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Key Lime Cake Recipe: How to Make Key Lime Cake

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Jan 6, 2023 • 3 min read

With an ideal balance of sweet-and-tart flavors, this key lime layer cake brightens up any dessert or midday snack. Learn to make key lime cake at home.

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What Is Key Lime Cake?

Key lime cake combines the zesty tang of key lime pie with the comforting sweetness of a classic layer cake. Key lime cream cheese frosting (or key lime buttercream frosting) brings luxurious creaminess to contrast with the cake’s tender crumb. Key lime flavor is floral with a less pronounced acidity than standard limes (also known as Persian limes); if you use key limes, you’ll notice the difference. Their deep green, thin, soft rind also makes beautifully bright-colored zest.

6 Tips for Making Key Lime Cake

Key limes are smaller than standard limes, with more seeds (meaning they take longer to juice).
Though they do have a somewhat different flavor, it’s fine to switch in regular limes if that’s what’s handy. Here are some further tips for boosting the citrus flavor and ensuring luscious, moist cake layers.

  1. 1. Zest the limes before juicing them. It’s much harder to zest limes after they’ve been halved and juiced already, so make zesting your first step. If you end up with leftover zest or juice, freeze it in ice cube trays. Here’s how to zest a lime.
  2. 2. Use fresh key lime juice. If you can’t find key limes, use regular lime juice and zest, but avoid bottled lime juice. The acidity and brightness of fresh lime juice are unparalleled. Here’s how to juice a lime.
  3. 3. Cool the cake layers completely before frosting. Letting the cake layers cool completely to room temperature will prevent any frosting from melting and ensure they hold their shape well. You can even make the cakes ahead of time. Bake the cakes and, once completely cooled, wrap each layer in plastic wrap separately. Keep them refrigerated until you’re ready to assemble and add layers of frosting, up to forty-eight hours.
  4. 4. Make it festive. To boost the lime flavor and color the cake green, you can add lime gelatin, which typically includes food coloring. Simply incorporate the powdered green gelatin into the dry ingredients.
  5. 5. Incorporate different citrus fruits. Introduce additional layers of sweetness and acidity to key lime cake by mixing and matching citrus zests and juices. Try orange juice and zest, lemon juice and zest, or even grapefruit. For a colorful garnish, arrange slices of lime, lemon, orange, and grapefruit in a pattern over the finished cake.
  6. 6. Make cupcakes. Instead of making a layer cake, divide the batter into muffin tins for individually sized treats. Just remember to reduce the baking time to account for the smaller size; cupcakes take about 15–25 minutes. Here’s how to frost cupcakes perfectly.

Layered Key Lime Cake Recipe

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makes

1 2-layer 9-inch cake

prep time

15 min

total time

35 min

cook time

20 min

Ingredients

For the key lime cakes:

For the key lime cream cheese frosting and assembly:

Note: The total time does not include 1 hour and 30 minutes of inactive time.

Make the cakes:

  1. 1

    Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

  2. 2

    Line two 9-inch cake pans with parchment paper and spray them with nonstick cooking spray.

  3. 3

    In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the oil, eggs, whole milk, lime zest, and lime juice until well combined, about 2 minutes. (Alternatively, put the ingredients in a large bowl and use an electric mixer to combine.)

  4. 4

    In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

  5. 5

    Using a rubber spatula, stir the dry ingredients into the egg mixture and fold them together until smooth.

  6. 6

    Pour the cake batter into the prepared pans, distributing it evenly.

  7. 7

    Bake until golden brown or until a toothpick comes out clean, about 30–36 minutes.

  8. 8

    Remove the cooled cakes from their round pans, and set them aside to cool until they reach room temperature, about 1 hour.

Make the frosting and assemble the cake:

  1. 1

    In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and cream cheese until they’re smooth and sleek, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed, about 4 minutes. (Alternatively, put the ingredients in a large bowl and use an electric mixer to combine.)

  2. 2

    Add the powdered sugar, lime juice, lime zest, and orange juice, and continue to cream the mixture together until smooth.

  3. 3

    Refrigerate the frosting until it is firm, yet malleable, about 30 minutes.

  4. 4

    Set one cake on a cake dish or large platter. This will be your first layer.

  5. 5

    Using an offset spatula or a piping bag, apply the frosting on top of the first cake layer.

  6. 6

    Place the second cooled cake layer on top of the first and cover it generously with frosting.

  7. 7

    Garnish the cake with additional lime zest or slices, if desired

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