AmericanMedium · Warm Room Temp
A tender, golden cake made with coconut oil and bright lime, finished with a simple lime glaze. The kind of cake that fills the kitchen with warmth and makes everyone feel at home.
15 min
32 min
47 min
Method
Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 175C (350F). Line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the long sides.
In a small bowl, combine 3 tbsp coconut oil and the lime zest. Stir well and set aside near the stove — this blooms the lime into the fat.
In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.
In a separate large bowl, whisk together the remaining 1/4 cup melted coconut oil, 2 tbsp lime juice, vanilla extract, eggs, and whole milk until smooth.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Add the coconut oil and lime zest mixture. Stir with a wooden spoon until just combined — a few small lumps are fine. Do not overmix.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake 28-32 minutes, until the top is deep golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Run a knife along the edges, then lift the cake out using the parchment overhang. Cool directly on the rack another 10 minutes.
In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioner's sugar, melted butter, vanilla extract, and 2 tbsp lime juice until smooth and pourable.
Drizzle the lime glaze over the top of the slightly warm cake. Let the glaze set for 5 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Nutri-Score
Needs balance
A–E · lower is better · score 18
Calories
425
per serving
Protein
5g
Carbs
60g
Fat
19g
Sat. fat
16g
Fiber
1g
Sugar
28g
Sodium
319mg
Nutri-Score is a general nutritional-balance guide, not medical or dietary advice.
Environmental impact
Moderate impact
A–E · lower is better · includes estimates
kg CO2e
0.3
per serving
Water
0.3m³
Land
15Pt
Runoff
0.04g P
whole milk drives 28% of this recipe’s estimated footprint.
Carbon from Poore & Nemecek 2018; water, land & runoff from Agribalyse — modelled averages for comparing recipes, not a measurement of your groceries.
Flavor Profile
Umami
Sweet
Salty
Sour
Bitter
Spicy
Textures
Aromas
Kitchen Equipment
Primary Tool
9x5 Loaf PanTechniques
Safety & Storage
Cooking Temperature
Ensure oven reaches 175C (350F) before baking. Bake for full 28-32 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean to ensure eggs are fully cooked.
Cross Contamination
Use separate bowls and utensils for dry and wet ingredients. Avoid using the same wooden spoon for multiple mixing stages without washing between uses.
Storage
Store cake in airtight container in refrigerator due to dairy content from milk and butter glaze. Bring to room temperature before serving for best texture.
Shelf Life
Cake with dairy components (milk and butter) maintains best quality for 3-4 days refrigerated. Glaze adds sugar content which can accelerate staleness.
High Risk Population
Batter contains raw eggs before baking. Vulnerable populations (immunocompromised, elderly, pregnant individuals, young children) should ensure cake is fully baked before consuming.
Handling
Handle coconut oil carefully when melted as it can cause burns. Cool cake adequately before glazing to prevent glaze from melting off. Use parchment paper overhang to safely lift hot cake from pan.
Pro Tips
Technique
Let the coconut oil and lime zest sit together before you add them — just a few minutes near the warmth of the stove blooms that lime into the fat, so every bite carries that bright citrus aroma instead of just the juice.
Substitution
No cornmeal on hand? Use fine polenta — it behaves almost identically and gives the same tender, sandy crumb. Just make sure it is fine, not the coarse Italian kind, or the texture will be too gritty.
From the chef
This golden loaf gets its tenderness from coconut oil worked through the batter twice — once with the lime zest bloomed right into the fat, so the citrus clings to every crumb. The cornstarch keeps the crumb tight and delicate, and when you pull it from the oven the top cracks just slightly, the way a good coastal cake should. The lime glaze goes on while the loaf is still warm so it soaks in at the edges. Bright, not sweet-heavy, with that coconut warmth underneath. Slice it thick and serve it the same day.
Source: generated · June 12, 2026