Hello all~
I hope that you guys can help me out here since it seems this is the place to learn all and know all about cakes.

Recently I learned I could do the graduation cake for a co-worker of mine.

He is a lime fiend and loves any food that has the lime flavor, lime pop, Hint of Lime chips, it goes on and on. So I thought that a lime cake would be nice for part of his graduation cake.

Is there any recipe out there that would taste good and not be too overwhelming??
I search the web, but I'm not finding much at all!
Is there a recipe I can alter or edit. Maybe instead of doing a lemon cake just go for lime flavor instead???
Thanks for your help in advance!

Also, I am not interested in a key lime flavor or doing a regular cake, poking holes in it and drizzling lime glaze over it.

Just make your fav white cake recipe and add the zest of a lime or two or three. If the recipe calls for buttermilk, then use milk + lime juice in the usual amounts.

You could always do lemon cake and just go for lime flavor. Or WASC and instead of water use limeade. I would say use lime juice, but I'm afraid it would be waaaaay too tart. That's what I would do.

http://damncutebunnies.blogspot.com/2011/03/triple-lime-cake-for-office-birthday.html

I've made this one:
http://erincooks.com/cakelove-mojito-pound-cake/

And have made this one too:
http://en.petitchef.com/recipes/ginger-chiffon-cake-with-key-lime-curd-and-lime-zest-chantilly-cream-fid-956462

I'm with Leah. Also you can sub some lime juice for water (or lime flavored syrup like is made for coffee) and/or use it in your simple syrup.

Everyone loves it when I make this cake! http://cakecentral.com/recipes/7294/key-lime-cake-with-key-lime-buttercream

If you don't want a prominent lime flavor, do what Leah suggested and use the key lime buttercream or just make a white cake with Key Lime BC. That BC recipe is very good!

How about making the WASC cake or just a regular white cake mix and then taking part of the batter and adding some lime Jello powder? Then swirl the lime part (now green) back into the other to make a lime marble cake?

I make WASC (leaving out the almond) and use limeade concentrate only diluting it slightly. I then grate some fresh lime zest into the batter.

I recently did a coconut lime cake using 3/4 cup limeade conc and 3/4 coconut juice instead of water and leaving out extracts. Then i stirred in fresh lime zest and some chopped coconut.

Lime Jello Powder is interesting as well... Always hear about pudding added but jello could work as well... hrmmmmm

I think I'm going to have 3-4 different cake variations for him to try, haha!

I love the recipe recommended by divinecc. It's also my boyfriend's absolute favorite cake. I always make it with Pillsbury yellow as the base.
Why aren't you interested in key lime cakes (just curious because I guess I don't really know the difference between regular lime and key lime besides appearance. Is one more lime tasting? more tart?)

Like Leah_s says, use the zest and juice. I've made a white cake recipe and thrown some lime zest and juice in there and it turns out wonderful.

Well mostly why I don't want key lime is that I just don't think it would suit his tastes.
I've heard that key limes are more acidic and bitter than a Persian lime.

And since most foods out today basically incorporate the Persian lime as their flavoring, I'll keep on with it for now unless he tells me otherwise.

From what I have been told key limes tend to be sweeter and slightly more mild (why you see them in pies).
I believe, but am not sure, that key limes are slightly less acidic as well.

If you do end up using the recipe I suggested I always use 1/2 white and 1/2 lemon mix. Good luck!

Key limes are HIGHER in acidity than persian limes. They do diminish in acidity if they're really ripe (yellow skin).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_lime

http://www.keylime.com/diff.html

You are right! Like I said before I wasn't positive, hope you find what you are looking for.

Thank you all for your input. I will be sure to give a good look over the recipes and see what I can create for the graduate. I will even try to post info about it later as well when he has taste tested them

I may be too late but I would suggest an "orange dreamsicle" cake but sub lime flavors for the orange. HTH

I made this one a few years ago and it turned out pretty good. I used the frosting recipe, but it also has a glaze one too. HTH!

Tropical Lime Cake
1 package lemon cake mix
1 (3 ounce) Package lime Jello
5 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup fresh orange juice

Glaze
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
2 cups confectioner's sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a large bowl, stir together the cake mix and lime jello and set aside.
In a blender - combine the eggs, oil and orange juice - blend for at least 5 Minutes,
Gradually add the blended ingredients to the dry mixture, using electric mixer, blend for at least 5 Minutes. Bake for 40 - 50 minutes depending upon the size pan you are using.
If you are using the glaze you will prick holes into cake as soon as you take from oven - pour glaze over cake.

Frosting
1/2 cup butter
1 (8oz.) Cream Cheese - blend together until creamy
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
4 cups confectioners' sugar
Mix as you would buttercream frosting.

Here is Trisha Yearwood's Key Lime Cake recipe
A baker made it for a friend of mine's wedding last year and it was very tasty!

KEY LIME CAKE

Serves 12

1 (3-ounce) package lime-flavored gelatin
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
5 large eggs, slightly beaten
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
3/4 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup lime juice (from about 25 small Key limes or 4 large regular limes)
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour three 9-inch round cake pans.

2. In a large mixing bowl, mix the gelatin, sugar, flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Stir to mix well. Add the eggs, oil, orange juice, lemon juice and vanilla.

3. Divide the batter evenly among the three pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Test for doneness by lightly touching the tops of the layers or inserting a toothpick. Cool the layers in the pans for 5 minutes, then turn them out onto racks.

4. While the layers are still hot, mix the lime juice and confectioners' sugar and pour it over the layers on the racks. You can pierce the layers with a fork to allow the glaze to soak in better. Allow the layers to cool completely as you prepare the icing.

CREAM CHEESE ICING

1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
1 (1-pound) box confectioners' sugar

1. Cream the butter and cream cheese. Beat in the confectioners' sugar until the mixture is smooth and easy to spread. Spread the icing between the layers and on the top and sides of the cake.

Here is a lemon/lime cake that I make ... I usually ice it with a whipped cream icing..

http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2010888

Lemon Lime Cake
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 tablespoon lime zest
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup milk
3 tablespoons lemon and/or lime juice (I usually do 2 lemon/1 lime but, would flip that to get more lime punch)

Preheat oven to 350.

Cream butter, sugar, and eggs together until fluffy. Add vanilla and zest and combine until mixed.

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Add the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Add the lemon and lime juice and thoroughly mix. Once mixed, add milk and beat until combined.

Pour into an 8×8 or 9×9 square cake pan and bake for 30-35 mins at 350. Let cool completely.

Whip Cream Icing (you can add 1 tsp lime juice to make it a lime icing)
1 (8 ounce) package reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups heavy cream


Combine the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract and almond extract in a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Fit the mixer with the whisk attachment and mix on medium speed until smooth. While the mixture is still whipping, slowly pour in the heavy cream. Stop and scrape the bottom of the bowl a couple of times while you continue whipping until the cream can hold a stiff peak.

Here is a lemon/lime cake that I make ... I usually ice it with a whipped cream icing..

http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2010888

Lemon Lime Cake
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 tablespoon lime zest
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup milk
3 tablespoons lemon and/or lime juice (I usually do 2 lemon/1 lime but, would flip that to get more lime punch)

Preheat oven to 350.

Cream butter, sugar, and eggs together until fluffy. Add vanilla and zest and combine until mixed.

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Add the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Add the lemon and lime juice and thoroughly mix. Once mixed, add milk and beat until combined.

Pour into an 8×8 or 9×9 square cake pan and bake for 30-35 mins at 350. Let cool completely.

Whip Cream Icing (you can add 1 tsp lime juice to make it a lime icing)
1 (8 ounce) package reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups heavy cream


Combine the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract and almond extract in a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Fit the mixer with the whisk attachment and mix on medium speed until smooth. While the mixture is still whipping, slowly pour in the heavy cream. Stop and scrape the bottom of the bowl a couple of times while you continue whipping until the cream can hold a stiff peak.

Just wanted to do a quick post to tell all that helped out about the results.
I decided to try one key lime recipe to see how he liked it, yet after extensive searching for key lime juice, I have conceded that its NO WHERE to be found in the NW area of Iowa.

So I gave him two cakes to try; the WASC with Limeade added and White Cake mixed with Lime Jello.

He loved them both so much, but preferred the WASC with Limeade just a bit more!
And shockingly enough, he has decreed that the whole cake should be that flavor, so I hope his guests like lime!

Thank you all once again for your help, it helped me out a great deal!

Glad everything worked out! You are a good friend ;0)