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Key Lime Pie

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Sweet and tart, this Key Lime Pie is hands down the best recipe out there!  It only takes 25 minutes to toss this key lime pie together, and after chilling for a while, you’ll have a slice of heaven sitting on your tongue! This pie is seriously so creamy and delicious!

 

main image for recipe of a slice of pie with a fork full missing

 

With a crunchy, homemade graham cracker crust and creamy, smooth filling, this key lime pie tastes like you spent a million hours on it, but really it only takes about 25 minutes of prep work! It truly is a breeze to make. 

I’m certain you’ll enjoy this refreshingly cool and tastefully tart dessert. My mouth is watering just THINKING about it! 

 

All ingredients for graham cracker pie crust in a bowl

 

What is key lime pie?

Key lime pie is traditionally a custard-like pie flavored with the juice and zest of key limes. It can be made with or without a meringue topping (most recipes and variations I’ve tried have it without a meringue topping), and it can be made with a graham cracker, traditional, or no pie crust. This key lime pie recipe has a homemade graham cracker crust and no meringue topping. This is probably the most common combination, and I think it’s the best! 

Key lime pie originated in Florida around the 1930’s and is one of the most popular regional desserts in the U.S. 

 

graham cracker pie crust pressed all around a pie plate and ready to bake.

 

Why is it called key lime pie?

Key lime pie is called “key lime pie” because of the … drumroll please … key limes! Key limes are a smaller, yellower, and tarter version compared to “regular” store bought limes. The rind is much thinner and therefore the limes are more fragile. The key lime’s name is in reference to the Florida Keys. 

Key lime pie gets its name because key limes provide the bulk of the flavoring in the pie. Though almost identical to a classic lime these are definitely much smaller and have a tarter taste.

 

sweetened condensed milk, sour cream, key lime zest all in a bowl.

 

Can you make key lime pie with regular limes?

Yes, you can make key lime pie with regular limes! I’ve noticed a slight flavor difference, but both versions are very delicious. Because the flavor of key limes is a bit more intense and tart, that translates into a stronger lime flavor in your pie.

I know plenty of people who prefer to use regular limes because juicing a million tiny key limes takes longer and some don’t think it’s worth the extra time. I personally think the BEST key lime pie recipes use actual key limes, and that they are worth the effort, but try it both ways and decide for yourself! 

 

lime juice added to condensed milk mixture.

 

Key lime pie ingredients

For the graham cracker crust:

  • Crushed graham crackers – I like to use my food processor, blender, or a zipper bag full of graham crackers and a rolling pin. Whichever method you choose, just grind/blend/or roll those grahams into a nice, fine powder! 
  • White sugar – sweet and crunchy … you’re going to LOVE this graham cracker crust! 
  • Butter – melted butter will help hold everything together for the perfect graham cracker pie crust. 
  • Ground cinnamon – a touch of cinnamon lends a hint of warm spice to your delicious crust! 

For the key lime filling:

  • Sweetened condensed milk – using sweetened condensed milk saves you the effort of making a custard filling with egg yolks. And it tastes amazing and holds its shape so well!
  • Sour cream – sour cream is a great pairing with the key limes because it’s also rich and tangy! 
  • Key lime zest – those little key limes have thin rinds, but their zest packs a flavorful punch! 
  • Fresh-squeezed key lime juice – that’s about 20 key limes! They’re little guys, but they tend to be very juicy! I recommend using a manual citrus juicer. 
  • Whipped cream – you can’t have key lime pie without whipping cream for the top! 

 

key lime pie filling poured into graham cracker pie crust.

 

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How to make key lime pie:

  1. Prebake your crust:  You’ll want to make your crust and then prebake it.  Though you don’t have to prebake a graham cracker crust, I’ve found it slices better and is less crumbly if you prebake it for just a few minutes. 
  2. Make your filling:  Whip up your creamy filling and pour it into your prebaked pie crust.
  3. Bake your pie!  Time to bake that pie and turn your filling into a smooth and creamy, easy to slice pie!

 

zoomed in image of full pie. Pie is on the left so only half is in the photo.

 

How long does key lime pie last?

Leftover key lime pie can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Store in the original pie plate covered in foil or plastic wrap, or store in an airtight container. 

Can you freeze key lime pie?

Yes, you can freeze key lime pie! Key lime pie will last in the freezer for 2-3 months. I recommend pre-freezing the pie and then tightly wrapping it in plastic wrap or sealing it in a zipper bag for storing in the freezer.  

Why is your whipped cream dark?

That is a good question!  Shown in the photos is really just simply homemade whipped cream.  So it SHOULD be white.  There are two reasons it’s darker than normal.

  1. Vanilla.  The type of vanilla you use can affect the coloring of your whipped cream.  
  2. Lighting.  Lighting is so funny when your photographing something.  And in this case it would seem the lighting was off on the day this pie was photographed, which made the whipped cream look darker than normal.  No amount of editing seems to be able to fix it.  So you’ll just have to trust me on this one. 

 

Slice of Pie being pulled out of a full pie.

 

Does key lime pie have dairy?

This key lime pie recipe contains dairy. The crust is made with butter and the filling is made with sweetened condensed milk and sour cream. Unfortunately, there are no simple substitutions to make this recipe dairy free. 

 

slice of key lime pie on a plate with a lime slice on top

 

More Pie Recipes You’ll Love…

 

Full pie with two slices missing from pie

 

More Lime Recipes  You’ll Love…

This EASY key lime pie recipe is sure to impress the whole family! Who can resist the delightful tartness of limes in creamy pie form?! I certainly cannot. Fix yourself a pie and share with friends and family … or don’t, and save all this deliciousness for yourself! 

 

Yield: 1 whole pie

Key Lime Pie

Full pie with two slices missing from pie

Sweet and tart, this Key Lime Pie is hands down the best recipe out there!  It only takes 25 minutes to toss this key lime pie together, and after chilling for a while, you'll have a slice of heaven sitting on your tongue! This pie is seriously so creamy and delicious!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 17 minutes
Inactive Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 27 minutes

Ingredients

  • PIE CRUST:
  • ----------------------------
  • 1 1/2 cups crushed graham crackers (I use my blender or a ziploc bag full of grahams and roll my rolling pin over them till their are a nice fine powder!)
  • 1/3 cup white sugar
  • 6 Tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ----------------------------
  • PIE FILLING:
  • ----------------------------
  • 2 (14 ounce) cans of sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 Tablespoon key lime zest
  • 3/4 cup fresh squeezed key lime juice (about 20 key limes)
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. PIE CRUST:
    ----------------------------
  2. Preheat oven to 375*F
  3. In a small bowl combine graham crackers, sugar, butter and cinnamon. Mix well.
  4. Press mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a pie plate.
  5. Bake for 7 minutes.
    ----------------------------
    PIE FILLING:
    ----------------------------
  6. While crust is baking, in a medium bowl combine sweetened condensed milk, sour cream & key lime zest. Mix well.
  7. Add lime juice and mix well. Mixture should thicken immediately.
  8. Pour entire mixture into baked pie crust.
  9. Lower oven temperature to 350*F.
  10. Bake Pie for 8 - 10 minutes. DO NOT BROWN pie.
  11. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Chill pie for 4 hours before serving.
  12. When ready to serve, top with pre-made whipped cream.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 320Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 215mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 1gSugar: 21gProtein: 3g
Originally Posted: January 7, 2014

Photos &  Text Updated: January 18, 2021

 

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Michelle

Wednesday 22nd of January 2014

This key lime pie is top notch. With some KLPs, you can get a too-sweet fluffy texture, but this pie is the perfect amount of sweet with a really silky, creamy texture that keeps you wanting more.

Janelle

Thursday 23rd of January 2014

Thanks for the review Michelle! Key Lime Pie is something i think a lot of people fear but is much easier than they realize! Glad you liked it!

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