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Triple Cheese Perfection Recipe

Triple Cheese Perfection Recipe
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★★★★★

5.1 from 26 reviews

A tangy and refreshing Key Lime Cake featuring moist layers infused with key lime juice and zest, complemented by a creamy cream cheese frosting with lime curd and graham cracker crumb decoration. Perfect for citrus lovers craving a vibrant dessert with a balance of sweet and tart flavors.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake

  • 2 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour (333 g)
  • 2 cups granulated sugar (400 g)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon table salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter (113 g), cut into 8 pieces
  • ¼ cup avocado, vegetable, or canola oil (60 ml)
  • 1 Tablespoon lime or key lime zest (from about 2 limes)
  • 1 ½ Tablespoons key lime juice
  • 1 ½ scant cups whole milk (333 ml)
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Key Lime Curd

  • ⅓ cup key lime juice (80 ml)
  • 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon table salt
  • 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter (28 g), cut into pieces
  • 2 large egg yolks

Frosting

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter (170 g), softened
  • 6 oz cream cheese (170 g), softened
  • 4–5 cups powdered sugar (500–625 g)
  • ¼ cup graham cracker crumbs (28 g), for decorating
  • ½ batch stabilized whipped cream frosting (optional but recommended)

Instructions

  1. Prepare pans and preheat oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Thoroughly grease and flour the sides of three 8-inch cake pans, tap out excess flour, and line the bottoms with parchment paper to ensure easy release.
  2. Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, ensuring even distribution.
  3. Add butter: With mixer on low speed, add softened unsalted butter one tablespoon at a time, mixing thoroughly until the mixture resembles sandy crumbs with a crumbly texture.
  4. Incorporate oil and zest: Stir in oil and lime zest until well combined, then set the mixture aside.
  5. Prepare wet ingredients: In a large measuring cup, combine key lime juice and whole milk up to the 1 ½ cup line. Whisk in eggs and vanilla extract until smooth.
  6. Combine wet and dry: Slowly add the milk mixture to the dry ingredients with the mixer on low speed, pausing to scrape bowl sides and bottom. Batter should be silky, smooth, and uniform.
  7. Divide and bake: Evenly pour batter into prepared pans (about 460 grams per pan by weight). Bake on the center rack for 26-28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  8. Cool cakes: Let cakes cool in pans for 10-15 minutes, then loosen edges with a knife and invert onto cooling racks to cool completely while preparing frosting.
  9. Make key lime curd: In a small non-reactive saucepan, whisk together egg yolks, key lime juice, sugar, and salt. Add butter pieces and cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly until thickened and coats the back of a spoon. Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a heatproof bowl and cool completely, refrigerating if desired.
  10. Prepare frosting: Beat softened butter and cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Gradually add 4 cups (500g) powdered sugar, blending completely. Add cooled curd one tablespoon at a time (5-6 tablespoons total), mixing thoroughly. Adjust sweetness and thickness with remaining powdered sugar as needed.
  11. Level and frost cake: Once cooled, level cake tops if needed. Spread frosting evenly between layers and cover the outside of the cake smoothly with the remaining frosting.
  12. Decorate: Gently press graham cracker crumbs around the cake base about a quarter of the way up. Optionally, pipe, swirl, or dollop stabilized whipped cream frosting on top and garnish with extra graham crackers or lime zest.
  13. Chill and serve: Refrigerate the frosted cake for at least 30 minutes before slicing to allow flavors to meld and frosting to set. Serve and enjoy your vibrant key lime cake!

Notes

  • Use a non-reactive pan (stainless steel or ceramic) when making the curd to avoid discoloration or metallic taste.
  • Stabilized whipped cream frosting adds decorative flair and creaminess but is optional.
  • Ensure all butter and cream cheese are softened to room temperature for smooth frosting.
  • Key lime juice can be substituted with regular lime juice if key limes are unavailable but expect slight flavor variation.
  • Adjust powdered sugar in frosting for desired sweetness and consistency.
  • Use parchment paper liners for easy cake removal and to prevent sticking.
  • Chilling the cake before cutting produces cleaner slices.

Nutrition

Keywords: baking, cake recipe, citrus dessert, easy key lime cake recipe, key lime, lime frosting

Find it online: https://kitchenwithkai.com/triple-cheese-perfection-recipe/