Key Lime Cake
Inspired by key lime pie, my key lime cake is so refreshing! It's made with three moist, sweet vanilla cake layers, a tart key lime frosting, and dollops of whipped cream.Recipe includes a how-to?video! CourseCake, Dessert CuisineAmerican Prep Time50minutes?minutes Cook Time40minutes?minutes Total Time1hour?hour?30minutes?minutes ¿ªÔÆÌåÓýs12?servings Calories665kcal Author Cake- 2 ??cups?(333?g)?
- 2?cups?(400?g)?granulated sugar
- 1?teaspoon?baking powder
- ??teaspoon?baking soda
- 1?teaspoon?table salt
- ??cup?(113?g)??cut into 8 pieces
- ??cup?(60?ml)?avocado, vegetable, or canola oil
- 1?Tablespoon?lime or key lime zest?usually about 2 limes
- 1 ??Tablespoons?key lime juice
- 1 ??(333?ml)?scant cups whole milk
- 2?large eggs?room temperature preferred
- 1?teaspoon?
Curd- 2?large egg yolks
- ??cup?(80?ml)?key lime juice
- 2?Tablespoons?granulated sugar
- ??teaspoon?table salt
- 2?Tablespoons?(28?g)??cut into pieces
Frosting- ??cup?(170?g)??softened
- 6?oz?(170?g)?cream cheese?softened
- 4-5?cups?(500-625?g)?powdered sugar
- ??cup?(28?g)?graham cracker crumbs?for decorating
- ???(optional but recommended) see note
CakePreheat oven to 350F (175C) and thoroughly grease and flour the sides of three 8¡± cake pans, tapping out any excess flour, and line the bottoms with parchment paper. In a large bowl (or the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment), combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. 2 ? cups all-purpose flour,2 cups granulated sugar,1 teaspoon baking powder,? teaspoon baking soda,1 teaspoon table salt With mixer on low speed, add softened butter one Tablespoon at a time, allowing each Tablespoon to be fully incorporated into the dry ingredients before adding the next. Once all butter is added, the mixture will have a sandy, crumbly texture. ? cup unsalted butter Add oil and lime zest and stir until well combined. Set aside. ? cup avocado, vegetable, or canola oil,1 Tablespoon lime or key lime zest Add the key lime juice to a large measuring cup (at least 2-cup), then add the milk until it reaches the 1 ? cup line and whisk to combine. 1 ? Tablespoons key lime juice,1 ? scant cups whole milk Add eggs and vanilla to the milk mixture and whisk to combine. 2 large eggs,1 teaspoon vanilla extract Turn mixer to low speed and slowly add the milk mixture into batter until fully combined, pausing to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Batter should be uniform, silky and smooth. Evenly divide batter into prepared pans (if weighing batter, each pan should have approximately 460 grams of batter) and bake in the center rack of preheated 350F (175C) oven for 26-28 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Allow cakes to cool in their pans for 10-15 minutes, then run a knife along the edge of the pan to loosen from the edges and carefully invert onto a cooling rack to cool completely. While cakes are cooling, prepare your frosting.
CurdIn a small, non-reactive saucepan (see note) whisk together egg yolks, key lime juice, sugar, and salt. 2 large egg yolks,? cup key lime juice,2 Tablespoons granulated sugar,? teaspoon table salt Add butter and cook over medium/low heat, whisking constantly until mixture is thickened. This will take several minutes; once it is thickened the whisk should start to leave trails through the curd, and it should coat the back of a spoon. 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter Pour curd through a fine mesh strainer into a heatproof bowl. Allow to cool completely before proceeding (this may be placed in the refrigerator to cool faster).
FrostingIn a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat softened butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy. ? cup unsalted butter,6 oz cream cheese Gradually add 4 cups (500g) of powdered sugar until completely incorporated. 4-5 cups powdered sugar Add the cooled curd, one Tablespoon at a time, until you¡¯ve added 5-6 Tablespoons. Be sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to be sure all ingredients are thoroughly combined. If the frosting seems too soft, too tart, or on the verge of breaking add the remaining sugar as needed.
AssemblyOnce cakes are cooled, level the tops if necessary. Frost each layer evenly with the prepared frosting. Evenly frost the outside of the cake with the remaining frosting. Gently press graham cracker crumbs around the bottom of cake, about a quarter of the way up. ? cup graham cracker crumbs Pipe, swirl, or dollop stabilized whipped cream frosting over the top of the cake, if using. Decorate with additional graham cracker crumbs or lime zest, if desired. ? batch Stabilized whipped cream frosting Allow to chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before cutting and serving. Enjoy!
Key limesKey limes can be difficult to find across the US depending on location and time of year. You can substitute ¡°regular¡± lime zest for the key lime zest, but for the juice I really recommend using a key lime juice. If you can¡¯t find actual key limes, most stores carry the juice. Look for a brand called ¡°Nellie & Joe¡¯s Key West Lime Juice¡±, that one works very well here (I have made the cake using this juice myself multiple times).Saucepan for curdChoose a small one made of a non-reactive metal like stainless steel or an enameled ceramic pot. Avoid reactive metals (like cast iron or aluminum) that could react with the acidity of the lime juice and make your frosting taste metallic.Lime CurdCurd may be prepared up to 3 days in advance of making the frosting. This recipe should yield approximately 6 Tablespoons of a very tart key lime curd. While you can substitute an equal amount of store-bought curd, it may alter the desired taste a bit and homemade/as-written is best.Decorating: Whipped Cream ToppingTo give this cake a real key lime pie feel, a whipped cream topping really adds a nice but optional touch. You can skip this entirely or if you prefer, but I recommend making a half-batch of my??and piping this over the top of the cake (this can be done in advance and will hold its shape for days, unlike classic homemade whipped cream). I used my Ateco 848 piping tip to decorate the cake as seen in pictures and the video.
StoringStore in airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Cake may also be tightly wrapped and frozen for up to 3 months. I recommend thawing overnight in the refrigerator before serving.¿ªÔÆÌåÓý:?1serving?|?Calories:?665kcal?|?Carbohydrates:?100g?|?Protein:?6g?|?Fat:?28g?|?Saturated Fat:?17g?|?Polyunsaturated Fat:?1g?|?Monounsaturated Fat:?8g?|?Trans Fat:?1g?|?Cholesterol:?130mg?|?Sodium:?387mg?|?Potassium:?99mg?|?Fiber:?1g?|?Sugar:?76g?|?Vitamin A:?932IU?|?Vitamin C:?3mg?|?Calcium:?61mg?|?Iron:?2mg
Source: Sugar Spun Rum
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