Key Lime Pie Cupcakes, which I’m pretty sure are everyone’s new favorite. They’re so good.
Similar to my Lemon Bar Cupcakes, these cupcakes are packed with juicy key lime flavor in every bite! They have a fabulous key lime filling and a thick, luscious key lime pie frosting that’s garnished with little sprinkles of honey graham crackers. Talk about the ultimate Key Lime Pie!
Or the ultimate Key Lime Pie Cupcake…
Yep. Exactly what the doctor ordered.
*adapted from my Lemon Bar Cupcakes recipe
Key Lime Pie Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 1 box key lime cake mix
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup oil
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup key lime juice
- Zest of one lime
- 1 can Duncan Hines Key Lime Pie Filling
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- About 3-4 cups powdered sugar
- Crushed honey graham cracker crumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 muffin pans with about 18 paper liners; set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, oil, water, lime zest, and key lime juice and beat with a handheld electric mixer for about 2 minutes or until combined. Portion evenly into the prepared muffin cups, filling about 3/4 full. Bake for approx. 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean or with moist crumbs. Cool completely.
- Using a paring knife or cupcake corer, core the cupcakes, careful not to cut all the way through the bottom of the cake. Discard centers. Fill with the prepared key lime pie filling. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the butter, about 1/3 cup of the key lime pie filling and the vanilla on medium-high for about 2 minutes, or until fluffy. Add the powdered sugar, about a cup at a time, until frosting is light and fluffy.
- Pipe frosting high onto filled cupcakes, careful to cover the filling completely. Garnish with crushed graham crackers. Serve immediately or store leftovers airtight in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Sweet, tart and bursting with key lime flavor, these fruity cupcakes will transport you right to the Florida Keys without ever leaving the house! I love the fresh lime flavor and the filling is such a zingy, perfect surprise to the sweetness of the frosting and lime cake.
Have a sweet day!
xo, Hayley
June @ How to Philosophize with Cake says
Those look fantastic! I love key lime desserts, so I’m sure these are awesome 🙂
thedomesticrebel says
You and me both, June! Thanks friend 🙂
Cynthia says
Is this recipe based on an 18.25 ounce or 15.25 ounce cake mix?
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Cynthia, since each brand varies, either will work.
Jen @ Baked by an Introvert says
No you didn’t! We are now officially bff’s, okay! I love key lime pie and adore cupcakes. This is the perfect dessert marriage!
thedomesticrebel says
I’m so glad you agree with me, Jen! xoxo!
SaraLily says
I LOVE KEY LIME PIE!! My mouth is puckering just imagining the sour tang!! Yum!
thedomesticrebel says
Thanks SaraLily!
Julia says
hay. I have to apologize for being snarky, but when I saw the title, I thought: “oh! key lime pie cupcakes! That’s something you can’t find in a box.” What was the first ingredient? Key lime pie cake mix. :/ I’m a little bummed.
thedomesticrebel says
I’m sorry you’re bummed, Julia, but cake mix is one of my favorite ingredients to use and doctor up. You won’t even tell it’s from a box! However, feel free to use a homemade vanilla cake mix and add lime juice to it for the flavor. It should work the same! 🙂
Liz says
Whoa, these look heavenly! 3 delicious components in every bite!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
I love key lime anything! Especially in a pretty cupcake form. These look amazing!
thedomesticrebel says
Thanks Kelly! xoxo!
Stacey says
These look fantastic! I bet they taste just as good as the photos make them look!
thedomesticrebel says
Thanks so much, Stacey! They sure are tasty!
thedomesticrebel says
Yeah you are! Keep it up, because I’m into key lime right now, too!
thedomesticrebel says
Right?! Knew you’d love ’em, Dorothy! xoxo!
Ashley | The Recipe Rebel says
I would definitely need a batch of these after a trip to any hospital, even if everything turned out okay in the end. Love lime and these look fabulous!
thedomesticrebel says
Thanks Ashley! I’m on a real lime kick lately 🙂
Nicole says
Love the color of these cupcakes! So fun!
thedomesticrebel says
Thanks Nicole! The color is super fun 🙂
thedomesticrebel says
Shelby – In N Out is AWESOME! I’m so lucky we have it everywhere in California because it’s so good every time!
thedomesticrebel says
Thanks J! xoxo!
Sandra @ A Dash of Sanity says
Wow! This is such a great idea, especially for summer get togethers. I love citrus flavors when it’s warm out! Pinning, Stumbling, and Yumming!
thedomesticrebel says
Thanks a bunch, Sandra! xoxo!
thedomesticrebel says
Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry about your family member! That’s terrible 🙁 I hope it all worked out!
Julia says
holy cow. where do these people come from?
*applause* to your response, domie-rebel. Totally enjoying your posts.
thedomesticrebel says
Haha, thanks so much Julia. 🙂 xoxo.
Laura says
um… Wow… I know what I’M doing today now! These are going to be such a delicious summer treat!!
http://www.cookwineandthinker.com
thedomesticrebel says
They’re so good Laura!
Sunshyne says
Hello where would I find key lime cake mix or could I use white cake mix
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Sunshyne! Feel free to use white cake mix and use lime juice for the water. 🙂 Easy!
bee says
I agree. My grandma makes apple brown betty tho.
Tracy says
I was thinking a vanilla wafer might be good at the bottom of the cupcake. To mimic a crust and to offset a bit of the tartness. What do you think?
thedomesticrebel says
That would absolutely work!
Tickled Tastebuds says
FYI… Tickled Tastebuds, a home-based bakery in Huntsville, AL, has been using images of your food to advertise her own product. Specifically, she is using an image of your key lime pie cupcake to sell her own using a compilation image on her Facebook account. I assume you would not give permission, but I also assume she has not asked for permission. The reply email listed here is her FB listed email address.
Kathy says
I was wanting to know if the recipe would be the same way if i wanted to make this as a cake?
thedomesticrebel says
Yes, that works!
Tracy says
I couldn’t find the key lime pie filling any other suggestions on what I can use?
thedomesticrebel says
Lime curd!
Jeanne says
Where do you find key lime cake mix? Can’t even find it anywhere on line… what brand is it?
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Jeanne, I think it was a seasonal item! But you can use regular white cake mix and add in fresh lime zest and lime Jello powder (just the dry powder) and that should work!
Chelsea Kimbro says
What kind and where did you find a Keylime cake mix? I’m having trouble finding one!
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Chelsea! It was Pillsbury brand but I don’t think they make it anymore. In a pinch, you can use white cake mix, add in 2-3 Tablespoons lime extract and a package of dry lime jell-o powder to the batter, then bake as normal!
Ashley M Davis says
I just made these tonight, and subbed lime juice for water in a white cake mix. But my cupcakes fell. They’re only like 1.5 inches tall now. Not sure what went wrong!
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Ashley, the lime juice is what caused the cupcakes not to rise. The acid in the lime juice probably had a bad reaction with the leavening in the cake mix unfortunately.