Description
This vibrant Key Lime Cake offers a moist, tender crumb infused with the bright, citrusy tang of fresh limes and finished with a silky cream cheese frosting. It is a reliable scratch-made classic that balances sweetness and tartness perfectly for any occasion.
Ingredients
- All-Purpose Flour
- Unsalted Butter
- Vegetable Oil
- Granulated Sugar
- Large Eggs
- Sour Cream
- Fresh Limes (zest and juice)
- Lime Extract
- Vanilla Extract
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda
- Salt
- Milk
- Green gel food coloring (optional)
- Cream Cheese (for frosting)
- Confectioner’s Sugar (for frosting)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and grease a 13×9 inch pan with non-stick baking spray.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until the leavening agents are evenly distributed.
- In a separate bowl, combine the sour cream, oil, lime zest, lime juice, milk, extracts, and optional green food coloring.
- In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar using an electric mixer for about two minutes until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing for 20 seconds after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl.
- Alternately add the dry mixture and the liquid mixture to the butter mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients, and mixing until just combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top, and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool completely on a wire rack, then top with a whipped frosting of cream cheese, butter, salt, extracts, confectioner’s sugar, and lime juice.
Notes
For the best results, ensure your butter, eggs, and sour cream are at room temperature to create a smooth, well-emulsified batter. When measuring the flour, use the spoon-and-level method to avoid packing it down, which prevents the cake from becoming too dense or heavy.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American