This Key Lime Pound Cake Will Make You Forget About Pie

*If you love the bright, tangy punch of key lime pie, wait until you try it in cake form.

This Key Lime Pound Cake recipe delivers all the citrusy goodness you crave, but with a rich, buttery crumb that might just outshine the pie itself. Even better? It’s easy to bake and comes together in mini loaves—perfect for gifting or freezing.

Here’s how to make it step-by-step:

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Cake:

• 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter, softened
• 1 (8-oz.) block cream cheese
• 3 cups sugar
• 5 large eggs
• 3 tablespoons lime juice
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• Zest of 1 lime

For the Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon lime juice
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Zest of 1 lime

How to Make Key Lime Pound Cake

1. Preheat your oven
Set it to 350°F while you prepare your ingredients.

2. Beat butter and cream cheese
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and cream cheese until the mixture is light and fluffy.

3. Add sugar and eggs
Gradually mix in the sugar. Then beat in the eggs one or two at a time, using low speed until everything is incorporated.

4. Stir in lime juice and flour
Pour in the lime juice and mix. Slowly add the flour and stir until just combined.

5. Fold in lime zest
Gently fold in the lime zest for that extra burst of flavor.

6. Fill your pans
Grease four mini loaf pans and fill each about 3/4 full with batter. Don’t have mini pans? A bundt pan works too.

7. Bake to perfection
Bake mini loaves for 43–45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean. For a bundt cake, bake 70–73 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes.

8. Make the glaze
In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, lime juice, water, and vanilla extract. Adjust thickness by adding water a teaspoon at a time.

9. Drizzle and garnish
Pour the glaze over the cooled cakes, then finish with a sprinkle of lime zest.

This recipe yields about 6 servings and takes just under an hour and a half from start to finish. Serve it chilled or at room temperature—either way, it’s a crowd-pleaser that might just steal the spotlight from your go-to pie.