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    Home » Recipes » Cakes + Cupcakes

    Key Lime Cake

    Published: Apr 3, 2019 by Modern Honey · This post may contain affiliate links · 124 Comments

    41288 shares
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    Key Lime Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. Moist key lime cake with sweet cream cheese frosting. A light and fluffy citrus lime cake with the perfect lime buttercream frosting! The BEST Lime Cake Recipe! www.modernhoney.com #limecake #keylimecake #citruscake

    Key Lime Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

    Moist key lime cake with sweet cream cheese frosting. A light and fluffy citrus lime cake with the perfect lime buttercream frosting!

    I work long and hard to perfect my cake recipes. I take baking cakes pretty seriously and want to pass on these tried and true recipes to my children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren...so they better be perfect!

    Key Lime Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. Moist key lime cake with sweet cream cheese frosting. A light and fluffy citrus lime cake with the perfect lime buttercream frosting! The BEST Lime Cake Recipe! www.modernhoney.com #limecake #keylimecake #citruscake

    I have been baking since the time I could climb up on a stool and help my Mom in the kitchen. Baking cakes and cookies for my friends and family have always been my favorite thing to bake! I shared how my kids get to choose the flavor of their birthday cake every year and they get pretty creative! Since my daughter, Sadie, is obsessed with anything lime flavored, I knew this had to be her special birthday cake.

    This is literally one of my husband's favorite cakes I have ever made. It is seriously the best lime cake!

    Key Lime Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. Moist key lime cake with sweet cream cheese frosting. A light and fluffy citrus lime cake with the perfect lime buttercream frosting! The BEST Lime Cake Recipe! www.modernhoney.com #limecake #keylimecake #citruscake

    We just returned home from a Caribbean cruise with the family and had the best time! It was so nice to be away from cellphones and laptops and reconnects as a family.  My kids felt like Kings and Queens with access to unlimited food and drinks! Our favorite virgin non-alcoholic drink was definitely the mojito -- made with fresh lime juice and mint. This drink was definitely the inspiration for this fresh key lime cake!

    This Key Lime Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting can be made as a layered cake with two 9-inch cake pans or three 8-inch cake pans or in a 9 x 13 pan.

    Key Lime Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. Moist key lime cake with sweet cream cheese frosting. A light and fluffy citrus lime cake with the perfect lime buttercream frosting! The BEST Lime Cake Recipe! www.modernhoney.com #limecake #keylimecake #citruscake

    How to make the Best Key Lime Cake (the best tips and tricks):

    1. Whip oil, eggs, whole milk, lime juice, and lemon zest for about 2-3 minutes.  I would highly suggest using FRESH lime juice for this cake. It makes such a difference in the flavor. Also, zest the limes first before juicing since it is much easier to zest while the limes are hard and round.
    2. Fold in dry ingredients. Pour into greased cake pans. It is so important to grease the cake pans well so the cakes easily come out of the pans. You can choose to use two 9-inch cake pans or three 8-inch cake pans, depending on preference. If you use three 8-inch pans, the layers will be thinner and will need less baking time. This can also be made in a 9 x 13 pan.
    3. After cakes have baked, set aside to cool. Make frosting by whipping softened cream cheese and butter for 4 minutes until light and fluffy. This makes the frosting extra light.  Add powdered sugar and whip for 1 minute.  If you want a stiffer frosting, add more powdered sugar.  Fold in lime juice and lime zest.
    4. Remove cakes from pan. Spread frosting on top of one cooled cake layer. Place the other cooled cake layer on top and spread frosting all over. I use this angled spatula to spread frosting all over the cake layers. Garnish with freshly sliced limes.

    If you love cakes, here are some of the most popular cake recipes:

    Lemon Olive Oil Cake
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    Key Lime Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. Moist key lime cake with sweet cream cheese frosting. A light and fluffy citrus lime cake with the perfect lime buttercream frosting! The BEST Lime Cake Recipe! www.modernhoney.com #limecake #keylimecake #citruscake

    I love to hear from you! If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and give this recipe a rating. Sign up for my newsletter below so you never miss a recipe. Thank you for following along! I truly do have the greatest readers. FOLLOW ME ON:   INSTAGRAM --- FACEBOOK --- PINTEREST

    Key Lime Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. Moist key lime cake with sweet cream cheese frosting. A light and fluffy citrus lime cake with the perfect lime buttercream frosting! The BEST Lime Cake Recipe! www.modernhoney.com #limecake #keylimecake #citruscake

    Key Lime Cake

    Key Lime Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. Moist key lime cake with sweet cream cheese frosting. A light and fluffy citrus lime cake with the perfect lime buttercream frosting! The BEST Lime Cake Recipe! 
    4.9 from 67 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 16

    Ingredients
      

    Key Lime Cake:

    • 1 cup Canola or Olive Oil
    • 3 large Eggs
    • 1 ⅓ cup Whole Milk
    • 2 Tablespoons Fresh Lime Zest
    • 1 Tablespoon Fresh Lime Juice
    • 2 cups Sugar
    • 2 cups Flour
    • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
    • ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
    • 1 teaspoon Salt

    Lime Cream Cheese Frosting:

    • ½ cup Butter (softened)
    • 8 ounce Cream Cheese (softened)
    • 4 - 4 ½ cups Powdered Sugar
    • 1 Tablespoon Fresh Lime Juice
    • ½ teaspoon Fresh Lime Zest
    • Fresh Limes (sliced for garnish)

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
    • In a large mixing bowl, add oil, eggs, whole milk, lime zest, and lime juice. Cream for 2 minutes.
    •  In a large bowl, add sugar, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir into egg mixture and fold. 
    • Spray two 9-inch or three 8-inch cake pans with nonstick cooking spray. Place batter into baking pans. If using three 8-inch pans, bake for 20-26 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. If using two 9-inch pans, bake for 30-36 minutes. Cool.

    To make Lime Cream Cheese Frosting:

    • In a large bowl, cream together butter and cream cheese for 4-5 minutes until light and fluffy, scraping sides of bowl often. Add powdered sugar, lime juice, lime zest, and cream together. Chill.
    • Remove cakes from pan. Spread frosting on top of one cooled cake layer. Place the other cooled cake layer on top and spread frosting all over. Garnish with fresh lime slices. 

    Video

    Keyword key lime cake
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Barbara

      March 16, 2023 at 9:41 am

      Can you use Key Limes instead of regular Limes?

      Reply
    2. Cheryl

      March 05, 2023 at 2:31 pm

      Can I substitute buttermilk for the milk? If so, would it be the same amount?

      Reply
    3. LexiStarlight

      March 01, 2023 at 10:00 am

      All baking recipes should be posted in metric as baking is a SCIENCE and should be exact

      Reply
    4. Michelle

      January 27, 2023 at 9:41 am

      Can I bake this cake in a 13 x 9 pan instead of making a layer cake? If so, do I need to adjust the baking time?

      Reply
    5. yvonne

      January 19, 2023 at 7:55 am

      Thank you for this lovely recipe. I made if for a birthday party for a special friend. I was stunned when she told me her new favourite cake was Key Lime Cake. I had never heard of it, just key lime pie. I was doubting my ears. However, I dutifully googled and found your recipe. I nervously made it and presented it at her birthday party. It was a huge success and now everyone wants Key Lime cake and your recipe!!

      Reply
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    Melissa Stadler Modern Honey

    Hi, I'm Melissa Stadler! I am an Award-Winning Recipe Creator. Cover of Food Network Magazine. Two-Time Pillsbury Bake-Off Finalist. I am passionate about sharing the best recipes so you have success in the kitchen!

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