Gluten-Free Easy Key Lime Layer Cake
A vibrant three-layer cake that combines the convenience of boxed cake mix with fresh citrus flavors. Lime Jell-O and fresh lime juice create bright, tangy notes throughout the moist layers, while a fluffy cream cheese frosting balances the tartness with creamy sweetness. Perfect for summer gatherings, birthdays, or any time you want an impressive dessert without complex techniques. The cake stays beautifully moist thanks to the orange juice and reduced oil, making it a crowd-pleasing treat that's easier than it looks.
Ingredients
- 1 box lemon cake mix, 16.5 oz Duncan Hines Lemon Supremeyellow cake mix1:1vegetarianbasic
works well
- 3 ounce lime flavored Jell-O, package
- ⅝ cup vegetable oil
- ¾ cup orange juice
- 4 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons lime juice, fresh or bottled Key lime
- 4 tablespoons powdered sugar, for lime glaze
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar, for frosting
- ½ scant cup granulated sugar
- 14 oz non-dairy whipped toppingheavy cream whipped1.5:1freshadds dairy
fresher taste
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven and grease and flour three round cake pans or spray with flour-added baking spray
- 2
Mix cake mix, Jell-O, oil, orange juice and eggs in large bowl and beat with electric mixer until well combined
- 3
Pour batter into prepared pans and bake until toothpick inserted comes out clean
- 4
Cool in pans, then remove layers and mix lime juice with powdered sugar
- 5
Spoon lime juice mixture over cake layers and let cool completely
- 6
Beat cream cheese and sugars with electric mixer until smooth
- 7
Fold whipped topping into cream cheese mixture
- 8
Spread frosting on cake layers, stack, and cover sides completely
- 9
Pipe additional frosting around edge and garnish with limes if desired
Tips
Reduce oil from original recipe amount to prevent overly greasy texture while maintaining moisture from orange juice.
Use full 16 oz whipped topping for extra fluffy frosting, or reduce to taste for denser consistency.
Ensure cream cheese is fully softened before mixing to avoid lumps in frosting.
Good to Know
Refrigerate covered up to 3 days due to cream cheese frosting
Cake layers can be baked 1 day ahead and wrapped, frost day of serving
Serve at room temperature for best flavor and texture
Common Mistakes
Don't skip cooling completely before frosting to avoid melting
Beat cream cheese mixture thoroughly to avoid lumpy frosting
Substitutions
works well
maintains citrus theme
fresher taste
FAQ
Can I use regular lime instead of Key lime juice?
Yes, regular lime juice works perfectly. Key lime juice is traditional but regular lime provides the same bright citrus flavor.
How long will this cake keep?
Store covered in refrigerator up to 3 days. The cream cheese frosting requires refrigeration for food safety.
Can I freeze this layer cake?
Freeze unfrosted layers wrapped tightly up to 3 months. Thaw completely before frosting. Don't freeze frosted cake.