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slicer of cake on white plate with fork and limes behind and butter box.
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3.97 from 28 votes

Key Lime Cake Recipe

An EASY Key Lime Butter Cake is a cake that explodes with lime flavor. The cake is soaked with lime syrup and the whole thing is topped with key lime drizzle - this cake screams key lime dessert!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 277kcal
Author: Dorothy Kern
Cost: 6

Ingredients

Cake:

  • 1 15.25 ounces box cake mix (yellow or lemon)
  • ½ cup (113g) Challenge unsalted butter , melted
  • ¾ cup (178ml) water
  • ¼ cup (59ml) key lime juice
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 3.4 ounce box instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 1 tablespoon lime zest (about 1 medium lime or 2-3 key limes)

Sauce:

  • ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup (57g) Challenge unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup (59ml) Key Lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon lime zest (about 1 medium lime or 2-3 key limes)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Powdered sugar for dusting

Drizzle:

  • 1 cup (113g) powdered sugar
  • 2-3 tablespoons (15-30ml) key lime juice

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 12-cup bundt pan with nonstick baking spray (the kind with flour) or butter and flour it.
  • Use a hand mixer or whisk to beat the cake mix, butter, eggs, water, lime juice, extract, zest, and pudding mix until a thick batter forms. Pour into prepared pan.
  • Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with just a few crumbs. Remove the cake from the oven and cool for 10 minutes but keep it in the pan.
  • While the cake is cooling, make the sauce. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium low heat. Stir in the sugar, zest, and juice and cook until it just simmers (bubbles around the edges). Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
  • Poke several holes in the cake using a long skewer and pour the butter sauce over the cake. Cool in pan completely, then remove to serving plate.
  • Make the drizzle: whisk together powdered sugar and lime juice. Drizzle over cooled cake.
  • Store loosely covered. Best within 2 days.

Video

Notes

  • You can use yellow or lemon cake mix, any brand
  • I recommend buying a bottle of key lime juice - you'll need a lot of key limes if you juice them fresh.
  • Don't skip the lime zest - that's where a ton of flavor is!
  • You can use vanilla or lemon pudding mix, just make sure it's instant
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 277kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 221mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 29g