The classic, Southern-favorite pound cake gets an infusion of tropical flavor in this recipe for our best-ever Key Lime Pound Cake. Make it in the heat of summer to cool your sweet tooth. Make it in the chill of winter to inspire a trip to a more tropical clime. Either way, one bite will transport you directly to Key West. Dress up traditional pound cake with a little lime zest and a homemade Key lime glaze for a deliciously tropical dessert.
Close your eyes, and you’ll be enjoying island breezes from a coastal patio, the waves lapping gently nearby. Can one cake do all that? If it’s this recipe, it can. Our Key Lime Pound Cake somehow manages to be both substantial and airy—it’s a textural dream. It’s also infused with the zesty zing of fresh Key limes. This recipe I originally shared as part of a virtual progressive dinner – of course I brought the dessert. This cake has become one of my most popular cake recipes and if you missed it the first time around, you’ll definitely want to give it a try. Scratch made Key Lime Pound Cake Recipe with Key Lime Glaze is a wonderfully tart and sweet pound cake. It’s moist with a fine crumb and dense texture characteristic of pound cakes. It’s a delicious twist to a traditional Southern pound cake recipe. This is the perfect cake for spring and summer!
1 c butter, softened
2 c granulated sugar
3/4 c buttermilk
1/3 c key lime juice
5 large eggs
3 c all-purpose flour
1 1/2 t salt
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
green food coloring (optional)
Key Lime Buttercream Frosting
1/2 c butter, softened
1 1/2 t key lime zest
1 t vanilla extract
1/8 t salt
2 c powdered sugar
3 T key lime juice
1-2 T milk
Cake Layers Directions:
Preheat oven to 350*F. Prepare 3 layered cake pans, 10″ tube pan, or 2 loaf pans. In small bowl, combine buttermilk and lime juice, set aside. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add in eggs one at a time, beating well to fully combine. Combine flour, salt, baking soda and powder in separate bowl, stir to combine. Add flour and buttermilk mixtures to butter mixture, alternating, starting and ending with flour. Do not overmix. Add in food coloring (to desired darkness), stir just to combine. Spoon batter into prepared pan(s). Bake for 30 – 35 minutes (layered), 50-60 minutes (pound), testing with a toothpick for doneness. Remove from oven and let rest in pans for 15 minutes before inverting onto cooling rack to cool completely.
Frosting Directions:
Beat first 4 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar alternately with key lime juice, 1 tablespoon at a time, and 1 tablespoon milk, beating at low speed until blended and smooth after each addition. Beat in up to 1 tablespoon additional milk for desired consistency.
Garnish with key lime slices and kiwi slices.