This gorgeous Lemon Lime Layer Cake combines lemon cake and lime buttercream; a mouthwatering combination just perfect for spring & summer.
This Lemon Lime Layer Cake is an inspired twist on my hubby’s favorite cookies, Key Lime Sugar Cookies, and my obsession with cake. Honestly, if you know me at all, then I can eat cake anytime of day, month or year.
My Favorite Kitchen Tools To Make This Recipe
From trusty pots and pans to handy gadgets, I’ve curated a list of products I use and love.
With spring and almost summer coming, the lemon and lime combination is perfect for upcoming barbecues, parties, and get-togethers. This Lemon Lime Cake is just stunning and makes a perfect centerpiece for any table.
I was never really a considerable lemon or lime fan of anything. I mean, I could eat a lemon poppyseed cake or muffins, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to find or make one.
That all changed when I started dating my hubby and his obsession with limes. I remember the first time he ordered water on a date with a cup of limes. I thought it was odd.
He grabbed a packet of sugar and squeezed all the juice from the lime wedges into his water. I was so embarrassed, so why not just order a Sprite and add some limes? He hates soda, though, really any carbonated drink. Weird, I know.
Anyway, after 14 years, I will be honest, I still get a little embarrassed. The one good thing that came out of this is that I love limes now, too.
Homemade limeade – yum! Lemon-lime cake – yum! Key Lime Pie – yum.
tips to making the perfect lemon cake
Since you know I love cake, this Lemon Lime Cake is the perfect dessert for my hubby and me. His love for lime everything and my love for cake collide into this deliciousness.
While our kids are the best combination of us both, this cake would be a close second.
So, I need an excuse to bake and eat a cake, so email me. I have a long list and will be able to give you a reason or two. The best reason to eat this Lemon Lime Layer Cake is that it is so good.
Pin To Your Favorite Pinterest Board!
Lemon Lime Layer Cake
Video
Ingredients
Lemon Cake
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pans (2 sticks=1 cup)
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled, plus more for pans
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 large eggs plus 3 large egg yolks
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup low-fat buttermilk
Lime Buttercream
- 7-8 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 2 limes juiced
- 6 tablespoons lime zest
- 1 cup butter softened to room temperature
- 8-10 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Lightly grease and flour two 8-by-2-inch cake pans. Make sure to tap out the excess flour. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and lemon zest.
- In a large bowl mixing bowl and using an electric mixer, or use your KitchenAid mixer like me, cream together butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Reduce mixer speed to low and add in eggs and yolks, one at a time. Mix in lemon juice. Alternate adding in flour mixture and buttermilk beginning and ending with flour. Mix until well combined.
- Pour ½ of the batter into one pan and add the remaining to the second pan. Place in oven and bake for 30-35 minutes or until cake starts to pull away from the sides of the pan.
- Once cakes are completely cooked remove from the oven and cool. Allow the pans to cool for 10 minutes on a cake rack, then remove cakes from the pans and place back on cake rack, allowing them to completely cool.
- While the cakes are cooling, make lime buttercream. In a large bowl, cream together the confectioners’ sugar and butter until smooth. Gradually mix in the milk, lime zest and juice with an electric mixer until smooth and stiff, about 5 minutes. Color with food coloring if desired.
- 2 Layer Cake – Evenly spread the filling on top of the bottom layer, then add the second cake on top. Frost and garnish with zest if desired. Enjoy!
Post recently updated from original post-August 2016! Don’t forget to pin this Lemon Lime Layer Cake to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Love lemon or lime – be sure to check out these other recipes.
Key Lime Sugar Cookies – A Dash of Sanity
Lemon Coffee Cake – Barefeet in the Kitchen
Blueberry-Key Lime Cheesecake Bars – Inside BruCrew Life
Lemon Cupcake with Lemon Buttercream – Shugary Sweets
Cherry Limeade Cake – I Am Baker
Oh my goodness! This cake looks amazing! I would like to make it!
I really enjoyed this! Thank you for this recipe!
Lemon cake layering looks delicious. thanks for this blog.
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I’ve been baking this lemon cake for several years because Martha Stewart has the exact same recipe! It is delicious. I use a mock Swiss meringue buttercream (uses pasteurized egg whites) as my go to buttercream (tends to be less sweet) so I used your lime proportions and it turned out great. The lemon/lime combo is devine!
I am about to make this recipe for someone who loves lemons and lime. I have grown up with the metric system and I am very frustrated with American measures.. 1 stick (?) we don’t have sticks here.. so 1 stick is about 130grams, and then there are cups and spoons all of which are not only different but also depends whether i am measuring liquids or solids such as lemon juice versus sugar or flour… this is very confusing and honestly it’s a disincentive to even make the recipe. I note that a lot of American recipe these days offer the option to convert to either ounces or metric. It would be nice if this was the case
Thank you, I will make those adjustments. You can make those adjustments in the recipe card when you print it.
it looks soo yummy and delicious. thanks for sharing
I have been making this cake for years and decided I should finally leave a review. I have made it for birthdays and wedding showers and for all sorts of family dinners. Most recently I was asked to make it for a charity dessert auction and it sold for $90! I love, love, love this cake and so does everyone who tries it. Thank you for this recipe!
This made my day! You are so welcome and $90 for a cake, I bet they will ask you to make that every year now. ❤️ San
What a great idea! I can’t believe I have never thought of making a lemon cake. I am looking forward to making this.
What an amazing combination. Is it possible to make this cake in advance? If so, how far?
How long before are you thinking?
You can make the cakes, cool them, and then wrap them in plastic wrap and freeze them. Then the day before remove from the freezer stick in the fridge to defrost. Make the buttercream fresh the day of.
I was thinking 2 days. I would like to make this beautiful cake for Mother’s Day, but we are celebrating a 50th birthday party on Saturday. Was wondering if I could make it on Friday or possibly early Saturday morning.
Well you could Say this was a peachy good recipe. Looks divinely delicious
The “Lemon Lime Layer Cake” is an absolute delight for the senses! This delectable dessert combines the zesty and refreshing flavors of lemon and lime, making it a perfect treat for any occasion. The bright and tangy citrus notes in each layer of the cake create a harmonious balance of sweet and tart that is simply irresistible.
This lemon-lime layer cake is a burst of citrusy delight! The vibrant flavors and perfect balance make it a true dessert masterpiece. Bravo!
I love the flavor of this buttercream! It taste like key lime pie! But I followed the recipe and the frosting is crazy liquidy… I had my kitchen aid mix it for a while to see if it would thicken up but when that didn’t work I put it in the fridge to cool for almost a hour now and it’s still straight soup.. I’ve looked back on ingredients and everything is right, so not sure why it’s not thick? I don’t want to add anymore sugar because it’s already very sweet.
The “Lemon Lime Layer Cake” is an absolute delight for the senses!
I love it! The lemon cake was super zesty and the lime buttercream added this awesome tangy kick.
I loved how this cake is light, refreshing, and absolutely delicious! It was the perfect summer cake! I’ll be making this again for our next gathering!
This is one of my favorite summer desserts! Thank you for the easy recipe!
This really an amazing dessert which I am looking from very long time.
Surely I’ll make this and share my view with you.
Just tried the Lemon Lime Layer Cake, and it’s absolutely divine! The citrusy flavors are so refreshing, and the layers are incredibly moist and delicious. Perfect balance of sweet and tangy! Highly recommend for anyone who loves a zesty dessert.
The recipe is one of the best one in the internet!
The Lemon Lime Layer Cake is a true masterpiece! The tangy citrus notes pair beautifully with the sweetness, making every bite a burst of flavor. So light, fresh, and delicious!
Tried the Lemon Lime Layer Cake today, and wow—it’s amazing! The refreshing citrus taste and the soft, moist layers make it an absolute treat. Perfect for any dessert lover!