Experience the zesty charm of key lime pie in every bite of this moist, fluffy Key Lime Cake—a perfect balance of citrus and sweetness.
I’ve always been such a fan of key lime pie that it was almost impossible to imagine that flavor coming from anywhere but a pie. For those who love their dessert to have a little bit of citrus and tartness, it’s the perfect option. But then I gave key lime cake a try and my perspective changed completely. I was shocked to discover how similar it tasted compared to key lime pie. It was almost indistinguishable, which is why I’m so excited to share this recipe with anyone who loves the tart bite of a key lime pie but also enjoys the moist and fluffy nature of cake.
It’s truly the best of both worlds with key lime cake. It’s as light and fluffy as any other cake you’ve made at home but with the refreshing tartness of key lime juice. It’s like eating cake with a little bit of tang and zest. I also recommend adding green food coloring to the frosting. It’s not going to do anything to the flavor but it does make the cake look like a proper key lime cake.
Is Key Lime Cake Healthy?
Unfortunately, key lime cake isn’t a great choice for health-conscious folks. It contains a high amount of fat and sugar, which is common with sweet-tasting desserts. After all, there is butter, cream cheese, and over six cups of sugar in the recipe. To be fair, there is some nutritional value from the Greek yogurt, which offers a little protein and calcium. Also, the key lime juice is high in vitamin C. But these ingredients provide only marginal health benefits. That’s why I suggest saving key lime cake for a special occasion when you decide to splurge a little and indulge your sweet tooth.
Where’s The Graham Cracker Crust?
Of course, the graham cracker crust is the biggest thing missing in a key lime cake compared to traditional key lime pie. But if you want to add some graham cracker taste and texture, I have an idea. While the cake is baking, take a few graham crackers and break them up into small pieces. Then sprinkle the crushed graham crackers onto the top of the cake before adding the icing. This creates a thin layer of graham cracker pieces between the cake and the icing, giving the cake a little more authentic flavor and a unique texture.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
- 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 large eggs
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil
- 2/3 cup key lime juice
- 3/4 cup Greek yogurt
- 8 ounces unsalted butter, softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 6 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Green food coloring, optional
INSTRUCTIONS
Prepare
Mix dry and wet ingredients separately, then combine.
Bake
Pour batter into pans and bake until done.
Frost
Mix frosting ingredients and apply to cooled cakes.
Devour!
FAQs & Tips
Key lime cake can be covered at room temperature and stay good for up to 5 days, so it’s possible to make it well in advance.
A small amount of sour cream can add moisture to a cake without thinning the batter. Just keep in mind that sour cream will add more fat to the recipe.
Ideally, you should use key lime juice because it’s sweeter and less tart than regular lime juice. However, since key lime juice can be harder to find, ordinary lime juice is a viable alternative if you can’t get your hands on genuine key lime juice.
Serving Suggestions
To serve, maybe enjoy a fruit drink with a piece of key lime cake, like this wholesome and simple Strawberry Milk. A cool pitcher of Cucumber Mint Water is another great option for a beverage, or you could opt for a mug of Homemade Caramel-Vanilla Iced Coffee. For a special occasion, consider pairing your key lime cake with a Coconut Blueberry Mojito With Strawberries or keep it green with a Green Tea Shot!
Key Lime Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
- 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 large eggs
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil
- 2/3 cup key lime juice
- 3/4 cup Greek yogurt
- 8 ounces unsalted butter softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 6 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Green food coloring optional
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 8-inch cake pans.
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In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
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In another bowl, beat eggs, oil, and key lime juice until smooth.
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Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Fold in the Greek yogurt.
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Transfer batter to the prepared pans and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow to cool before frosting.
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In a mixing bowl, cream together butter and cream cheese. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating until smooth. Add green food coloring if desired. Frost the cooled cakes.
Nutrition
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