Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Key Lime Bundt Cake with Margarita Frosting

I’m always mentioning my CSA, but what I currently receive isn’t a share from a single farm. I’ve been receiving a box every other week from Farmhouse Delivery, and they combine produce, meat, dairy, eggs, and local artisanal products in a flexible plan. The boxes are delivered to your door, and you can choose to receive one every week rather than every other, but that would be a little too much for a two-person household. Because the items are gathered from a few different local farms, each box is filled with varied and interesting things. There's always something exciting and unexpected. A couple of weeks ago, our delivery included some key limes, and a few ideas came to mind immediately. I knew I’d seen a key lime cake I really wanted to try. After a little searching, I found it again on Cookie Madness. This is a great summer cake. It’s a sturdy but tender bundt with lots of flavor from the key lime juice and zest in the batter, and the frosting has all the basic ingredients of a good margarita.

The cake is made with cake flour which gives it a velvety texture. The dry ingredients were sifted together, and then eggs were separated. The egg whites were beaten to soft peaks in a separate bowl and set aside. The yolks were combined with softened butter, sugar, and lime zest. As usual, I used all butter here rather than a mix of butter and shortening. The dry ingredients were added to the butter mixture alternately with lime juice and sour cream. You know a cake is going to be good when sour cream’s involved. Last, the egg whites were folded into the batter, and it was poured into a prepared bundt pan. For the frosting, softened cream cheese, butter, and confectioner’s sugar were mixed, and tequila, Grand Marnier, and lime juice were added. The frosting should be thin enough to run down the sides of the cake but thick enough to hold some shape. Tasting and testing the frosting is a fun process as you can add additional lime juice, tequila, or confectioner’s sugar to achieve the margarita taste you want and the thickness that seems right.

Bundt cakes are so low-maintenance with their built-in good looks from the pan in which they’re baked and their need for just a simple drizzly frosting at the most. Add to that great flavor like key lime, and you’ve got a fantastic dessert. Getting to use some locally grown citrus in this delicious cake was a bonus for me, and well, the familiar flavor of a margarita was, you know, icing on the cake.



31 comments:

  1. What a stunning flavour! Its a cake that seems almost "refreshing"... who needs a cool glass of water when u can have this? LOL

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  2. I absolutely love the sound of this cake - so fresh and summery. Your multi-farm CSA sounds fantastic too!

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  3. That cake looks just simply to die for! Love that flavor!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  4. That's like the most ridiculously tempting, delicious-sounding cake name I've come across in a while. What a great flavor combination. I'm sure if I take this cake to a cookout, it will be one of those things that get people all mad because there's not enough for everybody.

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  5. Awesome cake!!!!!

    I just want a big spoonful of that frosting right about now. lol.

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  6. I would love a slice of that....but you knew I would say that!
    You are such a great baker!

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  7. So would you recommend a frosty margarita to go with the margarita cake? Ooooh, a tipsy time, indeed! ;)

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  8. mmm...margarita frosting...this sound great!

    I too love my CSA box, but mine is just fruits and vegetables, I wish it was so versatile, like yours.

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  9. I am dying for a bundt pan! What a fantastic cake!

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  10. Oh wow, this looks so very good! Perfect summery dessert!

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  11. Looks great. Love the idea of the margarita frosting!

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  12. This is the kind of cake I definitely love although I can't find limes very often. That frosting is to die for!!

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  13. i prefer my booze in cake form. sure, it's not quite as dainty or sexy to be stuffing my face with crumbs rather than sipping on a beverage, but that's a price i'll pay. :)

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  14. OMG Lisa this is perfect for a Margarita and lime obsessed friend! Thankyou!

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  15. I love the idea of eating a margarita. The cake looks like it has a fabulous crumb...so moist and tasty! And oh how I wish for key limes! Your CSA sounds awesome. If I could find one like that here, I would totally invest in it. As it is, all of the ones near me are booked out :( Maybe next summer!

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  16. Oh my, the cake looks amazingly moist! Great flavours!

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  17. Sounds like you have the ideal CSA situation. I tried something similar this year, but am not happy with what I am getting which is a total bummer. Key limes! Lucky you!

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  18. I'm jealous of your CSA.
    This cake looks amazing! I've never baked with cake flour and after I read this I thought I should try it.

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  19. I love a good bundt cake. They travel so well and taste so good!

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  20. What a luscious cake. I am loving the look and sound of the icing too -- a margarita flavored frosting sounds so refreshing. A perfect choice for a summer dessert!

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  21. Lisa, your cake is gorgeous and it sounds delicious. I am new to your blog and spent some time browsing through your earlier entries. I love the food you feature and the recipes you share. I'll be back often. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  22. Now here's a Florida dessert if I ever saw one! All my favorites in one cake! :) Yummy, Lisa. Copying this one right now!

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  23. What a perfect cake to have with a cup of tea!

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  24. This simply looks yummylicious!! I am new to your blog and glad to find a food blogger in Texas! :)

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  25. So perfect! The frosting is just as you described it should be and so much more than just a glaze. I can't think of a better summer dessert!

    Your CSA sounds great - I'd much rather receive such a variety of food!

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  26. That just looks perfect! I wish we had one of those delivery services here, but I haven't really found out that is worth while!

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  27. This looks perfect!! Love the texture. So glad this post is accompanied by a recipe link :)

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  28. This is so summery and refreshing looking! I just love citrus in cakes - the tart and the sweet is just an irresistible combo.

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  29. How refreshing is this!

    I made strawberry margarita jam recently, and there is just something about that flavor that brings a smile to your face.

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  30. Nice flavor combination for summer.

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  31. Lisa..I adore key lime anything..yet I've been stuck on pie and key lime cooler cookies forever. I cannot wait to try this cake, and as always, it looks beautiful. Hope mine turns out just as lovely.

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