Keto Key Lime Pound Cake

February 13, 2025

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Key lime pie meets a classic pound cake in a healthier low carb recipe! This tart-sweet keto cake recipe is perfect for brunch or dessert.

If you love key limes, you are going to be head over heals for this keto almond flour cake. The bright citrusy lime flavor offsets the sweet, tender cake to perfection.

I seem to have a slight obsession with cake at the moment. And by “slight”, I mean can’t stop thinking about cake, making cake, eating cake and dreaming up delectable keto cake recipes. And by “at the moment”, I really mean for about as long as I’ve been making low carb treats!

Key limes are one of those wonderful ingredients that lend themselves to a wide array of delicious goodies. Of course, I have a classic Keto Key Lime Pie recipe, as well as keto key lime cheesecake. And this pound cake recipe is an oldie but a goodie.

It’s been on my website for almost 8 year so it was definitely time for an update!

Keto Key Lime Pound Cake cooling on a wire rack with key limes placed around it.

You’ll love this updated recipe!

With a few small tweaks, I’ve made this delicious keto pound cake better than ever.

It’s easy: This lovely low carb key lime cake is relatively simple to make, as cakes go.
Great flavor: Bright and citrusy, with a lovely key lime glaze drizzled over.
Perfect texture: This cake has a fine, tender crumb – as long as you use good ingredients and follow my instructions, of course!
Great for any occasion: This is the sort of cake that you can whip up easily for company and serve as brunch, tea, or dessert.

Reader’s Thoughts

“Loved this recipe, the flavour of the lime through the cake and the glaze was delicious. The size of the cake was also fabulous it has a good depth to it and the texture is amazing.” — Valerie

Ingredient Notes

Top down image of ingredients for Keto Key Lime Pound Cake.

Almond flour: Fine blanched almond flour will give you the best texture for all of your keto cakes.
Protein powder: Gluten is a protein and in its absence, another dry protein powder helps keto cakes rise and hold their shape. I recommend whey or egg white protein for this recipe.
Sweetener: I recommend an erythritol based sweetener for the cake. You will need a powdered sweeten for the glaze.
Key limes: You can squeeze fresh limes or purchase the bottled key lime juice.
Kitchen staples: Butter, eggs, baking powder, and salt.

Step by Step Directions

6 image collage showing the steps for making Keto Key Lime Pound Cake.

Combine the dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the almond flour, coconut flour, baking powder, and salt.
Cream the butter: In a large bowl, beat the butter and sweetener together until lightened and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the eggs until well combined.
Add remaining ingredients: Beat in half of the almond flour mixture, then beat in the almond milk, lime juice, and lime zest. Beat in the remaining almond flour mixture.
Bake: Transfer to a greased 9×5 inch loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake at 325ºF for 55 to 65 minutes. Cover with foil at about the halfway point to make sure the top doesn’t get overly browned. The cake is done with the edges are golden and the top is firm to the touch.
Glaze the cake: Whisk the powdered sweetener and lime juice together until smooth (should be somewhat runny). Drizzle over the cooled cake.

Two slices of Keto Key Lime Pound Cake on a white plate on a white table.

Tips for Success

Key limes are teeny tiny things and it takes quite a few of them to get enough juice. They are a pain to squeeze! So I recommend the bottled juice from concentrate if you can find it. Many grocery stores carry it, as does Amazon. You will also need some lime zest, so you will need a fresh key lime or other lime variety.

If your loaf pan is not very non-stick, consider lining it with with parchment on the bottom and along the long sides, with some overhanging edges. It will make it easier to remove.

Dairy-Free Option: Replace the butter with avocado oil (or another neutral tasting oil). Use egg white protein powder instead of whey protein.

Sweetener Options: I recommend an erythritol based sweetener for the cake, because allulose can make it brown much faster. A loaf cake like this takes a long time to bake, so it can become overly dark. The sides against the pan may even taste burnt.

If you are looking to cut back on erythritol, try using only 1/3 to 1/2 cup, and sweetening the rest with pure stevia or pure monk fruit extract.

For the glaze, you can use whatever powdered sweetener you like best.

Close up shot of Keto Key Lime Pound Cake with a slice cut out, and lime slices on top.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use regular limes instead of key limes?

Absolutely! Key limes are hard to find so you can use regular or small Persian limes instead.

Can I eat key limes on the keto diet?

Although they are slightly sweeter and less tart than regular limes, key limes can be used in keto recipes. The juice has only about 3g of carbs per ounce (two tablespoons).

How many carbs are in Keto Key Lime Pound Cake?

This keto key lime pound cake recipe has 7.8g of carbs and 3g of fiber per serving. That comes to 4.8g net carbs per slice.

A slice of Keto Key Lime Pound Cake on a white plate with a forkful taken out of it.

More delicious keto lime recipes