If you crave bright, zesty flavors wrapped in a soft crumb and finished with silky, tangy frosting, you’re in for a treat with this Key Lime Cake with Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting. This cake offers an irresistible balance—the tart punch of key lime matched by a rich, melt-in-your-mouth cream cheese frosting—making it an absolute showstopper for gatherings or a sunny pick-me-up any day. Each slice bursts with citrusy freshness, and the tender cake layers pair wonderfully with the cool, lush frosting. Let’s dive headfirst into baking a true slice of sunshine!
Ingredients You’ll Need
For such a wow-worthy cake, the ingredients are delightfully straightforward. Each one plays a starring role—whether adding structure, moisture, or that all-important citrus flair. Let’s break down what you’ll need and why you’ll love every inclusion.
- All-purpose flour: Provides the sturdy foundation for a beautifully fluffy crumb that holds up to the creamy frosting.
- Baking powder and baking soda: The dynamic leavening duo, ensuring your cake rises tall and tender, with just the right amount of lift.
- Salt: Don’t skip this—it sharpens the lime’s brightness and balances all the flavors.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the cake and enhances the citrus tang without overwhelming it.
- Unsalted butter (softened): Adds richness and iconic buttery flavor, making every bite luxurious.
- Vegetable oil: Gives the cake that coveted moistness that keeps leftovers just as good the next day.
- Large eggs: Binds everything together and contributes to the cake’s tender texture.
- Fresh key lime juice: The hero ingredient—brings vibrant citrus zing and unmistakable tropical notes!
- Key lime zest: Packs an aromatic punch, infusing the cake and frosting with extra lime flavor.
- Buttermilk: Makes the crumb soft and adds a subtle tang that highlights the key limes.
- Vanilla extract: Just a hint for warmth and depth, rounding out those sharp lime notes.
- Cream cheese (softened): Essential for that luxuriously smooth, slightly tangy frosting.
- Powdered sugar: Gives the frosting its sweet, satiny structure that spreads like a dream.
How to Make Key Lime Cake with Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting
Step 1: Prep Your Pans and Oven
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans thoroughly—it’s worth the extra minute to ensure your cake releases flawlessly after baking. Getting this step right means turning out cake layers that are even and intact, ready for a generous slathering of creamy frosting.
Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients
Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. This even distribution means no lumps or uneven rising later. Set this bowl aside; a quick, even whisk is your secret to a cake with the perfect texture all the way through.
Step 3: Cream Butter, Sugar, and Oil
In a large mixing bowl, beat the granulated sugar, softened butter, and vegetable oil together until the mixture turns light and fluffy. This step incorporates tiny air bubbles, setting up your Key Lime Cake with Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting to be light and tender instead of dense.
Step 4: Add Eggs and Citrus
Now, add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each so they’re perfectly incorporated. Stir in the key lime juice, zest, and vanilla extract—this is where the batter sings with that delightful lime aroma!
Step 5: Alternate Flour and Buttermilk
Add the flour mixture to your wet ingredients in three additions, alternating with the buttermilk. Always begin and end with the flour. Mix just until you no longer see streaks of flour, which keeps the cake delicate and ensures all the citrus flavor shines through.
Step 6: Bake
Divide the batter evenly between your prepared pans and level the tops with a spatula. Slide them into the oven and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The cakes should be lightly golden, with a soft bounce when pressed gently.
Step 7: Cool
Cool the cakes in their pans for about 10 minutes, then carefully turn them onto wire racks. Let them cool completely—this patience pays off with a frosting that stays smooth and luscious, and cake layers that don’t crumble or melt the frosting.
Step 8: Make the Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting
In a new bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until your frosting is ultra-fluffy and spreads easily. Finish with key lime juice, zest, and vanilla extract—this is where that signature Key Lime Cake with Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting flavor explodes into every bite!
Step 9: Frost and Assemble
Once cooled, spread a thick layer of frosting over the first cake layer, top with the second, and coat the whole cake generously. If you love an extra citrus punch, brush the layers with additional key lime juice before frosting. Finish with lime zest sprinkled on top for a picture-perfect look.
How to Serve Key Lime Cake with Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting
Garnishes
For a truly stunning presentation, shower the top with fresh key lime zest or adorn with delicate twists of lime peel. Edible flowers, thin lime slices, or even a sprinkle of finely crushed vanilla wafers can add flair and hint at the cake’s tropical charm.
Side Dishes
This punchy citrus dessert shines with light, simple accents—a handful of fresh berries, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or even a tiny pour of coconut cream alongside. These complementary sides let the Key Lime Cake with Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting remain the star on your dessert table.
Creative Ways to Present
Get playful by slicing the cake into petite squares and serving as finger-friendly treats, or bake as cupcakes for individual tangy delights. You can even layer cubes of cake and frosting in jars for picnic-ready parfaits—the possibilities to showcase this cake’s vivid flavors are endless!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Wrap the cake tightly or cover it in an airtight container, then refrigerate. The frosting holds best in chill, so your Key Lime Cake with Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting will remain moist and flavorful for up to five days.
Freezing
If you want to make it ahead, freeze unfrosted cake layers wrapped well in plastic and foil for up to two months. Thaw in the fridge overnight—then frost fresh for a just-baked feel. You can also freeze slices (fully frosted), separated by parchment, for quick, zesty treats on demand.
Reheating
Key Lime Cake with Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting is best enjoyed chilled or at room temperature, so no need to reheat. If desired, bring a refrigerated slice to room temp for 20–30 minutes to maximize its creamy texture and citrus aroma before digging in.
FAQs
Can I substitute regular limes for key limes?
Absolutely! While key limes offer a slightly brighter, more floral flavor, regular limes work beautifully in a pinch—and your Key Lime Cake with Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting will still taste delightfully fresh and vibrant.
Can I make this cake as a sheet cake instead?
Yes, you can! Pour the batter into a greased 9×13-inch pan, bake at the same temperature, and check for doneness around 30–35 minutes. It’s a great way to serve a crowd with less fuss over layering and decorating.
Is it possible to make this recipe gluten-free?
Certainly—use a good quality cup-for-cup gluten-free baking flour in place of the all-purpose flour. Just double-check that your other ingredients are gluten-free, and you’ll have a cake everyone can enjoy.
Can the frosting be made less sweet?
If you prefer a tangier frosting, start with 3 cups of powdered sugar, taste, and add more as desired. The fresh key lime juice and zest help balance the sweetness, so you can personalize the tang level to your liking.
Why does my cake sometimes turn out dense?
Overmixing the batter or using cold butter or eggs can make the cake dense. For the lightest crumb, use room-temperature ingredients and mix just until the flour is incorporated. It pays off in a perfectly airy Key Lime Cake with Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting every time!
Final Thoughts
Few desserts deliver pure, sunny happiness like Key Lime Cake with Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting. It’s sweet, zingy, creamy, and every bit as fun to make as it is to eat. I can’t wait for you to try this recipe and share a slice with friends or family—you might just find it becomes your signature citrus cake, too!
Print
Key Lime Cake with Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
- Total Time: 50 minutes plus cooling
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the zesty and refreshing flavors of this Key Lime Cake with Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting. This delightful dessert is bursting with citrusy goodness and creamy frosting, making it a perfect treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Cake:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup fresh key lime juice
- 1 tablespoon key lime zest
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh key lime juice
- 1 teaspoon key lime zest
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
- Prepare Batter: In a large mixing bowl, beat granulated sugar, butter, and vegetable oil until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in key lime juice, zest, and vanilla extract. Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk, mixing until just combined.
- Bake: Divide batter between pans and bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
- Make Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, then mix in key lime juice, zest, and vanilla extract.
- Frost the Cakes: Frost cooled cakes and garnish with lime zest.
Notes
- For extra lime flavor, brush cake layers with additional key lime juice before frosting.
- Refrigerate cake for best texture and freshness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 45g
- Sodium: 270mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 66g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
