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Laughing Spatula / Recipe Index / Cake Recipes / Fresh Key Lime Cake!

Fresh Key Lime Cake!

By Kathi & Rachel

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Who says Key Lime has to be a pie?  You are gonna fall in love with this easy to make Fresh Key Lime Cake!  And here is a secret, you don’t have to use Key Limes...regular old limes work just fine!

Key Lime Cake frosted and in a 9 x 13 pan

We all know about Key Lime Pie – but I like my dessert in cake form.   I want cake, cake and more cake!  Nothing against all you pie lovers – I got nuthin’ but love for ya.  It’s just this thing, this thing with cake, it’s big…and it’s getting bigger! Well everything is gonna get bigger if I don’t stop making cake every weekend…ugh.  But I do share, so that makes it okay, right?

  Regular limes work for this Fresh Key Lime Cake

 just as well!!

and they are a little easier to zest…key limes are tiny little suckers and you can easily zest your finger tip off.  Not a good start to cake day.  Cake fixes a lot of things but it won’t make you grow your finger tips back.

Whether you use Key Limes or regular Limes, you are going to love this easy to make fresh cake!

The batter is your basic cake ingredients plus a bit of lime juice and zest.

Watch those finger tips when zesting!

Key Lime Cake Batter in a 9 x 13 pan ready to go in the oven

 

Once your cake is baked and cooled, it’s time to  slather on the cream cheese and lime frosting.   I do so love that word slather….

Key Lime Cake being frosted

Now zest some additional lime to decorate.  I found this cool little tool in my bar stuff.  It made little confetti looking lime strips!

Lime and zester

Chubby fingers make great cake and they hold a lot of frosting for extra taste testing!

Key Lime Cake frosted and decorated

 

And now to do what I do best….EAT CAKE!  We love the fresh taste.  No ultra green color added.  You don’t want your cake to look neon!

Key Lime Cake cut and ready to serve

 

We love to make easy and fresh cake and you can see all fo them HERE!

One of our favorites is our Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake.  You slather peanut butter right out of the jar onto chocolate cake, then top with a 5 minute ganache frosting you make in the microwave !  Super big flavor bomb!

Here is to cake and all it does!

Clink!

Kathi

Key Lime Cake frosted and in a 9 x 13 pan

Fresh Key Lime Cake!

You will love the fresh taste of this Key Lime Cake!    Key Limes or regular limes will work.  It is tender with a tangy fresh flavor we love!
4.59 from 86 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes minutes
Servings: 18
Author: Kathi & Rachel

Ingredients

For Cake

  • 3/4 cup butter softened
  • 1 2/3 cups granulated white sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup fresh key lime juice or regular lime juice
  • 2 teaspoons fresh key lime zest or regular limes
  • 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt

For Frosting

  • 1/2 cup butter softened
  • 4 oz cream cheese
  • 2 cups confectioners sugar
  • 2 teaspoons key lime zest, plus more for garnish
  • 4 tablespoons fresh key lime juice

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9" x 13" pan with non-stick spray.
  • Mix together butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time.
  • Add milk, vanilla, lime juice, lime zest to combine.
  • Add flour, baking powder and salt.
  • Mix with electric mixer until well blended
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Cool cake and frost with Fresh Lime Frosting.
  • For Fresh Lime Frosting
  • In a large bowl, beat together the butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer. Add lime juice and lime zest.  With the mixer on low speed, add the powdered sugar a cup at a time until smooth and creamy.  
  • Spread on cooled cake and garnish with additional lime zest.

Notes

CHEATER NOTE:  Buy already made vanilla frosting and add the lime juice and lime zest!  shhhh, don't tell....

Nutrition

Calories: 350kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 247mg | Potassium: 134mg | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 540IU | Vitamin C: 2.1mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 1.1mg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Cake Recipes, Desserts, Most Popular Recipes

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Comments

  1. HelenG says

    June 18, 2024 at 1:13 am

    5 stars
    Beautiful cake. Generous size and I loved the frosting…not too sweet but luscious. I would love metric measurements though as they are more reliable. In Australia our cup size is different unfortunately. My conversion maths must have been correct because it was perfect. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Kathi & Rachel says

      June 18, 2024 at 6:37 am

      We are thrilled you liked it! Thank you for the nice note and 5 stars!

      Reply
  2. Nicole says

    June 13, 2024 at 3:47 pm

    5 stars
    I made this recipe into cupcakes for my dad for Father’s Day. I added a few more tablespoons of lime juice into the batter and let me say the cake itself is absolutely delicious!!!! I think I found my new staple. As for the frosting I can’t speak on that because I haven’t even gotten that far yet… I couldn’t help myself once I smelled the cake out of the oven.

    Reply
    • Kathi & Rachel says

      June 18, 2024 at 6:38 am

      Thank you for the nice note and 5 stars Nicole! Kathi

      Reply
  3. Lou says

    March 16, 2024 at 3:46 am

    I’m excited to make this but I’ve only got 8” round tins, will it still work? How high do the cakes rise in the 9” tins? Just don’t want the mixture to spill over. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Kathi & Rachel says

      March 16, 2024 at 5:46 am

      Two 8 or 9″ tins will be fine.

      Reply
      • Lou says

        March 19, 2024 at 6:21 pm

        5 stars
        This cake is incredible! I made it using 2 x 8” round tins and layered together with some lime curd and instead of the frosting just dusted with icing sugar. Limes were fresh from a friends tree so the flavor was fantastic. Definitely making this again, I’m so glad I came across your recipe!

      • Kathi & Rachel says

        March 20, 2024 at 6:16 am

        Thank you so much! So glad you liked it! Kathi

  4. Sharon says

    March 12, 2024 at 5:34 pm

    So sorry don’t know what i did wrong it was heavy as lead nd only 1 inch tall. I checked and added everything. I wish it could have been different

    Reply
    • Kathi & Rachel says

      March 13, 2024 at 6:45 am

      Hi Sharon – sounds to me like your baking powder didnt work. Check the expiration date and double check you used baking powder and not soda, it happens! So sorry it didnt work for you!

      Reply
  5. Allie Wilson says

    June 14, 2023 at 9:08 pm

    5 stars
    Finally!! A key lime cake recipe that doesn’t use jello, instant pudding, sour cream or yogurt! I wanted a true key lime flavor, not a hint of it with a lit of artificial lime flavor. I have nothing against sour cream or yogurt being used in some cakes, but its not my way of baking cake. This was light, fluffy and wonderfully tart with that key lime bite that was balanced out by the sweet cream cheese frosting! This will be added to our summertime dessert list for family gatherings! I want to try it with fresh grated coconut added to the frosting next time! I think that would be a good addition sometimes.

    Reply
    • Kathi & Rachel says

      June 15, 2023 at 3:37 pm

      I am so glad you like it! It’s exactly why I came up with the recipe. Couldn’t find a fresh tasting key lime cake. Thanks for the nice note! Kathi

      Reply
  6. Emily Berg says

    March 7, 2023 at 7:27 pm

    Hi,
    I am wondering if I can use a regular 9×13 metal or stainless steel baking pan instead of a glass one? Also I am wondering if I could do vanilla cream cheese frosting instead of lime for the frosting to balance it out more? Thanks! It looks great I am excited to try it!

    Reply
    • Kathi & Rachel says

      March 8, 2023 at 6:43 am

      Hi Emily – yes of course a metal baking pan will be fine and any kind of frosting you choose would work.

      Reply
  7. Peg says

    March 10, 2022 at 8:19 pm

    Is this recipe adaptable for cupcakes? If so, can you guestimate approximately how many it will yield?

    Reply
    • Kathi & Rachel says

      March 11, 2022 at 7:10 am

      Yes! It will make approximately 24 cupcakes. Bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes.

      Reply
  8. Mona says

    October 28, 2021 at 5:15 pm

    5 stars
    Kathi and Rachel this key lime cake is to die for! This may be my favorite cake EVER! Love. Love. Love.

    Reply
    • Kathi & Rachel says

      October 29, 2021 at 7:46 am

      Thank you Mona! Thats a big complement coming from a great cook!

      Reply
  9. Linda says

    June 2, 2020 at 1:19 pm

    5 stars
    I made this for a shower last summer and got great reviews. And we got a request for it for another shower this summer. This time I made it into cupcakes and they are still delicious. We like a little more lime flavor so just added a little more zest. Thank you!

    Reply
  10. Pat says

    May 24, 2020 at 5:40 pm

    5 stars
    Wonderful recipe. It came out perfect and the frosting is delicious. I know I will be making again.
    Thank you for sharing .

    Reply
    • Kathi & Rachel says

      May 25, 2020 at 6:51 am

      So glad you loved it! Thank you for the nice note and 5 star rating! xoxoxo!

      Reply
  11. Mel B says

    March 31, 2020 at 7:37 pm

    3 stars
    Followed the directions, the cake tastes amazing! but for some reason did not rise.

    Reply
    • Kathi & Rachel says

      April 1, 2020 at 8:27 am

      Hi Mel – Check the expiration date on your baking powder. Thanks.

      Reply
  12. Thomas James says

    February 21, 2020 at 9:06 pm

    5 stars
    Look yummy! One of my favorite Fresh Key Lime Cake, nice to see your recipe, easy to follow, will cook this for family this weekend. Thanks you!

    Reply
  13. Maria says

    June 16, 2019 at 1:34 am

    5 stars
    I just made this cake and know it will be delicious as the colour is just right! I have tasted the beaters for both the cake mixture the frosting…um, um! Is anyone else having trouble with this website…sooo frustrating????? Anyway, I substituted the last 3/4 cup of flour with shredded coconut!!!!

    Reply
  14. Maria says

    June 13, 2019 at 2:21 am

    I grow my limes in a pot and I have 3 ready to go with loads more on the dwarf tree….I am going to make this over the weekend…..Here in Australia we don’t make pies like you people do….key lime pie, pumpkin pie….we don’t even have graham crackers! However I know that there will be a very close substitute out there…just haven’t had the need so far!!!!! I am a fairly good cook and yet I cannot make an apple pie, but I have a substitute and it is very good. It is called, almost apple pie cake!!!

    Reply
  15. Libby says

    April 10, 2019 at 4:34 pm

    Can you use jarred key lime juice instead of fresh? This looks amazing!

    Reply
    • LaughingSpatula.com says

      April 11, 2019 at 6:52 am

      Yes, that would be fine!

      Reply
  16. Elizabeth says

    January 7, 2019 at 3:12 pm

    5 stars
    Just made this and it is so SO good! Thank you for sharing. Saving this recipe!

    Reply
    • LaughingSpatula.com says

      January 11, 2019 at 4:52 pm

      Yay! I love this recipe too…I mean it’s cake right but besides that it’s so light it almost makes me feel like it’s healthy :). You can try this with lemon or orange as well. Thank you for the nice note Elizabeth!

      Reply
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