Kaffir Lime Cake Recipe

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups sugar
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 4 eggs
• zest of half of a kaffir lime
• 1 cup butter (softened)
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 4 Tablespoons kaffir lime curd
• juice from 1 small lime (regular variety)
• zest of half of a kaffir lime

Steps

1. 1

   Prepare your white cake by following this Cook's Illustrated White Layer Cake Recipe. The only alteration I made to this recipe was to omit the vanilla extract, as I was afraid that it might clash with the kaffir lime flavor.

2. 2

   Combine sugar and kaffir lime zest in a food processor. Pulse until the zest is finely minced and completely incorporated into the sugar.

3. 3

   Cream the butter and sugar plus zest mixture in the bowl of an electric mixer. Add the eggs, one at a time, and continue to mix until they are incorporated. Then add the lime juice and water.

4. 4

   Pour the whole mixture into a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it has thickened (approximately 10 minutes). Pour into a bowl and save in the refrigerator until ready to use.

5. 5

   In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Add the lime juice, kaffir lime zest, and 4 Tablespoons of the kaffir lime curd that you prepared earlier. Save in the refrigerator until ready to use.

6. 6

   Once the cakes are cool, remove them from their pans. Scoop a generous layer of the kaffir lime curd on top of the first cake and spread around until smooth. Place the second cake layer on top and then frost both layers with the buttercream frosting. Use the back of a spoon to create swirls and garnish with thinly sliced kaffir lime leaves as shown above. Enjoy!