Carlota de Limón is a deliciously sweet and easy-to-make Mexican icebox cake made with key limes and layers of cookies. No baking required. It's the perfect dessert for any occasion.

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A slice of Carlota de Limon served on a white plate next to the cake.

Carlota de Limon, also known as postre de limón, is a refreshing and creamy Mexican lime icebox cake. It is sure to please any dessert lover.

Along with mantecadas, this was my favorite dessert as a kid.

Made with key limes and layers of cookies, this easy dessert is made with a handful of ingredients and doesn’t require any baking.

Two rows of galletas Maria outside of the package and one sleeve of the package.

This carlota dessert is made with Galletas María. Look for them in the Hispanic sections at the grocery stores.

You can substitute them with butter cookies, vanilla biscuits, or graham crackers.

📖 Origins

Some say it was an alternation of the “charlotte russe” invented by the French chef, Marie-Antoine Carême, who named it after the wife of Zar Nicolai I.
While others say it was named after Charlotte, the wife of King George III of England. Whoever the real inventor is left us with a delicious recipe.

🥣 Instructions

A collage showing how to a make the creamy mixture in a blender.

To a blender (or a large bowl), add sweetened condensed milk, fresh lime juice, and evaporated milk.
Blend until smooth, and you achieve a creamy texture.
Taste the cream mixture for good measure. It should taste like key lime pie.

I’m using the juice of about 10 key limes. If you are using regular, fresh limes, juice about 5-6. Be sure to remove any lime seeds that made it through the juicer holes.

Get a spoon and scrape out everything inside the can of sweetened condensed milk. Using vanilla extract is completely optional. Add 1 tsp, if using.

Along with the evaporated milk, that’s what gives this carlota de limón recipe its creamy consistency.

For a Creamier Texture:

To create a more cake-like texture, you can add cream cheese for more richness. Or spread a thin layer of whipped cream on top.

A collage showing how to layer the cookies and creamy mixture in a baking dish.

Next, get a large baking dish or casserole dish, and add about ¼ cup of the creamy lime mixture, spreading it evenly using the back of a spoon.
Then, add a layer of Maria cookies over the lime mixture, and pour a little bit more of the lime mixture on top, enough to cover the cookies.
Continue layering the cookies and lime cream until you run out of ingredients.

Mexican recipes don’t come any easier than this! And a great way to use up galletas maria.

You might need to break the whole cookies to cover the entire surface of the baking dish. Create layer after layer until there are no ingredients. I used almost 2 full sleeves.

Carlota de Limon in baking dish topped with lime zest and lime slices.

The top layer should be that of the lime mixture. That way, you can decorate the top.
Cover the dish with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 5 hours to allow the cookies to absorb the lime mixture.

Garnish the final layer with thin slices of lime and lime zest. Or, consider using a springform pan to show off the layers. Another way to show off the layers is to assemble it in a trifle dish.

Since you can make the “pastel carlota” ahead of time, consider making it for your next dinner party.

Carlota de Limon served on a white place with slice of lime and fork.

🍴 Serving

To serve, slice the cake into small squares. Serve cold. If you want to take it up a notch, serve with a drizzle of dulce de leche or fresh fruit like mangos.

Very important! Do not take the Mexican lemon cake out of the fridge just ready to serve.

Storing Instructions

When storing, simply cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to five days.

A fork cutting into the lime cake and showing the layers of the dessert.

🍰 More Mexican Desserts

Carlota de Limón is a classic Mexican dessert made with key limes and layers of cookies.

Easy to make, deliciously light and tangy, and can be made ahead of time. It’s a perfect no bake dessert for any occasion.

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Carlota de Limón

Carlota de Limón is a deliciously sweet and easy-to-make Mexican icebox cake made with key limes and layers of cookies. No baking required. It's the perfect dessert for any occasion.