This zesty home made Key lime pound cake recipe is a simple summer time dessert bursting with recent lime, drizzled with creamy Key lime icing. Whip up the batter in minutes!
Love the candy and tangy taste of Key limes? Attempt my 10 Simple Key Lime Recipes!

Simple Key Lime Pound Cake with Key Lime Icing
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 straightforward recipe is quick changing into one among my favourite summer time desserts. My Key lime cake is spongey and tender, bursting with the brilliant, recent taste of actual limes. I’ve introduced this cake to each event currently, from our Fourth of July cookout to a household picnic. It’s been met with RAVE opinions!
Why You’ll Love This Selfmade Pound Cake Recipe
Like my lemon pound cake recipe, this Key lime cake is stuffed with summery citrus taste. I really like the way in which that the icing simply melts into the wealthy, buttery cake. Listed here are extra causes you’ll need this recipe on repeat:
- Simple batter. Easy elements 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 excellent for feeding a celebration. Potlucks, BBQs, get-togethers with associates – you’re coated.

Key Limes vs. Common Limes
You is perhaps 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 manner into US kitchens through desserts like Key lime pie (or Key lime cheesecake).

Elements You’ll Want
Other than getting your fingers on recent Key limes (see my word on this under), the remainder of the pound cake batter comes collectively utilizing pantry staples. Bear 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 sure that it’s at room temperature, this fashion it is going to 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 elements and provides this Key lime pound cake its richness. You’ll additionally want some granulated sugar for sweetness.
- Milk and Vanilla: Common entire 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 recent Key lime juice, together with some lime zest to spice up the flavors. If wanted, you possibly can substitute common lime juice for Key lime juice. See my word under. No matter you do, skip the bottled stuff!
- Powdered Sugar: When your cake is baked, you’ll whisk up a fast Key lime icing comprised of 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. In case you can’t get your fingers on recent Key limes, the excellent news is, you possibly can simply substitute common recent lime juice for Key lime juice on this Key lime cake.
Tips on how to 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 home made Key lime pound cake:


- Make the batter. Mix the dry elements in a single bowl, after which use your stand mixer to beat collectively the butter, sugar, and eggs till creamed. Progressively combine within the dry elements, 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 everywhere in the cake. You may garnish your Key lime pound cake with extra lime zest for those who’d like, then slice and serve!

Suggestions for Success
Listed here are my closing suggestions for one of the best home made pound cake that’s wealthy and dense, however comfortable 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 separately to include air, for a lightweight and fluffy pound cake.
- However don’t overmix the batter. As soon as the dry elements are added, make sure that to solely combine till every little thing is simply mixed. Over-beaten batter prompts gluten, which might result in a tricky, overly dense pound cake.
- Examine in case your pound cake is completed 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 chunk of foil till it’s performed baking.

Frequent Questions
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.
Correct storage is vital to maintaining this pound cake comfortable and moist. Just remember to preserve it coated hermetic, ideally at room temperature because the fridge tends to dry it out. See under for storage instructions.
Sure. As talked about, for those who don’t have Key limes, you can also make this dessert with the juice and zest from common limes as a substitute.
Tips on how to Serve Key Lime Pound Cake
The bundt-cake type of this Key lime pound cake makes it excellent for feeding a crowd! You may get anyplace 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 additional garnish.

Tips on how to Retailer
Retailer this pound cake hermetic on the counter for as much as 3-4 days. I often don’t advocate storing truffles within the fridge, however for those who reside someplace heat, you too can preserve your pound cake coated within the fridge for as much as 1 week.
Can I Freeze Pound Cake?
Sure! You may freeze this pound cake frosted or unfrosted, both entire 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.
Extra Pound Cake Recipes
Description
Key lime pound cake is a simple summer time dessert bursting with recent lime, drizzled with creamy Key lime icing. This straightforward home made 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 recent Key lime juice
Lime Icing:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons recent 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 separately 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 ready and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clear. In case you discover the cake browning too rapidly, loosely tent a chunk 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.
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