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Key Lime Strawberry Cheesecake Cake

Make this showstopper Key Lime Strawberry Cheesecake Cake for your next summer event! It’s a delicious dessert that adds a creamy strawberry cheesecake layer between two key lime cake layers. Strawberries adorn the frosting and add a luscious touch to this perfectly pink and vibrant lime green-hued cake.

full size key lime strawberry cheesecake cake with pink frosting piped and fresh strawberries

Perfect for a summer celebration, this bright and beautiful cheesecake cake will be the star of the show. Whether you’re making it for a birthday, brunch, wedding shower, baby shower, or a summer BBQ, this strawberry and key lime dessert is a stunning way to enjoy these two complementary flavors.

slice of key lime strawberry cheesecake on blue plate

While this dessert certainly looks impressive, it’s actually as simple as following all the steps in the order given. You’ll be using a store-bought cake mix and frosting, so much of the work is just adding flavor and color and then layering and baking in stages. Don’t worry, I’ll walk you through this fun creative recipe. It’ll be worth it when you see and taste the finished cake!

slice of pink and green key lime strawberry cheesecake cake served on a blue plate with strawberries on the side.

Baking Tips

  • You’ll definitely want to plan ahead when making this Key Lime Strawberry Cheesecake Cake. Think of it as an overnight cake – you’ll need to do all the baking in one day because the cheesecake cake needs to sit overnight in the refrigerator before you decorate the top.
  • The baking occurs in 3 different stages, for each section of the cake. Make sure you read through all the directions and steps before you begin so that you have an idea of how much time you’ll need to complete all the baking steps.
  • Use your favorite store-bought white cake mix and store-bought vanilla frosting. You’ll be adding other ingredients, flavors, and gel colorings to each so using these store-bought items as a blank canvas will save you tons of time!
top photo of cake and slice of cake served with strawberries and lime. Cheesecake served on a glass platter.

What Are Key Limes?

Key limes differ from regular limes in that they’re small, more acidic, and have a more intense aroma. They do pack more of a tangy punch in the flavor department making them perfect for pies, cakes, and even beverages. This is why they are perfect for this cheesecake cake.

Interestingly, key limes are actually difficult to juice since they’re so small, plus they’re actually not very juicy. For these reasons, go with bottled key lime juice that you can readily purchase in your grocery store. It’s easy, it’s convenient, and it’s much quicker than trying to juice the key limes yourself.

slice of key lime strawberry cheesecake served on a blue dish, full cake in background, strawberries and lime on side of table

Can I Substitute Regular Limes?

Of course, you can. Just be aware that you’ll be missing a bit of the lime tang that key limes are known for.

Key lime strawberry cheesecake perfectly sliced and ready to be served, strawberries and lime decorating table

Ingredients Needed

For the cake:

White Cake Mix – use your favorite store-bought brand for this awesome shortcut! I like to use a good quality cake mix.

Greek Yogurt – gives the cake mix a bit more tang and helps keep it moist.

Key Lime Juice – this helps accentuate the lime flavor; bottled key lime juice is recommended.

Eggs – are an essential ingredient for the cake batter.

Lime Zest, grated – regular limes will work fine if you can’t find key limes for the zest.

Heavy Cream – adds richness.

Vegetable Oil – helps keep the batter moist.

For the cheesecake:

Cream Cheese – softened is an essential ingredient.

Greek Yogurt – adds that classic cheesecake tanginess.

Sugar – to sweeten the cream cheese layer.

Eggs – to help bind and hold the cheesecake layer together when baked.

Vanilla – is an essential flavor enhancer.

Strawberry Flavoring – a flavor enhancer that gives the cheesecake layer a strawberry flavor.

Neon Pink Food Coloring Gel – for that show-stopping pink color!

To decorate the top:

Store-Bought Container Of Vanilla Frosting – awesome shortcut for the frosting. Use a good quality store-bought frosting.

Neon Pink Food Coloring Gel – used to tint the frosting and to make sure the frosting gets noticed!

Fresh Strawberries – garnish for the top of the cake.

Key Lime and Strawberry Cheesecake cake sliced into and ready to e served

How To Make A Cheesecake Cake

The detailed instructions for each step of this cake are found down below in the recipe card. Here, I’ll walk you through the basic stages of making the cake.

  1. Mix the cake batter. Pour half of the batter into the tube pan and bake for 25 minutes. Reserve and refrigerate the remaining cake batter.
  2. Remove the cake from the oven and let cool. Do not remove the cake from the pan.
  3. Mix cheesecake ingredients together and pour on top of the baked cake, spreading it out evenly.
  4. Return the pan to the oven and bake for approximately an hour.
  5. Remove from the oven and let cool for 30 minutes.
  6. Pour the remaining refrigerated cake batter on top of the cheesecake section in the pan.
  7. Return to the oven and bake for 25 minutes. Test for doneness with a toothpick.
  8. Remove from the oven and cool completely. Do not remove the cake from the pan. Once the cake is cooled to room temperature, cover with foil and place in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, after your cheesecake cake has been set, it will be ready to decorate!
  9. To decorate, place a few drops of pink food coloring gel in the vanilla frosting and gently stir until a bright pink color is achieved.
  10. Place the frosting in a pastry bag, and using a ruffle piping tip, pipe large ruffled dollops around the edge of the cake. Place a fresh strawberry in the middle of each dollop of frosting.
In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, add the Cake mix, Yogurt, and Key Lime Juice, and mix on low just until blended.

How Do I Store This Cake?

Store the uneaten cake in the fridge, tightly covered. It will keep up to 5 days in the fridge.

Key Lime Juice being added to the In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, add the Cake mix, Yogurt, and Key Lime Juice, and mix on low just until blended.

Is This Cake Freezer-Friendly?

You can freeze the baked and cooled, but undecorated Key Lime Strawberry Cheesecake Cake, tightly wrapped, in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before decorating with frosting and fresh strawberries.

From its sweet strawberry cream cheese filling sandwiched between two tangy lime cake layers, this tropical-flavored and two-toned Key Lime Strawberry Cheesecake Cake will add a pop of color to your summer dessert table.

Key lime zest added to the bowl, Add the Lime Zest, Heavy Cream, and Vegetable Oil, and mix until all ingredients are blended.

Freshly grated Key Lime Zest really adds a zing of flavor to the cake.

The vibrant green color is so pretty when you cut through the cake.

Add the Eggs, Vanilla, and Strawberry Flavoring, and blend until all ingredients are well mixed.  
Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl, and mix until the ingredients are well mixed.  
Add the Food Coloring Gel a few drops at a time, and mix well, until desired bright pink color is achieved.  Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl, again, and blend until smooth, and bright pink.

Add a pretty pink batter on top of the cake for a festive and delicious cheesecake cake.

Pour the bright pink Cheesecake Batter into the tube Pan, on top of the green key lime Cake.

The layers of pink and green will be a hit at your next dinner party or special event.

Remove the Key Lime Cake Batter from the refrigerator, and let it set at room temperature while the Cheesecake cools.  
After 30 minutes, pour the green Cake Batter on top of the Cheesecake, and place the pan back in the oven.

Remove the Key Lime Cake Batter from the refrigerator, and let it sit at room temperature while the Cheesecake cools.  

After 30 minutes, pour the Cake Batter on top of the Cheesecake, and place the pan back in the oven.  Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cake is completely done, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

hero shot of complete key lime strawberry cheesecake decorated with frosting piped on and fresh strawberries.

I think that you will agree that this is such a stunning dessert!  

It’s so colorful and it’s a beautiful addition to any table, whether it’s being served, or on a buffet.   

It’s super easy to make, and the flavors just melt in your mouth.  

You will need to bake this in layers, in the same tube pan, and before you know it, you will have this fabulous cake/cheesecake that everyone will love.  

You really could serve this for any occasion, and it’s sure to be a hit.  Everyone will be asking for your recipe!

Trust me, you will want to add this fun cheesecake to one of your favorite desserts.

Related Recipes

Fresh Strawberry Yogurt Cake

Easy Key Lime Pie

Fluffy Strawberry Lemon Cake

Florida Blueberry Key Lime Pie

21 East Strawberry Cake Recipes

Nettie is a wife and mother who is passionate about cooking and baking. With 5 children, Nettie insists that all meals, snacks, and desserts come together quickly! You will find a wide variety of easy yet scrumptious recipes on her very popular website Moore or Less Cooking

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slice of key lime strawberry cheesecake cake on a blue plate, strawberries on the side
Yield: Makes 10 to 12 servings

Key Lime Strawberry Cheesecake Cake

From its sweet strawberry cream cheese filling sandwiched between two tangy lime cake layers, this tropical-flavored and two-toned Key Lime Strawberry Cheesecake Cake will add a pop of color to your summer dessert table.

Ingredients

  • HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED:
  • FOR THE CAKE:
  • 1 White Cake Mix
  • 1 cup of Greek Yogurt
  • 1/2 cup of Key Lime Juice - I used 'Nellie and Joe's'
  • 4 Eggs
  • 1 Tablespoon of finely grated Lime Zest
  • 1 Tablespoon of Heavy Cream
  • 1 Tablespoon of Vegetable Oil
  • FOR THE CHEESECAKE:
  • 3 packages of Cream Cheese - 8 ounces each - softened
  • 1/2 cup of Greek Yogurt
  • 1 cup of Sugar
  • 3 Eggs
  • 1 teaspoon of Vanilla
  • 1 Tablespoon of Strawberry Flavoring - Goodman's Strawberry Flavoring
  • Neon Pink Food Coloring Gel
  • TO DECORATE THE TOP:
  • 1 large can of Vanilla Frosting (Betty Crocker or Pillsbury)
  • Neon Pink Food Coloring Gel
  • 1 Package of Fresh Strawberries - washed and dried - stems left on

Instructions

  1. Grease and flour an Angel Food Cake pan (Tube pan) and set aside. 
  2. In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, add the Cake mix, Yogurt, and Key Lime Juice, and mix on low just until blended.  
  3. Add the eggs, and mix just until blended.  
  4. Add the Lime Zest, Heavy Cream, and Vegetable Oil, and mix until all ingredients are blended.  
  5. Stop the mixer, and scrape down the sides of the bowl, then turn the mixer on Medium-High, and mix for 2 minutes.   
  6. Pour half of the Cake batter into the tube pan, and bake at 350 for about 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  
  7. Remove from the oven, and set on a cooling rack.  
  8. Pour the other half of the batter into a bowl, and place in the refrigerator. 
  9.  Place the Softened Cream Cheese in the mixing bowl, ad add the Greek Yogurt, and Sugar, and mix on low until well blended, and smooth.  
  10. Add the Eggs, Vanilla, and Strawberry Flavoring, and blend until all ingredients are well mixed.  
  11. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl, and mix until the ingredients are well mixed.  
  12. Add the Food Coloring Gel a few drops at a time, and mix well, until desired bright pink color is achieved.  Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl, again, and blend until smooth, and bright pink. 
  13. Pour the Cheesecake Batter into the Pan, on top of the Cake.  
  14. Place the pan back in the oven for an hour and 10 minutes, or until the cheesecake is baked, and not jiggly when the pan is moved, and the top is completely set.  
  15. Remove the Angel Food Cake Pan from the oven, and cool for 30 minutes.  
  16.  Remove the Key Lime Cake Batter from the refrigerator, and let it set at room temperature while the Cheesecake cools.  
  17. After 30 minutes, pour the Cake Batter on top of the Cheesecake, and place the pan back in the oven.  Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cake is completely done, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  
  18. Remove the pan from the oven to a wire rack, and cool completely.  DO NOT remove the cake from the pan.  
  19. Once the cake is cooled to room temperature, cover with foil, and place in the refrigerator overnight. 
  20.  To Decorate the Cake:  Place a few drops of the Pink Food Coloring Gel in the Vanilla Frosting, until a bright pink color is achieved. 
  21. Place the frosting in a pastry bag, and using a Ruffle piping tip (see link) pipe large ruffled dollops in the center of each piece of Cheesecake, and place a Strawberry in the middle of the Frosting. 
  22. Cut the Cake into 2 - 3 inch pieces, serve, and Enjoy!  

    Nutrition Information

    Yield

    12

    Serving Size

    1

    Amount Per Serving Calories 246Total Fat 12gSaturated Fat 5gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 131mgSodium 138mgCarbohydrates 26gFiber 0gSugar 23gProtein 8g

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    slice of Key Lime Cheesecake Cake sliced via @Mooreorlesscook

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    Kimberley

    Tuesday 27th of February 2024

    This cakes sounds delicious! Do you have a go-to frosting recipe for people who'd like to make homemade instead of canned? Thanks!

    Nettie

    Friday 1st of March 2024

    Yes! This frosting is delicious: https://mooreorlesscooking.com/funfetti-layer-cake-with-buttercream-frosting/

    Nettie

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