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Perfectly moist lime cake, topped with a homemade lime buttercream frosting, and sprinkled with lime zest!

Try my classic chocolate sheet cake, or switch it up with lemon, cherry, or strawberry flavored sheet cake!

A slice of lime cake on a white plate
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another tasty sheet cake

Hi, it’s me Lily – again! Today, I want to share with you a new recipe for Lime Sheet Cake. Remember the Lemon Sheet Cake, Strawberry Sheet Cake and Cherry Sheet Cake we’ve shared over the last few months? My mom is on sheet cake fix, so we tried one with limes.

I really like limes, so I thought this lime cake was delicious!!

It’s super easy because you just use a box of white cake mix that you buy at the store, along with a package of lime jello mix, and some lime juice. But don’t worry, it’s not sour at all! It’s just enough lime juice to make it tasty, without being sour.

My most favorite part is the homemade lime buttercream frosting with lime zest. It’s super yummy and goes perfectly with the lime cake. If you like, you can also put some lime zest on top of the frosting to make it look pretty! Trust me, it tastes as good as it looks!

tips for making your lime cake

This recipe is really easy to make like I said, and I had a lot of fun making it. I bet your kids would like to make it with you too! Here are some tips to make sure your lime sheet cake turns out perfectly:

If you don’t have an 11×16 baking pan… You can use any of the following. Just make sure to keep a close eye on it while it’s in the oven and use a toothpick to check for doneness. (Note: 11×16 is a half-sized small metal sheet pan.)

  • Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F fill the cupcake liners โ…” of the way full. Bake for 20-25 minutes 
  • Bundt Pan: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and lightly flour the pan. Pour in batter and bake for 40-45 minutes.
  • 9×13 cake pan: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and lightly flour the pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes.
  • Full sized sheet pan: You will need to double the recipe for it to fill up a full-sized sheet pan (cookie pan with rimmed edges). Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

What is lime zest?  The zest is an ingredient taken from the outermost part of a piece of citrus. To make your own zest, be sure to remove any wax and wash the fruit thoroughly. Next, grate the peel very finely.

You can use a citrus zester, the fine side of a box cheese grater, a microplane or even a sharp paring knife. Carefully remove the outermost layer of the peel (the colorful part). Stop before you get to the white layer.

A medium sized lime will create about 1 tablespoon of zest.

Other topping ideas: If lime zest isn’t your thing, you could add…

  • Shredded or toasted coconut
  • Crushed graham crackers
  • Sliced strawberries, raspberries, banana, pineapples
  • Chopped Macadamia nuts
lime jello cake topped with frosting and lime zest

Got leftovers?

If you’re making a sheet cake, you probably have quite a few people you were trying to feed, so send some home with them. ๐Ÿ˜‰ Or, keep it all for yourself and store one of these ways:

  • Room temperature: covered, for 1-2 days
  • Fridge: cover tightly and store for 3-5 days
  • Freezer: Flash freeze first. You do this by placing the entire cake in the freezer or place cut pieces on a baking sheet, be sure they are not touching. Freeze for 2-3 hours, or until the outside is frozen. Remove and wrap the cake with plastic wrap then again with foil. Label and return to the freezer. Freeze for 4-6 months. If the cake is unfrosted you do not need to flash freeze first.

For more fruity cakes, check out:

4.98 from 39 votes

Lime Cake Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
Perfectly moist lime cake, topped with a homemade lime buttercream frosting, and sprinkled with lime zest! Just the right balance of citrus and sweet in this yummy sheet cake. It’s easy, refreshing, and great for feeding a crowd!
Servings: 18
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 40 minutes

Ingredients 

Cake

  • 1 box white cake mix plus ingredients on box
  • 1 lime juiced
  • 3 oz package lime JELLO gelatin mix

Frosting

  • 1/4 c butter softened
  • 4 oz cream cheese softened
  • 2 c powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 TB lime juice you can use more if you want a stronger citrus taste
  • a few tsp lime zest
  • 1-2 TB milk

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Add white cake mix and gelatin mix to a medium bowl.
  • Add the ingredients on the back of the cake mix box and lime juice. Beat until well combined.
  • Pour into a greased 11×16 pan. Bake for 20-22 minutes. Let cool.
  • While cake is cooling make frosting by creaming together butter and cream cheese. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, lime juice, lime zest and milk. Beat until smooth.
  • Frost cake and ENJOY!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 223kcal, Carbohydrates: 41g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 13mg, Sodium: 264mg, Potassium: 30mg, Sugar: 29g, Vitamin A: 165IU, Vitamin C: 1.4mg, Calcium: 72mg, Iron: 0.6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and Iโ€™m the mom of SIX stinkinโ€™ cute kids and the wife to my smokinโ€™ hot hubby, Lo. My momโ€™s maiden name is Luna, and Iโ€™m one of the many crafty โ€œLilโ€™ Lunasโ€ in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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4.98 from 39 votes (20 ratings without comment)

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55 Comments

  1. Jessica Burgess says:

    5 stars
    This turned out PERFECT for our Easter celebration this weekend. Thank you so much!

  2. Beth says:

    5 stars
    Yum! This looks so delicious and so easy! My family is going to love this for Easter! Canโ€™t wait to give this a try!

  3. Joy says:

    5 stars
    I’m not usually a lime person, but I do love this cake! The lime flavor isn’t over-powering & it’s incredibly moist! I make it for my in-laws all the time!

  4. Barbara Harry says:

    Can you make this cake as a lime poke cake? Would it be better the way the recipe is listed? Thanks

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      You definitely could. I use this recipe for Lime poke cake. If you don’t want the lemon, you could just add the whipped topping on top. https://lilluna.com/lemon-lime-poke-cake/

      1. Barbara Harry says:

        5 stars
        Thanks so much. I really like the cake being entirely green, so I will make that sometime. But our family loves the poke cakes…they are a hit!!

      2. Kristyn Merkley says:

        You are so welcome!! Enjoy!!

  5. Katherine Boerner says:

    5 stars
    Wow!!! This is a great recipe for a fun dessert!! My family and I loved it. My only suggestion is to double the Icing recipe as it is sooooooo delicious, we wanted more of it.

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Nothing wrong with more icing ๐Ÿ™‚ I am so glad your family loved it! Thank you!

  6. gigi tedrow says:

    5 stars
    I have made this once before. It was great! So many people raved about it at my church. And they can’t lie there!
    I’m making it for Super Bowl gathering, St. Pat day, Easter and summer!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      LOL!! I am glad it’s a hit! Thank you!

  7. Judy says:

    Can I use the sugar free jello

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Sure could ๐Ÿ™‚ ENJOY!!

  8. 99Chats says:

    5 stars
    Can’t wait to try this.

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      Let me know what you think ๐Ÿ™‚ Thank you!

  9. Rachel says:

    5 stars
    Great cake recipes. The old, genuine flavor type.
    Rachel Leavitt.

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      Oh, thanks so much!! Hope you’ll give it a try!

  10. connie says:

    5 stars
    I have three grandsons and they were all over the Key Lime Cup Cakes I made. They wanted to start to eat them before the icing went on. But I won in the end and was happy to see them happy. The color was vibrant, strong and had good eye appeal. I will make them over and over. Granny can do no harm as long as these cupcakes are seen.

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      Haha…love it!! Thanks so much for letting me know!! SO, glad they loved them!!