Description
Key Lime Cake brings a zesty slice of Florida sunshine straight to your dessert table. Creamy lime-infused layers topped with tangy cream cheese frosting make this treat a refreshing crowd-pleaser that sparks joy with each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Ingredients:
- 2 cups Flour
- 2 cups Sugar
- 1 ⅓ cups Whole Milk
- 1 cup Canola or Olive Oil
- 3 large Eggs
Supporting Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons Fresh Lime Zest
- 1 tablespoon Fresh Lime Juice
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 teaspoon Salt
Frosting Ingredients:
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese (softened)
- ½ cup Butter (softened)
- 4 to 4 ½ cups Powdered Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Fresh Lime Juice
- ½ teaspoon Fresh Lime Zest
- Fresh Limes (sliced for garnish)
Instructions
- Warm the oven to a precise 325°F, ensuring your rack sits in the center position for even baking.
- Whisk 1 cup canola oil, 3 large eggs, 1 ⅓ cups whole milk, 2 tbsp lime zest, and 1 tbsp lime juice in a large mixing bowl for exactly 2 minutes until the mixture looks smooth and creamy.
- Separately combine 2 cups sugar, 2 cups flour, 1 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp baking soda, and 1 tsp salt in another bowl.
- Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until completely incorporated, avoiding overmixing.
- Coat two 9-inch or three 8-inch cake pans thoroughly with nonstick cooking spray, distributing the batter evenly among them.
- For three 8-inch pans, bake 20-26 minutes; for two 9-inch pans, bake 30-36 minutes, checking doneness with a toothpick that should emerge clean.
- Allow cakes to cool completely on a wire rack before removing from pans.
- Beat ½ cup softened butter and 8 oz softened cream cheese for 4-5 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Gradually mix in 4-4 ½ cups powdered sugar, 1 tbsp lime juice, and ½ tsp lime zest until frosting reaches a smooth consistency.
- Refrigerate frosting for 15 minutes to help it set and become more spreadable.
- Place first cake layer on serving plate and spread a generous layer of frosting on top.
- Carefully position second cake layer and frost the entire exterior of the cake.
- Garnish with fresh lime slices just before serving for a beautiful presentation.
Notes
- Check cake doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center, which should come out clean with no wet batter.
- Zest limes before juicing to maximize flavor and ensure you capture all the bright citrus notes.
- Room temperature ingredients help create a smoother, more evenly mixed batter that rises better.
- For a gluten-free version, swap all-purpose flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend to maintain the cake’s tender texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-36 minutes
- Category: Cakes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 to 10
- Calories: 519 kcal
- Sugar: 74 g
- Sodium: 357 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 73 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 64 mg