Description
A bright and refreshing layered cake filled with sweet cherry flavor and fresh lime zest, finished with creamy lime buttercream frosting and topped with cherries and lime slices.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons lime zest
- 1 teaspoon cherry extract
- A few drops pink food coloring
- 3/4 cup maraschino cherries, chopped and patted dry
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (for frosting)
- 1 tablespoon lime zest (for frosting)
- 8 to 10 whole maraschino cherries for garnish
- 4 to 5 thin lime slices for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and line two 9-inch cake pans with parchment paper.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
- In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Mix in milk, lime juice, lime zest, cherry extract, and pink food coloring.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until combined.
- Fold in chopped maraschino cherries gently.
- Divide batter evenly between cake pans and smooth the tops.
- Bake for 28 to 32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool cake layers completely before frosting.
- For the frosting, beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then mix in lime juice and lime zest until fluffy.
- Layer the cakes with frosting between each layer and frost the outside.
- Decorate with whole cherries, lime slices, and extra lime zest before serving.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients for the softest cake texture.
- Pat cherries dry before folding into the batter to avoid excess moisture.
- Chill the cake before slicing for cleaner layers.
- Fresh lime zest gives the brightest flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 48g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 66g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
Keywords: cherry lime cake, cherry limeade dessert, lime buttercream cake, pink layer cake, summer cake recipe, cherry cake recipe