Key Lime Cream Cake

Today, I am linking up to Quit Eating Out's Saturday Swap and sharing the birthday cake that I made for my husband yesterday. This is the third year in a row in which I have made this cake for him on his birthday, and it is one of the easiest cakes to make with out of this world results. It's fresh, pretty, delectably sweet and a perfect dessert during the summer months. 

So, here is what you need for KEY LIME CREAM CAKE...

1 cup graham cracker crumbs, crushed
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 T. Key lime or regular lime juice ( I use the Key Lime juice. You can find it with the lemon juice.)
1 package Betty Crocker Supermoist butter recipe yellow cake mix
1/2 c. butter, softened
2 t. grated Key lime or regular lime peel
3 eggs

Creamy Lime Filling...
1 can (14 oz. ) sweetened condensed milk
2 t. grated Key lime or regular lime peel
1/2 cup Key lime or regular lime juice
1 1/2 cups whipping (heavy) cream

Directions for cake...
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottoms only of 2 round pans, 8x 11/2 inches with shortening. (Dark or nonstick pans are not recommended). Line pans with waxed paper. Grease top of waxed paper and sides of pan; lightly flour. Mix cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter in medium bowl. Spread 2/3 cup of mixture in each pan.

Add enough water to lime juice to measure 1 1/3 cups. Beat cake mix, softened butter, lime juice mixture, lime peel and eggs in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pans.

Bake 42-52 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Run sharp knife around sides of pans to loosen cakes. Cool in pans 15 minutes. Remove from pans to wire rack, placing cakes crumb mixture side up and removing waxed paper from top of cakes. Cool completely, about 1 hour.

Place 1 layer, crumb side up, on serving plate. Spread with 1 cup Creamy Lime Filling to within 1/4 inch of edge. Add second layer, crumb side up; frost side and top of cake with remaining filling. Store loosely covered in refrigerator.

Directions for Creamy Lime Filling...
Stir together milk, lime peel and lime juice in small bowl; set aside. Beat whipping cream in chilled medium bowl with electric bowl on high speed until soft peaks form. Fold milk mixture into whipped cream just until blended.

Have a wonderful weekend!