Key Lime Cake

 

This is the best non-chocolate cake I’ve ever made! It is so delicious! My husband LOVES key lime pie so when we both saw Trisha Yearwood (a new friend of mine) making this cake on her cooking show, we knew I needed to try it. He made me promise I’d make it next time we needed to take a dessert to a party or cookout. Well, he was in luck this week because we had a party to attend and this was at the top of my “to bake” list. He was so happy. This cake is so flavorful and tart and the cream cheese icing just pushes it over the top. Oh, and moist.....sooooooo moist! Probably the moistest cake I’ve ever made. The glaze that you will prepare and pour on top makes the cake super moist. If you love tart and just old deliciousness, you will love this cake!  I made a sheet cake like Trisha did on her show, but I might make a layered round cake next time.....more cream cheese icing that way! I’m happy to share Trisha’s recipe with you:

Ingredients:

Cake:

• 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

Glaze:

• 1/2 cup key lime juice (from about 25 small key limes or 4 large regular limes)
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

Icing:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick butter), room temperature
• One 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
• One 1 pound box confectioners' sugar

Directions

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. Stir to mix well. Add the oil, orange juice, lemon juice, vanilla, and eggs. Mix until well combined.

The batter will be thin as you can see.

 

Pour the batter evenly in the pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes.

Such pretty green batter

 

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.

For the glaze: While the cake is still hot, mix the lime juice and confectioners' sugar together well.

Let's start juicing those key limes!

 

Pierce the cake multiple times with a fork to allow the glaze to soak in better and pour it over the cake on the cooling rack. I used a spoon to slowly spoon it over evenly. Allow cake to cool completely as you prepare the icing.

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. You can also use two or three 9-inch round cake pans and make this into a layer cake.

 

Not only is this cake delicious, it's also so beautiful when you cut it. I think you'll be very pleased if you make this recipe. Enjoy.....we sure did!