
When I was five years old, I was so excited to take my first cooking class at the local community center. We made so many fun recipes, but my favorite part was when we learned how to make a cake. I remember feeling then—and I still feel now—a sense of amazement that you can take all these powders and liquids, mix them up, add some heat, and end up with a sweet and delicious cake. The first time I made this ginger key lime chiffon cake was for my birthday a few years ago, and from the first bite I was hooked (yes, I love to bake my own birthday cakes!). There are three layers of pillow-soft gingery chiffon, a rich and surprisingly tart key lime curd filling, and the entire cake is generously frosted with a silky smooth key lime buttercream. –Ryan