This zesty do-it-yourself Key lime pound cake recipe is a straightforward summer season dessert bursting with contemporary lime, drizzled with creamy Key lime icing. Whip up the batter in minutes!
As quickly as Key limes seem within the produce aisle, this from-scratch Key lime pound cake is the very first thing I’ll make! This simple recipe is quick changing into one in all my favourite summer season desserts. My Key lime cake is spongey and tender, bursting with the intense, contemporary taste of actual limes. I’ve introduced this cake to each event these days, from our Fourth of July cookout to a household picnic. It’s been met with RAVE critiques!
Why You’ll Love This Selfmade Pound Cake Recipe
Like my lemon pound cake recipe, this Key lime cake is crammed with summery citrus taste. I really like the way in which that the icing simply melts into the wealthy, buttery cake. Listed below are extra causes you’ll need this recipe on repeat:
Simple batter. Easy substances and a fast prep time imply your zesty pound cake batter is prepared for the oven in minutes.
Zesty taste. This moist and tender Key lime pound cake is bursting with lime taste, from the fluffy crumb to the creamy Key lime icing on high.
Good for gatherings. I put together this cake in a bundt pan as a result of not solely does it make for a stunning presentation, but it surely’s good for feeding a celebration. Potlucks, BBQs, get-togethers with pals – you’re coated.
Key Limes vs. Common Limes
You is likely to be questioning, “Is there even a distinction between a lime and a Key lime?” The reply is, sure! Key limes are a citrus hybrid, with a extra intense, tangy, and acidic taste than common limes. They originate in Southeast Asia, however they’re grown in California and Florida. Key limes have discovered their approach into US kitchens through desserts like Key lime pie (or Key lime cheesecake).
Elements You’ll Want
Other than getting your palms on contemporary Key limes (see my observe on this beneath), the remainder of the pound cake batter comes collectively utilizing pantry staples. Keep in mind to scroll to the recipe card for the total quantities and recipe particulars.
Flour, Baking Soda, and Salt: Our baking regulars that give this pound cake carry, construction, and rise. I like to recommend making this pound cake with all-purpose flour for probably the most constant outcomes.
Butter: Your butter could be salted or unsalted. Simply make certain it’s at room temperature, this fashion will probably be simpler to combine.
Sugar and Eggs: Extra pound cake necessities. You’re gonna want lots of eggs for this one. An entire 6 pack! All these eggs assist bind the substances and provides this Key lime pound cake its richness. You’ll additionally want some granulated sugar for sweetness.
Milk and Vanilla: Common complete milk or 2% milk is finest. I like to recommend utilizing actual vanilla extract over the imitation type.
Key Limes: You’ll want a few spoonfuls of contemporary Key lime juice, together with some lime zest to spice up the flavors. If wanted, you’ll be able to substitute common lime juice for Key lime juice. See my observe beneath. No matter you do, skip the bottled stuff!
Powdered Sugar: When your cake is baked, you’ll whisk up a fast Key lime icing constructed from powdered sugar, further lime juice, and vanilla extract.
The place Can I Discover Key Limes?
June to September is Key lime season within the States. Relying on the place you reside, you will discover Key limes in main grocery shops after they’re in season. Key limes are a lot smaller than standard limes (those which might be out there year-round), they usually have a extra floral aroma. If you happen to can’t get your palms on contemporary Key limes, the excellent news is, you’ll be able to simply substitute common contemporary lime juice for Key lime juice on this Key lime cake.
How you can Make Key Lime Pound Cake
Earlier than you begin, get a 12-cup bundt pan good and greased whereas your oven preheats to 325ºF. Now, let’s get going with this scrumptious do-it-yourself Key lime pound cake:
Make the batter. Mix the dry substances in a single bowl, after which use your stand mixer to beat collectively the butter, sugar, and eggs till creamed. Step by step combine within the dry substances, alternating with milk till they’re simply mixed (don’t overmix!). Lastly, stir within the vanilla with the lime juice and zest.
Bake. Pour the batter evenly into the bundt cake pan. Bake your bundt cake at 325ºF for 75-85 minutes, till set. As soon as your pound cake is out of the oven, let it relaxation and funky within the pan for about 20 minutes. Afterward, invert the pan onto a wire rack in order that the cake can end cooling.
Add the lime icing. When your cake is cool, whisk some further lime juice and vanilla into powdered sugar to make the icing. Drizzle it all around the cake. You possibly can garnish your Key lime pound cake with extra lime zest when you’d like, then slice and serve!
Ideas for Success
Listed below are my remaining ideas for the very best do-it-yourself pound cake that’s wealthy and dense, however mushy and moist on the identical time:
Take time to cream the butter and sugar effectively. Beat the butter and sugar collectively, and add the eggs one by one to include air, for a light-weight and fluffy pound cake.
However don’t overmix the batter. As soon as the dry substances are added, make certain to solely combine till every thing is simply mixed. Over-beaten batter prompts gluten, which might result in a troublesome, overly dense pound cake.
Verify in case your pound cake is finished by inserting a toothpick into the center. If the toothpick comes out clear, your cake is able to come out.
If the highest of the cake is beginning to brown an excessive amount of, tent the pan loosely with a bit of foil till it’s achieved baking.
Frequent Questions
Why is it referred to as a pound cake?
Pound cake will get its identify from how the cake was initially made (way back to the 1700s!): with one pound every of flour, butter, sugar, and eggs.
How do you retain pound cake moist?
Correct storage is essential to conserving this pound cake mushy and moist. Just be sure you maintain it coated hermetic, ideally at room temperature because the fridge tends to dry it out. See beneath for storage instructions.
Can I exploit lime as a substitute of key lime?
Sure. As talked about, when you don’t have Key limes, you can also make this dessert with the juice and zest from common limes as a substitute.
How you can Serve Key Lime Pound Cake
The bundt-cake model of this Key lime pound cake makes it good for feeding a crowd! You will get wherever between 12 and 16 servings out of 1 cake. We love serving slices topped with ice cream or swirled with whipped cream. Add a lime wedge for further garnish.
How you can Retailer
Retailer this pound cake hermetic on the counter for as much as 3-4 days. I normally don’t suggest storing truffles within the fridge, however when you stay someplace heat, it’s also possible to maintain your pound cake coated within the fridge for as much as 1 week.
Can I Freeze Pound Cake?
Sure! You possibly can freeze this pound cake frosted or unfrosted, both complete or in slices. As soon as the cake is at room temperature, double-wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and retailer it frozen for as much as 3-4 months. Defrost the cake on the countertop earlier than serving.
Key lime pound cake is a straightforward summer season dessert bursting with contemporary lime, drizzled with creamy Key lime icing. This simple do-it-yourself pound cake recipe is prepared for the oven in minutes!
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 cups butter, room temperature
3 cups granulated sugar
6 massive eggs
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lime zest
1/4 cup contemporary Key lime juice
Lime Icing:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons contemporary Key lime juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cake: Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grease and flour (or powdered sugar) a 10-inch (12-cup) bundt pan, or coat generously with baking spray. Put aside.
In a big bowl, whisk collectively the flour, baking powder, and salt. Put aside.
Within the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment combine the butter and sugar at medium velocity till creamy. Add within the eggs one by one till clean, scraping the edges of the bowl as crucial.
Flip the mixer to low and add within the flour combination and milk in alternating additions, starting and ending with the flour combination till simply mixed. Stir in vanilla, lime zest, and lime juice.
Unfold the cake batter into the ready pan and bake for 75 – 85 minutes, or till the cake is about and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clear. If you happen to discover the cake browning too shortly, loosely tent a bit of aluminum foil over the pan to sluggish the browning.
Cool the cake within the pan for 20 minutes, earlier than inverting the pan onto a wire rack to chill the cake utterly.
Lime Icing: Whisk collectively powdered sugar, Key lime juice, and vanilla till clean. Use instantly. Drizzle onto the cooled cake.
