Indulge in the zesty delight of Key Lime Quick Bread, a mouthwatering recipe that combines the tangy essence of fresh key limes with a moist and fluffy texture. Perfect for a tropical-inspired breakfast or a delightful afternoon snack, this recipe is packed with flavor and perfect for any occasion!
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Easy Key Lime Quick Bread
Are you a gardener? A few years back, I decided to grow limes and bought a small starter plant at my local store. When growing season came, the plant was covered in limes, but I noticed they never increased in size. They stay about one to two inches and when we picked a few off, they were juicy and flavorful. I asked a few friends for their thoughts on why my limes never grew bigger and was told I didn’t buy a lime plant, I had purchased a KEY LIME plant, ha-ha!
Since then, we have enjoyed our key limes each season and use them frequently as garnish in our Key Lime Martini’s, cocktails, in cakes, cookies, and more!
Tropical Inspired Key Lime Bread Ingredients
See printable recipe card below for exact ingredients and step by step directions.
Bread
- Butter– softened, I use unsalted since salt is added to the bread
- Sugar– adds just the right amount of sweetness to offset the tangy lime flavor
- Eggs– room temperature
- Lime Zest– fresh is best using a zester
- Key Lime Juice– simply squeezing them by hand is the easiest since they are small in size
- Vanilla– pure versus imitation is always better
- Flour– all purpose
- Baking Powder/Salt– this provides the rise and helps create the perfect texture
- Buttermilk– see substitution below if you don’t have any on hand
Glaze
- Powdered Sugar
- Key Lime Juice– fresh is best
How to make Glazed Key Lime Loaf
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare a loaf pan with grease.
- In a medium mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
- Add in the eggs, lime zest, juice, and vanilla extract.
- Add in the flour, baking powder, salt, and buttermilk.
- Stir until just combined.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and place in oven to bake about 45-55 minutes.
- While bread is baking, whisk together the powdered sugar and key lime juice.
- Remove bread from oven and allow to cool slightly.
- Pour glaze over warm bread and enjoy!
How to make Buttermilk Substitution
For this recipe, you need ½ cup buttermilk. If you don’t have any on hand, simply pour ½ tablespoon white vinegar into a measuring cup. Pour enough milk to fill up the measuring cup to ½ cup. Allow mixture to sit for about five minutes. Use in place of the buttermilk.
Storage for Key Lime Quick Bread
Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 4 days. You can also freeze this bread in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. It is recommended to not glaze the bread when freezing. When ready to enjoy, thaw and prepare glaze. Drizzle on top and enjoy!
Tips for the best Key Lime Bread with Glaze
- Mix batter until just combined. Be sure not to over-mix this as it will change the texture from soft, moist, and fluffy to dense.
- Feel free to add in about ½ cup shredded coconut for an added tropical inspired addition.
- No need to have the bread cool completely, you can drizzle the glaze over it while still warm.
- Grated lime zest on top of the bread just before baking is a pretty addition to the look.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between limes and key limes?
Key Limes are much smaller in size, and the juice is much more aromatic and more tart. More yellowish in color instead of green, and their skin is a bit leather like. It takes longer to juice since they are smaller in size. 5 Key Limes equal 1 Lime.
Can I use limes in place of the key limes for this recipe?
Absolutely! If you have limes on hand or simply cannot find key limes in your local grocery store, simply use limes in its place. The bread will still be great!!
What are the health benefits of key limes?
Key Limes provide a great amount of vitamin C, which can help you during sick season and can also help lower blood pressure.
Can I make this bread into muffins or small loaves?
Absolutely! I love to make mini loaves and save some for a later date, if making small loaves, decrease bake time to about 30 minutes and watch from there. If making muffins, line the pan and bake for about 25 minutes.
More Quick Bread Recipes to try
Blueberry EASY Quick Bread– moist quick bread stuffed full of fresh blueberries! Super easy to make and a perfect quick breakfast for busy mornings! A great way to use up those extra summer blueberries.
Brown Sugar Bread– quick to prepare and the perfect morning treat! Using only 7 ingredients, most of which you probably already have on hand, this comes together in no time!
Apple Fritter Bread– soft, fluffy quick bread that’s stuffed with apples, cinnamon, and sugar!! Like apple fritters in bread form!!
Cinnamon Roll Bread– everything you love about a cinnamon roll is baked into this Cinnamon Roll Quick Bread! Topped with cream cheese frosting, this is a winner!
Southern Peach Bread– comes together using only ingredients you may already have on hand! Packed with flavor and no yeast required, this will be a new favorite!
Snickerdoodle Bread– quick bread packed with taste! Pair with a cup of coffee or cold glass of milk, its a tasty treat anytime of the day.
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Key Lime Bread
Ingredients
Bread
- ⅓ cup butter *unsalted, softened
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon key lime zest
- 1 tablespoon key lime juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups flour *all-purpose
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup buttermilk
Glaze
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoon key lime juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a loaf pan (9x5).
- In a medium mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy.
- Add in the eggs, lime zest, lime juice, and vanilla extract.
- Add in the flour, salt, baking powder, and buttermilk stirring until just combined.
- Pour batter into prepared loaf pan (or mini pans/muffin pan).
- Place into oven and bake about 45 minutes or until golden brown edges and cooked through.
- While bread is baking, whisk the powdered sugar and lime juice together in a small bowl.
- Remove bread from oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes before removing from pan and placing on tray.
- Pour glaze over bread while bread is still warm and enjoy!
Shelly F says
do I just use lime if I can’t find key limes
Kristin says
Absolutely! That works great! Enjoy!
Annette King says
Is there some baking power in this recipe? It is listed up in the narrative but not listed in the ingredients.
Thanks!
Kristin says
Whoops! Good catch! Just corrected the recipe card to show correct amounts and ingredients! Hope you enjoy!
Summer R Russell says
I was wondering if there is a substitute for the buttermilk?
Kristin says
Absolutely! For each cup of buttermilk needed, mix 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar with enough milk to make a cup, then let it sit for a few minutes to thicken. I use this substitute in just about every buttermilk recipe since I almost never have it on hand anymore! Enjoy!
Kathryn Perko says
Instructions say to add lime juice to batter. No lime juice is listed in batter ingredients. only in the glaze. How much lime juice goes in batter please?
Kristin says
Good catch! I am correcting that now, should state 1 tbsp juice in the batter!