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Homemade Key Lime Cake with cream cheese frosting and lime garnish

Key Lime Cake Recipe

This Key Lime Cake is bright, moist, and full of tropical flavor thanks to fresh key lime juice and zest. Topped with luscious cream cheese frosting, it’s the perfect dessert for warm-weather gatherings and special occasions.
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Southern
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Chill & Frost: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 55 minutes
Servings: 12 slices
Calories: 460kcal
Cost: $12–$14

Equipment

  • 1 Stand mixer or hand mixer
  • 2 9-inch Cake Pans greased and lined
  • 1 Microplane/zester for fresh lime zest
  • 1 Fine-mesh strainer to remove pulp from lime juice
  • 1 Offset spatula for smooth frosting application

Ingredients

For the Cake

  • 2 cups All-purpose flour
  • cups Granulated sugar
  • ½ cup Unsalted butter softened
  • 3 Eggs large
  • 1 cup Buttermilk room temperature
  • cup Key lime juice freshly squeezed
  • 2 tablespoon Lime zest fresh
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
  • teaspoon Baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon Salt
  • 1 tablespoon Cornstarch secret for tender crumb

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 oz Cream cheese softened
  • ½ cup Unsalted butter softened
  • 4 cups Powdered sugar sifted
  • 3 tablespoon Key lime juice fresh
  • 1 tablespoon Lime zest
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract

Optional Lime Syrup

  • ¼ cup Key lime juice for brushing cake layers
  • ¼ cup Granulated sugar dissolved into the juice

Instructions

  • Preheat oven.
  • Grease and line pans.
  • Cream butter and sugar.
  • Add eggs and flavorings.
  • Whisk dry ingredients.
  • Alternate with buttermilk.
  • Divide and pour batter.
  • Bake 25–30 minutes.
  • Cool completely.
  • Make frosting.
  • Frost and decorate.
  • Brush layers with syrup.

Notes

For added lime punch, add extra zest to the frosting or top with thin lime slices.

Nutrition

Calories: 460kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 220mg | Potassium: 110mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 43g | Vitamin A: 720IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 1.5mg