Key Lime Cake: a Family Reunion Favorite
Growing up, we could count on it: Every third Sunday in May, our family members came from up from Florida to get together with us in Georgia for plenty of good food, fellowship and catching up time.
On Fridays, it was Florida's turn to show off with a seafood spread: Crab legs, shrimp, fried fish, hushpuppies made from scratch, and Lowcountry boil with sausage, shrimp, crab, and potatoes. The next day, Georgia fired it up with ribs, grilled pork sausages, homemade potato salad, baked beans, string beans, old-fashioned peach cobbler, Red Velvet cake, custard pies, sweet potato pie, and so much more.
These days, our numbers are fewer, but there's still plenty of good things to eat when we get together the love is is still strong. Key Lime cake is always a favorite with our family - it's a got a little bit of Florida and little bit of Georgia - and a lot of love - in every bite.
Key Lime Sheet Cake
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) butter, softened
1 2/3 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup whole milk or unsweetened coconut milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
Zest of 1-2 limes
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
Key Lime Frosting
1 stick (4 ounces) butter
4 ounces cream cheese
2 cups confectioner's sugar
2 teaspoons lime zest
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Coconut milk or cream to thin if needed
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9" x 13" pan with non-stick cooking spray.
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In a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
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Add milk, vanilla, lime juice, lime zest to combine.
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Add flour, baking powder and salt.
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Beat until well combined.
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Pour the batter into prepared pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a tester inserted near the center comes out clean.
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Cool completely.
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While cake is cooling, gather ingredients for frosting.
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Beat butter and cream cheese.
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Reduce mixer speed to low; add confectioner's sugar a cup at a time until well frosting is smooth and creamy. Add lime zest and lime juice. Beat an additional minute. Chill 5-10 minutes before frosting sheet cake.
