A dense fluffy pound cake flecked with lots of fresh lime zest is doused in a lime and sugar syrup.
Prep time: PT20M
Cook time: PT60M
Rating
5 stars (12 reviews)
Ingredients
226g or 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
200g or 1 cup granulated sugar
Zest of 3-4 limes (freshly zested)
3 large eggs (set them in a bowl of warm water to come to room temp)
190g or 1 ½ cups all purpose flour or cake flour (sifted)
¾ teaspoon baking powder
¾ tsp fine sea salt (if using a different salt reduce to ½ tsp)
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
60g or ¼ cup sour cream
150g or ⅔ cup granulated sugar
76g or ⅓ cup freshly squeezed lime juice
Steps
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease and flour a standard size loaf pan (9x4”).
In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the butter, sugar, vanilla salt and the zest. Beat for about 5 minutes, until the mix is very light and fluffy, scraping down the bowl when needed.
With the beater on, add the eggs one at a time, then turn the mixer to medium and beat the batter for a few minutes. It might look bitty or separated, that’s ok.
Sift in the flour and baking powder then add the sour cream. Turn the mixer back on and beat until it’s a silky, creamy batter (scrape down the bowl to make sure you get the bits at the bottom well mixed).
Pour batter into loaf pan, smooth the batter into an even line at the top.
Bake the cake for about 50-55 minutes (check it at 45), it’s done when a cake tester comes out clean.
When it’s almost done baking, make the syrup:
In a small pot, add the sugar and lime juice and cook until the sugar dissolves.
When the cake comes out of the oven, use a long thin cake tester to poke some holes all over. Pour the syrup all over the cake - trying to get as much as you can into the center (it will naturally go toward the edges). Let the cake sit in the syrup for about 10 minutes, until it has absorbed it all.
Turn the cake onto a cooling rack to completely cool.
Store in an airtight container so it doesn’t dry out. Enjoy!
Reviews
Bonne on 2026-05-03 (5 stars): This was quite nice. Easy make and had great texture and flavor
Amy on 2025-10-09 (5 stars): This was DELICIOUS & had just the right amount of lime! We couldn’t stop snacking on it.
Amy on 2025-09-19 (5 stars): Wow, this is SO GOOD! The lime comes through in the most beautiful way….we can stop eating.
Sue on 2025-06-29 (5 stars): Delicious cake -- I made it in a cake pan, which took about 35 minutes to bake. I concentrated the syrup in the middle, which on a flat cake, turned out to be a mistake :-). That middle was super moist and sweet! I'd make this one again!
Joanne Murray on 2025-06-20 (5 stars): Great tasting lime cake! Directions were spot on! Will put in my rotation of favorites to bake!
Hayley on 2025-06-04 (5 stars): Delicious lime cake. Light and moist, with a lovely lime zing from the soak
Rob on 2024-11-09 (5 stars): Made this cake with lime sugar instead of regular and it turned out amazing!
Lexy T on 2023-04-11 (5 stars): Lots of lime flavor throughout this cake. The cake itself also has a good texture. The soak at the end was a bit uneven in my cake and my top was not quite as brown as the pictures are. Could have been the way I poked my holes or where I poured the soak that caused the unevenness. I might experiment with a little less soak next time.
Kate on 2023-03-18 (5 stars): I made this cake for St Patrick's Day and it was super tasty. Really moist and the perfect balance between sweet and tart. Thank you for including both grams and cups in the measurements!!
