffy texture. I use light sour cream, but plain Greek yogurt would work to lighten it up even more.
Lemon Zest – you can easily zest a lemon using a cheese grater or a Microplane. Be sure to only shave off the bright yellow exterior, not the white pith directly underneath.
Buttermilk and Sweetened Condensed Milk – buttermilk is the key to a tender texture while sweetened condensed milk provides sweetness and richness.
Homemade Whipped Cream – I like to whip up a batch of homemade whip with heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and more lemon zest.

How to Make a Lemon Raspberry Poke Cake

There are a few easy steps involved in making this lush lemon raspberry poke cake. Let’s get into it!

Combine the wet ingredients: In a bowl, mix together sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Add in sour cream and lemon zest and beat until combined.
Add the dry ingredients: In another bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients. Add half of the dry to the wet batter and beat on low while pouring in half of the buttermilk. Repeat with the rest of the dry ingredients and buttermilk.
Bake: Pour the batter into a 9×13″ baking dish and bake at 350ºF for 28-32 minutes.
Cool, poke, and fill: Cool the cake for 30 minutes, then use a wooden spoon to poke holes all over the top. Pour a jar of sweetened condensed milk over the top, then cool completely in the fridge.
Add the raspberry sauce: In a pot, mix together raspberries, sugar, and flour. Gently crush the raspberries and add lemon juice. Place the pot over medium heat and cook until bubbling. Cool until no longer steaming, then pour over the top of the cake. Refrigerate until completely cooled.
Make the whip: Chill your mixing bowl and whisk attachment in the freezer. To the cold bowl, add heavy cream. Beat until thickened. Add in the powdered sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.
Add the topping: Spread the whipped cream over the chilled cake, then top with lemon zest and serve.

a fork being plunged into a slice of lemon poke cake on a white plate

Tips for Success

This lemon poke cake recipe is super straightforward, but a few tips never hurt. Here are some helpful tips and time-saving ideas to keep in mind when making a poke cake from scratch:

Use fresh raspberries. The flavor is so good, but if they aren’t in season, you can use frozen raspberries.
Cool the cake for 30 minutes before poking for cleaner holes. If you poke it while it’s still hot, it will become messy.
Cool the cake completely before adding the topping. If the cake is warm, the whipped cream will just melt.
Chill the mixing bowl and whisk attachment before making the homemade whipped cream for a fluffier texture.
Use the handle end of a wooden spoon to poke holes all over the top of the cake. It works perfectly! If you don’t have a wooden spoon, simply use something similar in size to create your holes.
Add the whipped cream right before serving. You can definitely add it ahead of time, but some of the red colors from the raspberries may migrate through the whipped cream.
Use cake mix. While I do love a homemade lemon cake, feel free to save a little bit of time with a boxed lemon cake mix. It won’t be as dense, but it will still be delicious.
Use Cool Whip. Keep the topping simple with Cool Whip instead of homemade whipped cream.

side view of a slice of lemon raspberry cake garnished with a raspberry and a lemon slice with a forkful taken out

Make-Ahead and Storing Extras

Prepare ahead: Bake, poke and fill the cake and keep it in the fridge for up to 2 days OR bake the cake 2 days ahead and store it on the counter. Poke and fill the cake 2 hours before you’re ready to serve, then top it with whipped cream and keep it in the fridge until serving.
Storing: Store your finished lemon raspberry poke cake airtight in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezing: I don’t recommend freezing a finished poke cake. However, you can freeze the baked and cooled lemon cake on its own. Thaw the cake at room temperature before adding the filling and whipped topping.

More Poke Cake Recipes