• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Simple Vegan Desserts
  • About
  • Recipes
    • Vegan Baking Recipes
    • Vegan Breakfast Recipes
    • Vegan Gluten Free Recipes
    • Vegan Healthier Recipes
    • Vegan No-Bake Recipes
    • Vegan Quick & Easy Recipes
  • Contact

Vegan Treats Blogger

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Spring
  • About
  • Contact
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipe Index
    • Spring
    • About
    • Contact
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Vegan Baking Recipes

    Published: Apr 19, 2023 · Modified: Dec 1, 2024 by DJ · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

    Lemon Poke Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting (Vegan)

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    I love poke cakes so much when they're super moist and soft and especially, this vegan lemon poke cake which is filled generously with tangy lemon condensed milk and topped with smooth frosting.

    For those of you who don't know what poke cakes are, they're cakes which have had holes poked into them and then condensed milk poured into the holes which soaks into the center of the cake. It takes just 20 minutes to bake inside the oven and the other steps are really simple.

    A large and moist slice of vegan lemon poke cake which is topped with a vegan cream cheese frosting. The filling is very visible and sits inside the center of the slice. this recipe

    Due to the moist nature of this cake, I believe that it is best when served on it's own and ultimately, I don't think any other additions are needed when serving. There's already so much going on with the creamy frosting and the zesty filling.

    If you love lemon treats as much as I do, be sure to also check out my selection recipes such as, my vegan almond lemon cake, vegan lemon poppy seed mug cake and vegan blackberry lemon cake which are all incredibly delicious in their own right.

    Jump to:
    • Why You Will Love This Cake
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Substitutions & Variations
    • How To Make A Vegan Lemon Poke Cake
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More Vegan Lemon Recipes
    • Lemon Poke Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting (Vegan)

    Why You Will Love This Cake

    • Lemon Flavors Throughout - This recipe is lemon heaven. Not only is the cake itself lemon flavored but also, the filling AND the topping. Therefore, the tanginess comes through quite a lot. This is quite different from my vegan lemon olive oil cake which has more subtle flavors.
    • The Best Frosting - The frosting is so creamy and smooth. It is similar in consistency to the one used in my vegan carrot cake bars in the sense that they both utilize vegan cream cheese in the recipe.
    • Super Simple - This recipe is so easy to make. Simply make the filling and frosting while the cake is baking and you'll have your cake ready in no time at all.
    • Allergy Friendly & Plant Based - This vegan lemon poke cake recipe is fully vegan and dairy free.

    Ingredient Notes

    All the recipe ingredients that you will need to make a vegan lemon poke cake, laid out over a white marble background.
    • Apple cider vinegar - This needs to be mixed into the soy milk in order to create a vegan 'buttermilk'.
    • Freshly squeezed lemon juice - Whatever you do, don't use any artificial lemon juices as this will hinder the authentic flavor that this cake needs.
    • Lemon zest - This will be used for both the cake batter and frosting. It adds a nice extra kick for sure and shouldn't be left out.
    • Vegan condensed milk - For this ingredient, you can either make my recipe which is also used in the vegan tres leches cake or buy a store-bought vegan variation. Another classic recipe which uses condensed milk is my vegan rasmalai cake.
    • Vegan cream cheese - My favourite is the vegan Philadelphia cream cheese as this creates a nice thick texture to frosting.

    See recipe card for full information on individual ingredients and quantities.

    Substitutions & Variations

    • If you would this cake to be a little less lemony, you can reduce the amount of lemon by only adding it to the cake batter and the condensed milk filling - emitting it from the frosting. This will make a small difference but it's certainly a noticeable difference.
    • You can make the frosting thicker by adding more powdered sugar. This just depends on your own personal preference. There's no right or wrong answer for this one. For example, the frosting on this cake is very different to the one on my eggless chocolate oreo cake loaf which is considerably thicker.

    How To Make A Vegan Lemon Poke Cake

    For the full method, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    A large, lined baking tin.

    1: Line a square baking pan with non-stick parchment paper.

    A jug of curdling vegan buttermilk.

    2: Make vegan buttermilk, then let it curdle.

    A smooth lemon cake batter folded inside a large bowl.

    3: Make the lemon cake batter.

    The cake batter has been poured into the prepared tin.

    4: Pour the cake batter into the lined tin. Bake the cake.

    A golden brown baked lemon cake cooling down after leaving the oven.

    5: Let it cool down in the tin.

    A large wooden spoon poking holes into the cake.

    6: Poke holes into the cake.

    A shot of the lemon condensed milk mixture which sits inside a pyrex jug.

    7: Make the lemon condensed milk mixture.

    The condensed milk has been poured into the holes. It is soaking into the cake.

    8: Pour the lemon condensed milk over the cake so that the holes are filled.

    The lemon cream cheese frosting being made inside a large stand mixer.

    9: Make the vegan lemon cream cheese frosting.

    The frosting has been spread over the cake and is ready to be served.

    10: Spread the frosting over the cake. Slice and serve.

    Expert Tips

    What to use to make holes in the cake - I like to use the end of wooden spoon to poke the holes into the cakes. Place each hole approximately 1 inch apart. This means that the holes are close enough in proximity to create a nice, moist texture.

    Pour the condensed milk mixture in while the cake is warm - The liquid will infuse into the cake more when it is warm, creating better flavours. It sinks deep into the crumb of the cake. Trust me with this one!

    A smaller piece of my moist vegan lemon poke cake on a white plate. Many other slices sit in the background.

    Recipe FAQs

    How can I store this lemon poke cake?

    The way that I recommend you store this poke cake is to store it in the fridge for up to 5 days. It will stay nice and moist and the lemon flavours will only increase.

    Can I freeze this poke cake?

    If you'd like to freeze this cake, do so BEFORE you add the frosting which doesn't freeze very well. Wrap the condensed milk filled lemon cake tightly in a few layers of plastic wrap and freeze for up to 2 months. Let the cake thaw in the fridge, then make your vegan cream cheese frosting.

    Why is my poke cake too soggy?

    Make sure you poke the correct amount of holes at the right depth. Also make sure that you get the ratios correct when making the condensed milk mixture. If it's too thin, the cake will become too wet.

    More Vegan Lemon Recipes

    • A close up shot of one of my vegan lemon cookies on a white plate. It has melted chocolate on top.
      Easy Vegan Lemon Cookies with Chocolate Chips
    • Three vegan carrot cake muffins on a white plate. They are golden in colour.
      Easy Vegan Carrot Cake Muffins with Lemon Glaze
    • One of my golden brown vegan lemon blueberry muffins which has been bitten. It sits on a white plate and you can see all the juicy blueberries inside.
      Summery Vegan Lemon Blueberry Muffins
    • A close up shot of my chocolate lemon cake loaf. The front of the cake has been sliced so that you can see the thick layer of chocolate buttercream inside.
      Easy Chocolate Lemon Cake

    If you tried this Vegan Lemon Poke Cake Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!

    A close up shot of a moist slice of my lemon poke cake which is topped with a cream cheese frosting.

    Lemon Poke Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting (Vegan)

    This lemon poke cake recipe is delicious if you love a cake with lots of moisture. Lemon cake, lemon frosting. What more could you want?
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Lemon Poke Cake
    Diet: Vegan
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12 slices
    Calories: 385kcal
    Author: DJ

    Ingredients

    For the cake batter:

    • 200 ml soy milk
    • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
    • 200 g all-purpose flour sifted
    • 150 g granulated sugar
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder
    • 0.5 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 50 ml canola oil rapeseed
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 50 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
    • Zest of 2 medium lemons

    For the filling:

    • 320 g vegan condensed milk or store bought
    • 1.5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
    • 1 Tablespoon soy milk

    For the lemon cream cheese frosting:

    • 100 g vegan cream cheese room temperature
    • 65 g vegan butter block room temperature
    • 250 g powdered sugar
    • 0.25 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    Preparation:

    • Preheat your oven to 177 Celsius (350F).
    • Grease an 8-inch, square cake tin with vegan butter and line it with parchment paper. Set aside.
    • Make your vegan ‘buttermilk’ by mixing the apple cider vinegar into the soy milk. Set aside and let it curdle for 8 minutes.

    Make the lemon cake batter:

    • In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
    • Pour in the curdled buttermilk, the canola oil, the vanilla, the lemon juice and finally, add the lemon zest. Fold your lemon cake batter, without over-mixing.

    Bake the cake:

    • Pour your lemon cake batter into the lined tin carefully. Bake in the center of your oven for 20 minutes. A skewer will come out of the cake clean when it is ready.
    • Let the lemon cake cool inside the tin for 15 minutes then transfer it over to a cooling rack so that it can cool completely. 
    • Use the bottom of a wooden spoon to poke holes into the cake in about 1-inch intervals. Poke about ¾ of the way down into the cake.
    • Mix the filling ingredients and pour over the cake. Spread it around with a spoon or a palette knife, making sure the holes are filled.

    Make the lemon cream cheese frosting:

    • Place the whisk attachment onto a stand mixer. Cream together the vegan cream cheese and vegan butter until creamy on a high speed.
    • On a medium speed, add your powdered sugar gradually until you have added it all.
    • Finally, pour in the vanilla and lemon zest. Let it continue to combine for a few more minutes on a high speed.
    • Spread the lemon cream cheese frosting over the cooled poke cake. Use a palette knife again to smooth it out. Slice and serve.

    Video

    Notes

    • I like to use the end of wooden spoon to poke the holes into the cakes. Place each hole approximately 1 inch apart. This means that the holes are close enough in proximity to create a nice, moist texture.
    • Make sure that you pour the condensed milk mixture in while the cake is warm. This way the liquid will infuse into the cake more when it is warm, creating better flavours. It sinks deep into the crumb of the cake. Trust me with this one!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 385kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 442mg | Potassium: 153mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 48g | Vitamin A: 336IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 151mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag Me Today!Mention @vegan_treats_blogger or tag #vegantreatsblogger!

    More Vegan Baking Recipes

    • Three double fudge brownies stacked on a white plate. They are topped with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.
      Double Fudge Brownies (With Ice Cream)
    • A large piece of my sticky date pudding on a white plate. It is topped with ice cream and homemade caramel sauce.
      Best Sticky Date Pudding Cake
    • A soft slice of vegan strawberry shortcake cake on a white plate with a thick layer of whipped cream frosting and streusel on top.
      Vegan Strawberry Shortcake Cake
    • A dessert glass filled with caramel fudge brownie sundae. They layers are topped with lots of caramel and a cherry.
      Caramel Fudge Brownie Sundae

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anonymous says

      March 18, 2024 at 1:17 am

      5 stars
      This was hands down the best cake I have ever had. Think tres leche but make it summer vibes that’s light and airy and so delicious. This is my new go to. Thank you for sharing!!!!

      Reply
      • DJ says

        March 19, 2024 at 8:14 pm

        Thanks for this amazing review! So glad you loved the cake 🙂

        Reply
    2. C says

      May 10, 2023 at 10:38 pm

      5 stars
      Loved this. So moist!

      Reply
      • DJ says

        July 23, 2023 at 1:38 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
    5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm DJ. Welcome to Vegan Treats Blogger!

    I'm a self-taught baker and all the recipes which are developed for this website are fully plant-based, dairy-free and egg-free.

    Delicious vegan sweet treats are what we're all here for, right?

    You're in the right place and here, you will have everything you need to satisfy those cravings.

    More about me →

    Vegan Spring

    • A large creamy slice of vegan blueberry pie on a white plate. The rest of the cream pie is in the background.
      Vegan Blueberry Cream Pie (No-Bake)
    • One of my golden brown strawberry cheesecake tacos on a white plate over a dark wooden background. It is filled with cream and bright red strawberry compote.
      Crunchy Strawberry Cheesecake Tacos With White Chocolate
    • A large slice of vegan strawberry lemon cake on a white plate. It is filled and topped with strawberry jelly and lemon buttercream frosting.
      Vegan Strawberry Lemon Layer Cake
    • Vegan lemon curd inside a meson jar. It is dripping down the sides.
      Easy Vegan Lemon Curd
    • One of my vegan raspberry bars on a white plate. The filling is dripping out from the centre.
      Vegan Raspberry Crumble Oatmeal Bars
    • Three vegan carrot cake muffins on a white plate. They are golden in colour.
      Easy Vegan Carrot Cake Muffins with Lemon Glaze

    Popular Recipes

    • A close up shot of caramel drizzling.
      Vegan Dulce De Leche Caramel
    • A shot of a golden brown vegan biscoff cookie. Melted biscoff spread is dripping down the front side.
      Chewy Vegan Biscoff Cookies
    • A stack of vegan banana protein pancakes. Decorated with maple syrup and chopped bananas.
      Fluffy Vegan High Protein Banana Pancakes
    • Four vegan bounty bars on a white plate. One is sliced open revealing the coconut filling.
      Copycat Vegan Chocolate Bounty Bars (No-Bake & Gluten Free)
    • A close up shot of a perfectly round vegan dalgona candy with a star shape imprinted into the centre.
      South Korean Dalgona Honeycomb Toffee Candy (2-Ingredients + Vegan)
    • A slice of my vegan almond lemon cake on a white serving plate. It is topped with toasty flaked almonds and streusel.
      Vegan Almond Lemon Cake

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Contact

    • Contact

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • About
    • Accessibility Policy

    Copyright © 2025 Vegan Treats Blogger

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Do not sell my personal information.
    Cookie SettingsAccept
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.