Chocolate Irish Cream Cake is made with a generous dose of Irish cream and topped with a fluffy, pudding-based frosting. This grown-up dessert is moist, rich, and oh-so-boozy!
If you love this boozy cake, you might also enjoy my Guinness Chocolate Cake with Irish Cream Frosting!
Chocolate Irish Cream Cake is not the type of chocolate cake that’s served at children’s birthday parties, folks!
Saint Patrick’s day will be here before you know it, and if you can’t resist chocolate and boozy cocktails, you’ll get the best of both worlds with this decadent Irish Cream Cake.
The indulgent dessert consists of rich cake and fluffy frosting that’s infused with Homemade Irish Cream, and a piece of it will definitely get you buzzing!
Needless to say, it’s definitely an adults-only type of cake; don’t let the kiddos get into this one!
Irish Cream Chocolate Cake is BOOZY!
This Irish Cream Cake recipe is a poke cake and calls for ½ cup of booze right in the batter.
Once the sheet cake is baked, holes are poked in it so that a mixture of sweetened condensed milk and (more!) Irish cream can sink in and get absorbed throughout the whole thing.
Then there’s the frosting, made smooth and silky with a blend of heavy cream, powdered sugar, vanilla pudding mix, and — you guessed it —more Irish cream!
Yep, there’s plenty of the good stuff in here!
Have you ever had a tough time deciding whether you should mix up a cocktail or go straight for the chocolate?
With this Cake recipe, you can do both at once, multitasking at its finest if I do say so myself!
Whether you’re planning a Saint Patrick’s Day bash or a simple dinner with your better half, nothing says, “Let’s celebrate!” like a spiked chocolate cake.
This cake recipe is perfect for just about any special occasion. I even brought a similar recipe to our family’s last 4th of July barbecue last year, and it was a huge hit.
If you want to feel “the luck of the Irish,” try baking a moist, rich Irish Cream Cake that’s drenched in boozy goodness.
Whether you share it at a party or savor a piece after a long day at work, you won’t regret indulging in this chocolatey treat!
More St Paddy’s Day Recipes
- No Bake Irish Cream Pie
- St. Patrick’s Day Punch
- Irish Cream No Bake Cookies
- Easy Irish Fried Cabbage
- Irish Potato Candy
- Chocolate Guinness Cake
- Irish Cream Pudding Shots
Let’s Connect!
If you’ve tried this recipe, please let me know how you liked it in the comments below and leave a review. I love hearing from you!
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Chocolate Irish Cream Poke Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 box Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
- 1 (3.4oz.)package Jell-O Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix dry
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- ½ cup Homemade Irish Cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups mini chocolate chips
Liquid
- ½ cup Homemade Irish Cream
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
Frosting
- 1½ cups heavy cream
- ½ cup Homemade Irish Cream
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ⅓ cup Jell-O Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix dry
Optional
- Sprinkles
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, combined all of the cake ingredients until fully mixed and pour into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
Liquid
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the Irish Cream and sweetened condensed milk until combined.
- Used a fork, skewer, or the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes all over the cake.
- Pour liquid mixture over the cake and let rest for a few minutes to soak up.
Frosting
- Beat all of the frosting ingredients in a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Frost the cake and top with sprinkles if desired.
Video
Notes
- Instant chocolate pudding can be used in the cake mix and frosting if you want a stronger chocolate flavor.
- Greek yogurt may be used instead of sour cream.
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
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Comments & Reviews
Vicki says
This is such a moist, boozy, and tasty cake! I plan on making this again for my friend’s birthday but using chocolate pudding and no Bailey’s in the frosting. I didn’t have mini chocolate chips and the cake is rich enough without them. My husband loves this cake.
Sandie says
OH my God, this recipe is to die for. Thank you for sharing everyone that I shared it with loved it.
Rebecca Hubbell says
I’m So glad you all enjoyed it!
Debbie Frene says
Can this be frozen?
Rebecca Hubbell says
I don’t think the frosting would hold up to thawing very well.
Pam says
Can we just use Baileys Irish creme?
Rebecca Hubbell says
Yes, you can!
Joe says
Absolutely delicious! Made it for the first time for a St Patrick’s day dinner and it could not have been a bigger hit. The cake was so moist and rich and everything one would hope a boozy chocolate cake would be. I did use store bought Irish Cream Liqueur but can only imagine how much better it would have been with homemade liqueur.
Carrie says
Always a crowd pleaser!!! Awesome cake. I make it every St. Patrick’s Day and bring it to work!! A dish best served cold!!! 😂😂🍀🍀🍀🍀
Jill Brincko says
Took this down to the local American Legion that my husband & I belong to for St. Patrick’s day. Everyone absolutely LOVED IT!!! It was so very easy to make and all the ingredients were very easy to purchase. I will definitely be making this again!
Dorothy says
Can I just use Bailey’s Irish Cream instead of making my own?
Rebecca Hubbell says
Yes, you absolutely can!
Joan Miller says
Do you add Irish cream & condensed milk on while warm or wait till it is cool? Would think it would absorb more while warm?
Rebecca Hubbell says
Hi Joan, I’ve actually done it both ways. The filling is thinner than a lit of poke cakes fillings so it absorbs well either way 🙂
Jessica says
Hi I don’t have a whisk attachment to my hand mixer for the frosting, any suggestions? Can I use the normal beaters?
Rebecca Hubbell says
Yes, normal beaters will work fine 🙂