Hey there, fellow food lovers! Are you ready for a burst of sunshine in every bite? I'm Bella, and today we're diving into a recipe that's as easy as it is delicious: a Zingy Vegan Lime Dream Cake! This isn't just any cake; it's a vibrant, moist, and totally plant-based masterpiece perfect for sharing (or, let's be honest, not!).
With summer vibes in mind, I whipped up this showstopper of a sheet cake. It’s packed with zesty lime flavour, and believe me, the first bite will have you hooked. The best part? It’s so simple to make, it all comes together in one bowl, which means less time washing up and more time eating cake! It's a real crowd pleaser - perfect for picnics, parties, or even just a treat for yourself.
Once it emerges from the oven all golden and gorgeous, we're going to generously drizzle it with a tangy lime syrup to give an extra boost of zing and keep the cake super moist. While the cake is cooling, it can be topped with a simple lime icing and some crunchy chopped pistachios if you are feeling fancy (and who isn’t?).
If the weather is warm, and you are firing up the BBQ, then try serving it with a dollop of whipped coconut cream or thick coconut yoghurt and some grilled pineapple – the combination is simply divine. A few weeks ago when I made this for some friends I used a griddle pan (as the weather was not playing ball!), and it vanished in minutes.
Key Ingredients for this Zesty Cake
- Vegan Butter: Make sure to use the solid block variety for extra fluffiness. Alternatively, coconut oil also works well for a coconut twist. It’s all about the unmelted fat to make this cake super light and airy.
- Sugar: Caster sugar is perfect, but coconut sugar adds a lovely depth of flavour and slightly darker colour.
- Limes, limes and more limes!: The real stars of the show, we use both zest and juice. Get those limes rolling to extract every drop.
- Plant Milk: Any plant milk will do but soya works great in baking.
- Desiccated Coconut: Adds a touch of lightness and a subtle flavour, but feel free to use finely ground almonds if you prefer.
- Flour: All-purpose is fine here but gluten-free flour mix works well too but requires a little extra xanthan gum for binding.
- Cornstarch: For an extra tender crumb.
- Lime Syrup: Essential for that moist, tangy burst of flavour.
- Icing: A simple lime icing is the classic topping, but whipped coconut cream or thick coconut yogurt work really well.
Lets Get Baking
Ingredients:
For the Cake:
- 160g vegan butter (solid block), or coconut oil
- 250g caster sugar
- 60ml lime juice
- 480ml plant milk (room temp)
- Zest of 8 limes
- 160g desiccated coconut
- 375g all purpose flour, or gluten-free mix
- 40g cornstarch
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
For the Lime Syrup:
- 80g sugar
- 80ml lime juice
For the Icing (Optional):
- 100g icing sugar
- 15-30ml lime juice
- Chopped pistachios (optional) for garnish
Method:
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan) and grease a baking pan.
- Zest and juice all the limes. You need 170ml in total. Set aside the syrup lime juice separately.
- Cream the vegan butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add the lime zest, lime juice and plant milk and mix well.
- Stir in the desiccated coconut.
- Sift in the dry ingredients in two batches, mixing gently until just combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake for about 35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let the cake rest, then poke holes and brush it with the cooled lime syrup.
- Once completely cool, drizzle with the icing and sprinkle with pistachios and zest if using.
For the Lime Syrup:
- Simmer sugar and lime juice in a small pot until the sugar is dissolved and the syrup has thickened slightly. Cool completely.
For the Icing:
- Whisk icing sugar and lime juice until smooth. Adjust to your liking.
Notes
For a gluten-free cake, use a gluten-free mix and add 1 teaspoon of xanthan gum. Also, consider reducing the baking time by a couple of minutes.
I hope you love this recipe as much as I do. Be sure to tag me on social media if you make it! Let's spread some joy with every slice!