Key Lime Poke Cake

Ingredients

Cake:

• 1 (15.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix (such as Duncan Hines®)
• 1 cup water
• 3 eggs
• ⅓ cup vegetable oil

Poke Filling:

• 1 (3 ounce) package lime-flavored gelatin mix (such as Jell-O®)
• 1 cup boiling water
• ¼ cup key lime juice, or more to taste

Frosting:

• 2 eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 cup white sugar
• ¾ cup lime juice, or more to taste
• 4 teaspoons lime zest, or to taste
• ½ teaspoon cornstarch
• ¼ cup butter
• 2 drops green food coloring (Optional)
• 1 (8 ounce) container whipped topping (such as Cool Whip®)

Directions

Instructions Checklist

• Step 1Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
• Step 2Combine cake mix, water, eggs, and oil in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer on low speed until moistened. Increase speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes. Pour batter into the prepared baking pan.
• Step 3Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 24 to 29 minutes.
• Step 4Dissolve gelatin mix in boiling water. Add key lime juice and mix well.
• Step 5Use a fork to poke holes all over the cake. Spoon gelatin-key lime mixture all over cake. Refrigerate until completely cool and ready to use.
• Step 6Meanwhile, whisk eggs and egg yolks together in a large glass bowl. Combine sugar, lime juice, lime zest, and cornstarch in a smaller heat-proof bowl.
• Step 7Place bowl with the sugar mixture over a pot of simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until mixture comes to boil, about 5 minutes.
• Step 8Slowly whisk hot sugar mixture, little by little, into the beaten eggs. Place bowl over the pot of simmering water and whisk until curd coats the back of a spoon, up to 10 minutes. Remove from heat; mix in butter until melted.
• Step 9Drop food coloring into the curd and mix to achieve your desired shade. Let cool to room temperature, at least 30 minutes. Cover surface directly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until completely cool, about 2 hours.
• Step 10Transfer 3/4 of the curd into another bowl. Add whipped topping and fold together until well combined. Spread frosting over the cake. Refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours more. Top with the plain curd.

ORIGINAL RECIPE