This gorgeous Lemon Lime Layer Cake is a combination of lemon cake and lime buttercream.
An inspired and mouthwatering combination just perfect for spring & summer.
This post was first seen over at Real Housemoms, where I am a contributor.
This Lemon Lime Layer Cake is an inspired twist on my hubby’s favorite cookies Key Lime Sugar Cookies and my obsession with cake. Truly, if you know me at all then you know I can eat cake any time of the day, month or year. And finding an excuse to bake and then eat cake is a talent of mine. Really, ask my kids. I could live off chocolate cake (I really could) and friends I make the best chocolate cake ever!
With being spring and almost summer the lemon and lime combination is just perfect for upcoming barbecues, parties, and get-togethers. This Lemon Lime Cake is just stunning and makes an absolutely perfect centerpiece to any table.
I was never really a huge 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. Literally, I remember the first time he ordered water on a date with a cup of limes. I thought it was odd.
He proceeded to grab a packet of sugar and then squeeze all the juice from the lime wedges into his water. I was so embarrassed because why not just order a Sprite and add some limes? He hates soda though, really any carbonated drinks. Weird I know.
Anyway, after 14 years I will be honest I still get a little embarrassed. With that said 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.
HOW TO MAKE THE PERFECT LEMON CAKE:
- Make sure to grease your pans well with butter. This allows the cakes to remove from the pan easily. I love to line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper, allowing for a beautiful, stackable cake.
- Be sure to allow the cake to completely cool before frosting and stacking the layers.
- Zest the lemon fresh! Don’t do this in advance!! Do it right before you are going to mix it in.
- Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best results.
Since you know I love cake this Lemon Lime Cake is the perfect combination of my hubby and me in a dessert. His love for lime everything and my love for cake, collide into this deliciousness.
While our kids really are the best combination of us both, this cake would be a close second.
So need an excuse to bake and eat a cake, well then email me. I have a long list and will definitely be able to give you a reason or two. And the best reason to eat this Lemon Lime Layer Cake is that it is so dang good. Grab a fork friend and get ready to devour.
XOXO San
Don’t forget to pin this recipe for LEMON LIME LAYER CAKE to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Lemon Lime Layer Cake
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!
Nutrition
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
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Your cakes are divine!! This one should be also.
Thank you
What is the equivalent weight of a cup
It depends on what you are measuring. A cup is 240 ml or about 8 ounces.
Dear San and Hubby,
I love your Cake
lots of love
Karen XOX
I haven’t made the cake yet but I just made the buttercream. I have to say, 1 cup of butter for nearly 8 cups of confectioners sugar is nowhere near enough. I had to use 2 cups of butter for 6 cups of sugar to make it work.
What a great flavor combination, especially for spring! It’s so light and dreamy.
Thank you!
I am loving that bright pop of citrus! What a delicious cake!
Thank you, I’m so glad you like it!
I can’t wait to make this and enjoy an after school treat with my kids this week; looks delicious!
I hope you and the kids like it, it’s definitely a great treat!
Such a stunning cake! This the lemon and lime combination is such a delicious deep flavor to this cake – gosh what a delicious way to end a meal!
Thank you so much!
My daughter LOVES lemon cake! This would be soo perfect for Easter – that yellow is beautiful!
Thank you, I hope you and your daughter enjoy it!
This cake is calling my name. Delish.
Thanks, enjoy!
Sooo looking forward to eating my birthday cake!! As soon as I get finished making it.
I did notice that you say 2 sticks unsalted butter, plus more for pans; but then in the directions you say to Lightly spray pans with baking oil. hmm.
Personally, I butter the pans, then put a circle of parchment, then butter the top of that with a silicone brush.
Thanks for sharing your recipe!!! Btw I love your Dashofsanity name. Perfect!
I hope you enjoyed the cake! I corrected that in the recipe, thanks for letting us know! I’ve made it both ways but buttering is definitely preferred. The parchment definitely isn’t a bad idea to help remove the cakes easily. Thank you!
Roughly how many limes does it take to get six tablespoons of zest?
It depends on the size of the limes that you can find, but they generally make 1-2 teaspoons per lime. One tablespoon is equal to 3 teaspoons, so it’ll take between 9-18 limes depending on size. You can definitely adjust depending on your taste or what you have available.
For the ease of taking this to gatherings, do you think it would be possible to make as a 9×13 instead of a layer cake?
I’m sure it would turn out just fine! Be sure to adjust baking time accordingly and check that it is done in the middle. Let us know how it turns out!
Thanks!!
Perfect flavor combination for a cake, love it!
Thank you!
I’m actually a huge lemon/lime fan. It so perfect when I’m craving something sweet without overdoing it with chocolate. This cake sounds divine!
I feel the same way! I hope you enjoy it!
Loved every bite of this beautiful cake!
I’m so glad to hear that!
I know for sure this Lemon Lime Layer Cake would be a huge hit in my house!
Thank you!
I would LOVE a slice of this amazing cake!!
I hope you enjoy!
This looks and sounds mouthwatering, LOVE all of that refreshing citrus!
Thank you!
My family has been begging me to make this again! We can’t get enough of the lemon lime combo!
So glad to hear they love it!
Such a great spring recipe! I will have to make this for my husbands birthday! He loves anything lemon lime flavored!
Thank you, I hope he enjoys it!
What a great idea! I can’t believe I have never thought of making a lemon cake. I am looking forward to making this.
I hope you enjoy it!
I just tried to make the buttercream following your recipe & there was just way too much sugar compared to the butter. Can you check the quantities & confirm if it’s correct please.
Hi Sharon! I checked and the amounts are correct. It can take quite a bit of mixing to get to the right consistency as the sugar dissolves into the liquid. It is definitely easier to use a mixer than by hand! Did you add all the milk? If it is still too thick, you can add another tablespoon of milk at a time until it is right.
Delish and beautiful.
Thank you!
Wondering if you could incorporate lemon curd as a filling between layers. My daughter wants a lemon lime with lemon curd cake- any thoughts?
It’s definitely worth a try! We have a lemon curd recipe with this Lemon Berry Poke Cake that might work! Let us know if you decide to make it and what you think!
Such a fresh recipe in hot weather! Thank you for sharing! I will definitely try this!
I hope you enjoy it!
Hi could we please have this gorgeous recipe in grams. I haven’t a clue what cup sizes are also what is a stick of butter. I am from England and would like ingredients in grams please. Thank you.
Wow mouthwatering lemon lime cake.
I pinned this recipe for Lemon Lime Layer cake to my Pinterest board, will definitely try this recipe .
Thank you for sharing, .
Trying to avoid all the sugar in the buttercream can I use Splenda?
I haven’t ever tried that, so really not sure it would do the same thing.
I absolutely love this cake. I noticed others said the cake was light. The 2 times I’ve made this, the cake was dense and heavy. I followed the instructions, is there something else I may have done wrong?
What flour are you using?
Wow! The cake looks super delicious. I’ve never seen anything before.
Amazing Lemon lime cake… Must try this.!
Thank you so much ….What is the weight of Cup, Best cake are lemon layer cake.
Thanks for sharing information…..
hello dear,
First I would like to thank you for sharing this great idea for cakes. this flavor is very delicious and gives freshness. My children love it. Thank you again..
Thanks for sharing such a delicious cake recipe. I was awesome.
Thanks Again.
Amazing cake blog. Thank you for sharing with us,
thank you for sharing such a wonderful recipe really I want to try it after reading this.
I can’t wait anymore to make this really wanna try this. Thank you
Hi, Amazing information, and Your Recipe are So Nice and Simple to use, Thanks For Sharing.
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This Recipe looks so amazing. Will surely give it a try this weekend.
Getting water in my mouth while reading your article. I really want to taste this yummy cake.
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful recipe really I want to try it after reading this.
Thank you for sharing this cake recipe.
lemon cake and lime buttercream combination is such a delicious deep flavour to this cake.
Please share more cake recipes like this.
This cake was amazing!!! Loved every bite- perfect flavours!
Wow! I love this Lemon Cake, I will make this today. Thank you so much for doing what you do
I will definitely try this recipe at home. thanks for this perfect blog.
Oh yum! This will satisfy my cravings!
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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Great Blog!! Love the this amazing recipe.
Hi………. Your lemon Lime layer cake information is Really True and the Content is So Nice, Useful. Thanks For Sharing, I Hope You Share another Blog.
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.