Key Lime Cake

Name: Key Lime Cake
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 12 servings
Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, softened; 1/4 cup canola oil; 2 cups sugar; 2 large eggs, room temperature; 1/4 cup Key lime juice; 1 tablespoon grated Key lime zest; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour; 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1-1/2 cups whole milk; FROSTING:; 1/2 cup butter, softened; 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened; 3 cups confectioners' sugar; 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream; 2 tablespoons Key lime juice; 2 teaspoons grated Key lime zest; 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs, optional

Total Time Prep: 40 min. Bake: 35 min. + cooling

Yield 12 servings

Test Kitchen Approved

There's no need to choose between cake and pie. This Key lime cake with three flavorful layers and a Key lime cream cheese frosting is the best dessert mashup.

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup canola oil
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1/4 cup Key lime juice
1 tablespoon grated Key lime zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups whole milk
FROSTING:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
3 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons Key lime juice
2 teaspoons grated Key lime zest
1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs, optional

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Line 3 greased 8-in. round baking pans with parchment, set aside.
In a large bowl, cream sugar, butter and oil until light and fluffy, 5-6 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Beat in lime juice, lime zest and vanilla extract. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Pour batter into prepared cake pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 35-40 minutes. Cool 10 minutes in pans; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
In a large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed until smooth, 3-4 minutes. Reduce mixer speed to medium-low; beat in confectioners' sugar, cream, lime juice and lime zest. Increase speed to medium-high; beat until well combined.
Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate; frost top with 3/4 cup frosting. Repeat layers. Top with remaining cake layer. Frost top and sides of cake with remaining frosting. If desired, sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs.

Nutrition Facts

1 slice: 636 calories, 30g fat (15g saturated fat), 97mg cholesterol, 419mg sodium, 89g carbohydrate (65g sugars, 1g fiber), 6g protein.

Unlike the pie, this Key lime cake is topped with a decadent cream cheese frosting. You can top it with graham cracker crumbs as a nod to the original pie crust. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Recipe Creator