Trisha Yearwood's Key Lime Cake

Name: Trisha Yearwood's Key Lime Cake
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: PT-493775H42M7S
Yield: 12
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: Butter, for greasing pan; Flour, for dusting pan; One 3-ounce package lime flavored gelatin; 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar; 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil; 3/4 cup orange juice; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; 5 large eggs, slightly beaten; 1/2 cup (1 stick butter), room temperature; One 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature; One 1-pound box confectioners' sugar

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If you love key lime cake, this Trisha Yearwood key lime cake is going to be one of your new favorite desserts. It has that perfect balance of sweet and tangy, with a soft, moist texture that makes it hard to stop at just one slice.

This is one of those easy dessert recipes that feels a little more special than a basic cake, but it is still simple enough to make anytime. It uses convenient ingredients, comes together quickly, and delivers big flavor without a lot of effort.

I like making this when I want something light and refreshing, especially in the spring and summer. The citrus flavor keeps it from feeling too heavy, and it is always a hit when you bring it somewhere.

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Why You Will Like Key Lime Cake
Ingredients Needed for Key Lime Cake
How to make Key Lime Cake
Pro Tips for Key Lime Cake
Storage
Recipe FAQS
Other Recipes to Try
Trisha Yearwood's Key Lime Cake

Why You Will Like Key Lime Cake

Bright, tangy key lime flavor
Soft and moist cake texture
Easy to make with simple ingredients
Perfect for spring and summer desserts
Great for parties, potlucks, or holidays

Ingredients Needed for Key Lime Cake

Lime flavored gelatin - the secret ingredient to help give this cake its nice lime flavor!
Granulated sugar - Or regular granulated sugar, I do not use sugar substitutes in any of my recipes but if you know the conversions feel free to do so
Sifted all-purpose flour - is a type of wheat flour that is commonly used in cooking and baking. It is versatile and can be used for a variety of recipes, including bread, cakes, cookies, and pastries.
Baking powder is a leavening agent used in many baked goods, such as cakes, muffins, and biscuits. It is made up of a combination of baking soda, cream of tartar, and sometimes cornstarch.
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a white crystalline powder that is commonly used in baking as a leavening agent1 ½ cups vegetable oil
Orange juice
Lemon juice - Is a citrus juice made from squeezing fresh lemons. It is commonly used as a flavoring agent in cooking, baking, and beverages. Bottled lemon juice is also ok to use.
Vanilla extract - It is made by macerating and soaking vanilla beans in a mixture of water and Vodka. Use a good pure vanilla instead of the imitation vanilla extract.
Eggs, slightly beaten - Helps the cake hold structure and stay fluffy
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

How to make Key Lime Cake

Step 1 For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease and flour one 9-by-12- by-2-inch cake pan. In a large mixing bowl, mix the gelatin, granulated sugar, flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda.

Dry ingredients for key lime cake in bowl.

Step 2 Stir to mix well. Add the oil, orange juice, lemon juice, vanilla, and eggs. Mix until well combined. Pour the batter evenly in the pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Test for doneness by lightly touching the tops or inserting a toothpick. Cool the cake in the pan for 5 minutes then turn out onto a cooling rack.

Step 3 For the glaze: While the cake is still hot, mix the lime juice and confectioners' sugar together well. Pierce the cake with a fork to allow the glaze to soak in better and pour it over the cake on the cooling rack. Allow cake to cool completely as you prepare the icing.

Recipe Tip: If you don't have limes take some reserved lime gelatin, and make a glaze with confectioners sugar and water.

For the icing: Cream the butter and cream cheese. Beat in the confectioners' sugar until mixture is smooth and easy to spread. Spread the icing on the top and sides of the cake.

Key Lime Cake topped with cream cheese frosting.

Pro Tips for Key Lime Cake

Let the cake cool slightly before adding the topping so it absorbs better
Use fresh lime juice if possible for the best flavor
Chill the cake for at least an hour before serving
Do not skip poking holes, this helps the cake stay moist
Add extra lime zest for a stronger citrus flavor
You can use a box of white cake mix for this recipe the wet ingredients pretty much equal out to the ingredients on the back of the box
This cake is very moist and can be greasy from the amount of oil used. To cut back on that use half the amount of oil than what the recipe calls for.

Storage

Store covered in the refrigerator
Best eaten within 3 to 4 days
Keep chilled since it has a creamy topping

Recipe FAQS

Can I use regular lime juice instead of key lime?

Yes, regular lime juice works, but key lime has a slightly more distinct flavor.

Can I make key lime cake ahead of time?

Yes, this is actually better when made ahead and chilled.

Can I use homemade whipped cream?

Yes, homemade whipped cream works great as a substitute.

Other Recipes to Try

If you tried this Trisha Yearwood’s Key Lime Cake or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you! Follow along on Tiktok @jennarecipediaries

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