Key Lime Pudding Cake is a creamy, sweet dessert that's perfect for summer. A tart refreshing cake batter, flavored with key lime, magically bakes into two separate layers, a light airy sponge cake with a tangy custardy pudding underneath. Made in individual ramekins, it's the ideal serving size for picnics, barbecues and special occasions.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Prepare six 6-oz. individual ramekins by coating sides and bottom with butter then sprinkling with some sugar. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine egg yolks, buttermilk, lime zest and lime juice, mixing well.
Add flour, sugar and salt and continue mixing until combined.
In small bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
Fold beaten egg whites gently into egg-lime mixture.
Divide batter evenly between the prepared ramekins.
Place all six ramekins in a pan large enough to hold them side by side.
Fill the pan with water until it reaches halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
Place in oven and bake 55-60 minutes.
Remove ramekins from water bath and let cool on wire rack. When cool, sprinkle top with powdered sugar and store in refrigerator.
Notes
Don’t have buttermilk? Make your own by adding a little over 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice to a measuring cup and adding milk up to the 1-1/ 3 cup line. Let sit for 5 minutes and voila – buttermilk!
Frequently asked questions
What is a pudding cake?A pudding cake, unlike the standard cake, is made by folding whipped egg whites into a thin batter which contains just a little flour. When baked, the batter divides into a sponge cake layer on top and a pudding layer on the bottom. Why do I have to place the cake in a water bath?The water bath, which is just a pan of water that rises halfway up the side of the dishes, helps to insulate the pudding layer, creating more of a custard, while helping the cake to rise high from the moist humid environment.How do I know when my pudding cake is done?The timing is fairly accurate on these ramekins. When the edges are set and have pulled away from the side and the top has browned, they are done.