With its sweet and tart flavors, this key lime pie will tickle your taste buds! Easy to make, with just a handful of ingredients, this refreshing summer dessert features a simple graham cracker crust topped with a smooth and creamy key lime filling. A success every single time!

With its sweet and tart flavors, this key lime pie will tickle your taste buds! Easy to make, with just a handful of ingredients, this refreshing summer dessert features a simple graham cracker crust topped with a smooth and creamy key lime filling.

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When it’s hot and sunny, there is nothing better than a key lime pie. This effortless dessert is ready within minutes and will allow you plenty of time to enjoy the outdoors while it chills in the refrigerator. If you are new to baking pies, this classic American dessert is possibly the first one you should try. It always makes the most stunning effect on everyone!

With its sweet and tart flavors, this key lime pie will tickle your taste buds! Easy to make, with just a handful of ingredients, this refreshing summer dessert features a simple graham cracker crust topped with a smooth and creamy key lime filling.

What is key lime pie?

Key lime pie is an traditional American dessert, featuring a graham cracker crust and a creamy, sweet and tart filling prepared with condensed milk and the so-called “key limes”. The pie is named after the small key limes, a citrus hybrid, that is naturalized throughout the Florida Keys, the coral cay archipelago located off the southern coast of Florida. Yellow when ripe, key limes are smaller than regular limes (Persian limes), with more intense flavors. Although the authentic key lime pie recipe calls for the use of key limes, there is no harm in using regular limes in the recipe.

Why you should make this key lime pie recipe:

  • An easy summer dessert ✔
  • Very refreshing ✔
  • Sweet, citrusy and tangy ✔
  • A quick, no fail crust ✔
  • Only 3 ingredients for the filling ✔

With its sweet and tart flavors, this key lime pie will tickle your taste buds! Easy to make, with just a handful of ingredients, this refreshing summer dessert features a simple graham cracker crust topped with a smooth and creamy key lime filling.

Key lime pie ingredients

  • Key limes. This is the key ingredient of the recipe. Ideally you’ll want to use small key limes and juice them. Alternatively, use bottled key lime juice (yes, it exists for real!) or replace with regular limes up to ½ cup (120 ml) of juice.
  • Condensed milk. Make sure you go for sweetened condensed milk (versus the unsweetened version), since it’s the only sweetener in the filling.
  • Egg yolks. They help the filling to stabilize and bring some richness.
  • Graham crackers. Use Graham Crackers or similar biscuits for the crust (Digestive biscuits and Petits-Beurre can work too). Because they are already sweetened, I don’t find it necessary to mix them with sugar.
  • Butter. You need melted butter to moisten the Graham Crackers crumbs and create a malleable crust you can then press tightly into the bottom of the pie dish.

To these main ingredients of the recipe, you will need to add whipping cream, confectioners’ sugar, key lime zest and slices for decoration.

With its sweet and tart flavors, this key lime pie will tickle your taste buds! Easy to make, with just a handful of ingredients, this refreshing summer dessert features a simple graham cracker crust topped with a smooth and creamy key lime filling.

How to make key lime pie?

Key lime pie is an effortless recipe that won’t take you long to prepare. So if you’re new to baking, this may be a good recipe to try your hands on and level up your confidence in the kitchen.

  1. Start by making the crust (see in images below). Use a food processor to make graham crackers crumbs, then combine with the melted butter. Press tightly into the pie dish, and pre-bake for 10 minutes.
  2. Now, prepare the filling. Whisk together the 3-ingredient filling. Yes, it’s that easy!
  3. Assemble the pie, and bake! Pour the filling onto the crust, and bake for about 15 minutes.
  4. Chill, and decorate. Let the pie cool completely, then place in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours before serving. When chilled, pipe some whipped cream on top if desired, and sprinkle with key lime zest. Slice, and enjoy!

FAQ

Can I use bottled key lime juice? Yes, and it’s actually a great idea if you want to skip the effort of juicing all the key limes manually. Bottled key lime juice is not always easy to find, but when available it’s usually near the bottled lemon juice and bottled lime juice in your grocery store.

What if I only have regular limes? As it turns out, regular limes (usually called Persian limes) work perfectly to make a key lime pie. Just make sure to use the same quantity of juice, keeping in mind that you will need less limes than key limes (that are smaller).

When can I tell my key lime pie is baked? When making a key lime pie, you want to make sure you do not overbake the filling. While it’s usually done around 15-20 minutes depending on the oven, it should be firm to the touch, but not completely liquid or totally solid, as the pie will continue to solidify as it cools.

With its sweet and tart flavors, this key lime pie will tickle your taste buds! Easy to make, with just a handful of ingredients, this refreshing summer dessert features a simple graham cracker crust topped with a smooth and creamy key lime filling.

How to decorate key lime pie? There are many possible ways to decorate a key lime pie. My favorite is to top it off with piped whipped cream all around the pie, and sprinkle some extra key lime zest just before serving. You can also add some key lime slices (cut into quarters) to decorate the pie here and there.

How long in advance can I make it? You should always make the recipe about 4 hours in advance, to allow the pie to cool to room temperature and then to chill completely in the fridge. Key lime pie is also a great make-ahead dessert you can prepare up to a day or two in advance!

What can I do with the remaining egg whites? My favorite way to use extra egg whites consists in making the classic French Almond Tuiles. These thin lace cookies require a few ingredients and are a great recipe to scale, depending on how many egg whites you have at hands.

With its sweet and tart flavors, this key lime pie will tickle your taste buds! Easy to make, with just a handful of ingredients, this refreshing summer dessert features a simple graham cracker crust topped with a smooth and creamy key lime filling.

More ideas with key limes:

For the citrus lovers, try also:

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Key Lime Pie

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With its sweet and tart flavors, this key lime pie will tickle your taste buds! Easy to make, with just a handful of ingredients, this refreshing summer dessert features a simple graham cracker crust topped with a smooth and creamy key lime filling.
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  • Author: Delphine Fortin
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 25 mins
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
  • Category: Cakes and Pies
  • Cuisine: American recipes

With its sweet and tart flavors, this key lime pie will tickle your taste buds! Easy to make, with just a handful of ingredients, this refreshing summer dessert features a simple graham cracker crust topped with a smooth and creamy key lime filling.

Email me this recipe

We’ll send it straight to your inbox, along with weekly food inspiration!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 10.5 ounces (300g) Graham Crackers or similar biscuits
  • ⅔ cup (130g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 3 medium egg yolks
  • 1 14-ounces can (397g) sweetened condensed milk
  • ½ cup key lime juice (120 ml)*
  • 1 ¼ cup (30 cl) heavy whipping cream
  • 1 Tablespoon confectioners’ sugar
  • 3 or 4 key limes, zest and slices (for decoration)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C).
  2. Place the biscuits in a food processor and pulse a few times until it turns into crumbs (or place in a strong plastic bag and bash with a rolling pin). Add melted butter, and stir to combine.
  3. Press tightly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch (23 cm) pie dish, using the bottom of a measuring cup to flatten it out. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove and cool.
  4. Add the egg yolks to a large mixing bowl, and whisk with the help of an electric hand mixer for one full minute. Pour in the condensed milk, and keep whisking for 3 minutes. Add add the lime zest and juice, and whisk again for 3 minutes.
  5. Pour the filling into the cooled base, and bake for about 15 minutes (the center should be set but still a little jingling)**. Cool at room temperature, then transfer to the refrigerator and chill for at least 3 hours or ideally overnight.
  6. When ready to serve, softly whip together the heavy cream and confectioners’ sugar, using an electric mixer. Dollop or pipe the cream onto the top of the pie, decorate with lime slices, and sprinkle with extra lime zest. Slice, and serve!

Notes

* Ideally you will want to use key limes for this recipe. If you can’t find any, you can always use regular limes. Keep in mind however that since regular limes are larger than key limes, you will probably need less of them. Just make sure you use the same amount of juice, i.e. ½ cup (120 ml).

** Make sure you don’t overbake the pie. The filling should be firm to the touch, but not completely liquid or totally solid. The pie will continue to solidify as it cools.

Citrus, Easter, Fruit Desserts, Spring, Summer, Tarts & Pies, Thanksgiving

Did you make this recipe?

Lastly, if you make this Key Lime Pie, be sure to leave a comment and give this recipe a rating, letting me know how you liked it. And of course, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Thank you and enjoy!

 

With its sweet and tart flavors, this key lime pie will tickle your taste buds! Easy to make, with just a handful of ingredients, this refreshing summer dessert features a simple graham cracker crust topped with a smooth and creamy key lime filling.