This recipe was inspired by Trisha Yearwood’s Key Lime Cake, but I made it easier!
See notes on baking for a stack cake and baking in a sheet pan.
1 3 oz pkg lime gelatin
1 c vegetable oil
¾ c orange juice
4 eggs
2 T lime juice
½ tsp vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 3 – 8 inch round cakes pans or 1 – 9×13 cake pan.
In a large mixing bowl, add cake mix and gelatin. Add 1 c oil and ¾ c orange juice and beat on low. Add eggs, one at a time. Add lime juice and vanilla. Beat 2 minutes on med hi, scraping sides. Pour into cake pans. Bake 8 inch layers 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Bake 9×13 inch cake 30 minutes. Cool completely before icing with Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting.
*For stacked layered cake, I used three 8 inch pans and cooked them for 27 minutes at 350 degrees.
Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 stick butter, room temp
8 oz cream cheese, room temp
3 1/2 c confectioners sugar
2 T lime juice
1 tsp vanilla
Beat 1 stick butter and 8 oz cream cheese until smooth, add confectioners sugar with mixer on low. Add lime juice and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
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Margaretsantiago says
Can make cupcakes instead of the cake
Paula says
Yes
Ingrid says
I want to bake this key lime cake in a half sheet sheet pan for my son’s birthday. I’m going to double the recepie. How long do I bake it?
Sharon says
I was wondering if I should adjust the liquid amounts since cake mixes aren’t 18.25 ounces anymore, they are around 15. I’ve made it before with great results, but it seems to sink now. Thoughts?
Paula says
My local Walmart has had the larger size cake mixes again, but def lower liquid amounts if the box is 15.25 oz.
Val says
You can add 1 cup of flour and 1 cup of sugar to the mix and that with make it hold the liquids called for.
Linda says
I put 1 and 1/3 cup of oil. I use Lemon cake mix and I don’t put the lime juice in the cake because you use the lime jello. I also put pecans in my icing.
ERIC says
Just wondering the orange juice in the recipe, is it talking bout freshly squeezed orange juice or bottled orange juice? thanks
Paula says
I used bottled orange juice, like Simply Orange brand.
Dianna Reid says
Hi Paula. Just wondering why orange juice rather than lime, or even lemon? Do you taste the orange flavour? Can’t wait to try this as I love all things lime! Thank you fir sharing your recipe. It looks amazing!
Paula says
You can’t taste the orange juice it just brightens it. Lemon and lime were too tart, I tested with all 3 diff flavors.
Vicki Georgieanna says
Love this cake! I had watched a cooking program on the Food Channel that had 2 guys on it, that were, of all things….Pizza makers with several Pizza restaurants that they own in New York and California! They were in Florida just for a Key Lime Cake recipe! Well, I’m horrible at “scratch” cakes, so when I saw the recipe these guys had on their show…it was way to complicated for me, but it just looked so delicious to say the least!!!
I thought there has to be a simpler way to make this cake and I searched the good ‘old Internet and found this one! OMG!!! I made this heavenly cake and wonder of wonders, my husband “actually” loved it! In fact, he said it was not only the best cake I had ever made, he loved the taste and here’s the biggie….he’s asked me to make it again and again! You could have knocked me over with a feather! He’s never commented me on my cakes let alone asked for a repeat performance!!!! Especially since he really doesn’t care for Lime flavor!!!
I’ve made this 4 times since I found this recipe since 2016. But out if necessity I had to change it a tiny little bit…. I ran out of Orange Juice and used 1/2 cup of the OJ with 1/4 cup of Key Lime Juice! It was great! I found this great Key Lime Juice….right next to the Real Lime & Lemon Juice in the grocery! It’s called, ” Nellie and Joes Famous Key Lime Juice”! It’s a little pricey but so well worth it! I also use thus Juice in any recipe that calls for Lime or Lemon Juice! It’s not to tart and not to sweet! (It’s also great in a Corona beer too) So! To make me long story short….this is my families most favorite cake recipe and my friends love it too, any ime of the year!!!!
Paula says
Vicki, you have just made my day!! Thank you so much for telling me your story. I am so happy you like the cake. I enjoy baking but sometimes I just want an simple recipe too.
Keeta says
I accidentally picked up yellow cake mix instead of white cake mix. Does it matter?
Paula says
It will taste the same, the color may be a little different but it’ll still be good