Name: Key Lime Cake
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 12 servings
Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, softened; 1/4 cup canola oil; 2 cups sugar; 2 large eggs, room temperature; 1/4 cup Key lime juice; 1 tablespoon grated Key lime zest; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour; 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1-1/2 cups whole milk; FROSTING:; 1/2 cup butter, softened; 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened; 3 cups confectioners' sugar; 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream; 2 tablespoons Key lime juice; 2 teaspoons grated Key lime zest; 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs, optional

There's no need to choose between cake and pie. This Key lime cake with three flavorful layers and a Key lime cream cheese frosting is the best dessert mashup.

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup canola oil

2 cups sugar

2 large eggs, room temperature

1/4 cup Key lime juice

1 tablespoon grated Key lime zest

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1-1/2 cups whole milk

FROSTING:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

3 cups confectioners' sugar

2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

2 tablespoons Key lime juice

2 teaspoons grated Key lime zest

1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs, optional

Instructions

1 Prep the cake pans

2 Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line three greased 8-inch round baking pans with parchment and set them aside. Editor's Tip: Lining a cake pan will make it that much easier to get your baked cake layers out. Learning how to grease and line a cake pan properly for this recipe will pay off in the long run!

3 Cream the butter and sugar

4 In a large bowl, cream the sugar, butter and oil for five to six minutes until light and fluffy. Then, beat in the eggs, one at a time, until fluffy, two to three minutes. Finally, beat in the lime juice, lime zest and vanilla extract.

5 Add the dry ingredients

6 In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the creamed mixture, alternating with the milk. Beat well after each addition. Evenly divide the batter between the three prepared cake pans.

7 Bake the cakes for 35 to 40 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Remove the cakes to wire racks to finish cooling completely.

8 Prep the frosting

9 In a large bowl, beat the butter and cream cheese at medium speed until smooth, three to four minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to medium-low and beat in the confectioners' sugar, cream, lime juice and lime zest. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and beat until well combined.

10 Frost and assemble

11 Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Frost the top with 3/4 cup frosting and repeat this step with the second layer. Top with the remaining cake layer. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting. If desired, sprinkle the top with graham cracker crumbs. Editor's Tip: While it's not necessary, a crumb coat will help make a smoother decorated cake. It's one of our best tips for frosting a cake.