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Easy Key Lime Pie Cake Recipe

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Key Lime Cake, lime cake

This incredible Easy Key Lime Pie Cake Recipe is going to blow your mind.

Everything about it is absolutely delicious, and it’s one of the most awesome lime desserts you’ll ever come across. This easy recipe is the perfect party dessert, or it’s great for a potluck.

The secret is you dress up a boxed cake mix and transform it into the most incredible lemon-lime cake you’ll ever taste. 

Scroll to bottom for printable recipe card.

Easy Key Lime Pie Cake Recipe 

When I was a kid, I wasn’t necessarily a fan of lime-flavored anything. As time is going on, though, I’ve become more accustomed to the flavor of key lime, and I honestly cannot get enough of it. I make all sorts of key lime recipes, including this easy key lime cake.

The entire family actually loves the flavor too. So I’m more than happy to make it for all of us whenever somebody gets a craving. Or I will take it to parties and events when I want something extra special and not just a typical boring dessert.

lime cake, easy key lime cake

The biggest thing that sets this dessert apart from other lime recipes is that it has lemon and lime. Using lemon cake with the addition of the key limes takes it to the next level of excellence. I seriously can’t wait for you to taste it. 

What If I Can’t Find Lemon Cake Mix 

Don’t worry! If you can’t find a lemon cake mix, that is more than fine. You can easily swap it out for a white cake, yellow cake, or french vanilla cake. Or if you combine any other fruit-flavored cakes, they would work well too.

The lime cake may not have as an intense citrus flavor if you don’t use a lemon cake mix; however, it’s still going to be divine, and you’re going to love the taste.

easy key lime cake, key lime boxed cake mix recipe

Another option would be to use your favorite lemon cake recipe that’s homemade. Using a homemade cake would be a fantastic idea, an easy solution to not being able to buy a lemon cake mix. 

How to Store Cake 

The easiest way to store this cake is to keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. First of all, it tastes really good cold. Secondly, due to the cream cheese and the icing, it just ages better if you keep it chilled. 

key lime boxed cake mix recipe, lemon lime cake

Can You Freeze This Cake 

Yes, you can freeze this lemon-lime cake. You will need to wrap it up tightly and freeze it for up to three months. When you’re ready to serve, it merely thaw it out in the refrigerator overnight. Then indulge in this fantastic key lime pie cake. 

Variations to Recipe 

  • Sprinkle some toasted coconut on top of the icing for an extra fun flavor.
  • Add slices of key lime over the top of the frosted cake. It will look gorgeous and add a vibrant green color. 
  • Consider using a strawberry cake mix with the other ingredients to have even more fun and playful dessert idea. Limes and strawberries go so amazing together; you’ll be impressed by how wonderful it tastes.
  • You could also add orange zest or orange slices to the cake to give it even more citrus flavor. Plus, it will add a pop of color. 

lemon lime cake, Easy Key Lime Pie Cake Recipe

Ingredients

One of the most significant advantages of making this lemon-lime cake is that you start with a box cake mix. This will save you some time and energy down the road. If you don’t want to use a box cake mix, that’s more than fine. You can simply use your favorite homemade cake mix recipe, and it will turn out beautifully. 

Cake Ingredients:

  • 1 box lemon cake mix
  • 1 C water
  • 1/2 C canola oil
  • 3 eggs
  • Few drops of neon green gel food coloring
  • Half of a lime; juiced
  • Whole lime; zested

Frosting Ingredients:

  • 1/4 C butter softened
  • 4 oz cream cheese softened
  • 2 C powdered sugar
  • 1 TSP vanilla
  • 1 TBSP lime juice
  • 1 whole lime; zested
  • 1-2 TBSP milk
  • Large piping bag with a star tip
  • Graham cracker crumbs; for topping

How to Make Key Lime Cake

Everything about this key lime cake is positively easy. You’ll be pleased and impressed with the flavor, and it’s surprising that it all starts with a box cake mix. 

Step 1: Warm the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9×13 pan well.

Step 2:  Begin by adding the lemon cake mix, water, canola oil, eggs, and neon green gel food coloring to a medium bowl. Use a whisk to combine until it is incorporated. 

Step 3:  Combine in the lime juice and lime zest until mixed well.

Step 4: Pour the cake batter into a greased 9×13 pan.

Step 5:  Bake the cake for 20-22 minutes or until a knife or toothpick comes out clean from the center.

Step 6:  Put the key lime cake on a cooling rack to give it plenty of time to cool down. 

How to Make Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting

Step 1: Now, it’s time to prepare the frosting. While the cake is cooling, begin making the frosting by creaming together butter and cream cheese.

Step 2:  Mix in the powdered sugar, vanilla, lime juice, lime zest, and milk. Beat until smooth.

Step 3:  Scoop 1/4 cup of the homemade frosting into the piping bag

Step 4:  Spread part of the frosting onto the cake, and then pipe the rest on top to decorate your key lime cake.  

Enjoy!

Easy Key Lime Pie Cake Recipe, lime cake

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Easy Key Lime Pie Cake Recipe

 

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Easy Key Lime Pie Cake Recipe

Cook Time: 22 minutes
Total Time: 22 minutes
Servings: 12
Easy Key Lime Pie Cake uses a boxed lemon cake as the base that gets doctored up with lime flavor. Then top with a cream cheese lime frosting, that is perfectly tart and sweet. This lemon lime cake will be a hit.
Easy Key Lime Pie Cake Recipe
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Ingredients 

Cake Ingredients:

  • 1 box lemon cake mix
  • 1 C water
  • 1/2 C canola oil
  • 3 eggs
  • Few drops of neon green gel food coloring
  • Half of a lime; juiced
  • Whole lime; zested

Frosting Ingredients:

  • 1/4 C butter softened
  • 4 oz cream cheese softened
  • 2 C powdered sugar
  • 1 TSP vanilla
  • 1 TBSP lime juice
  • 1 whole lime; zested
  • 1-2 TBSP milk
  • Large piping bag with star tip
  • Graham cracker crumbs; for topping

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Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x13 pan.
  • Add the lemon cake mix, water, canola oil, eggs and neon green gel food coloring to a medium bowl. Whisk until it is incorporated. 
  • Mix in the lime juice and lime zest until combined.
  • Pour into a greased 9x13 pan.
  • Bake for 20-22 minutes or until a knife or toothpick comes out clean from the center.
  • Place your key lime cake on a cooling rack. 
  • While the cake is cooling make frosting by creaming together butter and cream cheese.
  • Add powdered sugar, vanilla, lime juice, lime zest and milk. Beat until smooth.
  • Scoop 1/4 cup frosting into the piping bag
  • Spread part of the frosting onto the cake, and then pipe the rest on top to decorate your key lime cake. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 419kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 410mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 39g
Author: Laura

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Have a peek at these additional zesty desserts.

Blackberry Margarita Cake with Tequila: If you want to try something mind-blowing, you need to try this Blackberry Margarita cake with tequila. It’s out of this world!

The Best Blueberry Lemon Brownies From Scratch: Homemade blueberry lemon brownies have never tasted so good! You should really try these because you’re going to love them.

Chewy Lemon Cookies: If you get in the mood for something that is if you get in the mood for something that is packed with lemon flavor, these cookies are here to save the day. They’re soft, chewy, and full of lemon flavor.

lemon cookies in a stack on a plate

Chewy Margarita Cookies: Another incredible dessert I think you’re going to enjoy are these chewy Margarita cookies. Take them to your next potluck, family gathering, or birthday party to surprise everyone with their exquisite flavors. There simple and delicious.

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