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Key Lime Cake
3 from 3 votes

Key Lime Cake

Key Lime Cake is light, fluffy, sweet, and tangy. Flavored with coconut extract and lime juice, and topped with rich cream cheese frosting.

Prep Time
35 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
2 hrs 30 mins
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 791 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Key Lime Layer Cake:
  • 3/4 cup butter unsalted
  • 1 1/3 cups sugar
  • 3 large egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
  • 1 cup milk room temperature, whole
  • 1/4 cup key lime juice
  • 2 1/3 cups flour
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 4-6 drops green food coloring , optional
Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting:
  • 24 ounces cream cheese , softened
  • 1/2 cup butter softened, unsalted
  • 3 tablespoons sour cream
  • 3 tablespoons key lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 6 1/2 cups powdered sugar , about 2 pounds
  • 4-6 drops green food coloring , optional
Filling:
  • 1/2 cup condensed milk , for brushing

Instructions

Key Lime Layer Cake:
    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and butter and flour two 8" cake pans.
  2. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt then set aside.
  3. To your stand mixer add the butter and sugar and beat them together until light and fluffy on medium speed, 2-3 minutes, then add in the eggs one at a time 15 seconds apart. Finally mix in the coconut extract and lime juice then lower the speed to low.
  4. Add the flour mixture and milk, alternating a little of each at a time.
  5. Add in the green food coloring until you get a beautiful lime color, starting with just a drop at a time.
  6. Pour into the cake pans evenly and baked for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
  7. Cool cakes completely before frosting.
Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting:
  1. Add the cream cheese, butter, sour cream, lime juice, and vanilla to a stand mixer and beat until light and fluffy.
  2. (Note: If you use fresh key limes for juice, you can add the zest from a couple limes to the frosting)
  3. Add in the powdered sugar one cup at a time until smooth and incorporated, as well as thick. Beat an additional minute until fluffy.
  4. Optional: Add in the green food coloring until you get a beautiful lime color, starting with just a drop at a time and stir.
To Finish:
  1. To your cake stand add a spoonful of frosting.
  2. Level the cakes with a large serrated knife and discard the cake pieces.
  3. Brush off excess crumbs.
  4. Add the first layer of the cake to the cake stand.
  5. Brush with 1/4 cup condensed milk.
  6. Top with 1 cup of frosting, spread evenly.
  7. Top with second layer of cake.
  8. Brush with remaining 1/4 cup condensed milk.
  9. Top with 1 cup of frosting on top, spreading evenly.
  10. Add 1 cup of frosting, coating the outside of the cake.
  11. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow to harden.
  12. Frost the cake with half the remaining frosting.
  13. Pipe swirly mounds onto the top of the cake.
  14. Add thin slices of limes to the cake, cutting through one segment and twisting to create an "s" shape.
  15. Grate fresh lime zest over the cake as a garnish (if you used key lime juice that is bottled, just zest from a normal lime).

Nutrition Information

Calories 791kcal (40%) Carbohydrates 119g (40%) Protein 11g (22%) Fat 32g (49%) Saturated Fat 19g (95%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g (12%) Monounsaturated Fat 8g (40%) Trans Fat 1g (50%) Cholesterol 137mg (46%) Sodium 427mg (18%) Potassium 284mg (6%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 97g (194%) Vitamin A 1061IU (21%) Vitamin C 3mg (3%) Calcium 211mg (21%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 791

% Daily Value*

Calories 791kcal 40%
Carbohydrates 119g 40%
Protein 11g 22%
Fat 32g 49%
Saturated Fat 19g 95%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 8g 40%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 137mg 46%
Sodium 427mg 18%
Potassium 284mg 6%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 97g 194%
Vitamin A 1061IU 21%
Vitamin C 3mg 3%
Calcium 211mg 21%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.