Key Lime Pie

Content… The Decadent Beginning Recipe Ingredients How to Make It Recipe Variations Tips and Tricks Make-Ahead Instructions Serving and Storage Instructions FAQs What to Serve More Fruity Dessert Recipes to Try Conclusion Watch How to Make It

The Decadent Beginning of Key Lime Pie

This deliciousness is a classic American dessert. Key limes, eggs, heavy cream, and condensed milk make the base. You can also create various versions, with or without eggs. Some enjoy it with meringue, whipped cream, or no topping. And choosing what crust to use – graham crust or homemade pie crust – makes it extra versatile. Whatever rocks your boat. 😉

No oven? No problem! Because you may opt for the no-bake version instead. Ditch the eggs and let the graham crust and whipped cream do their thing. Easy peasy!

Recipe Ingredients

First time baking? No worries because this key lime pie recipe is so easy to follow and doesn’t require any complicated techniques. As long as you have your mixing bowl and spoon, you’re good! 😉

• Graham Cracker Crust – You only need crushed graham crackers, melted butter, sugar, and vanilla extract to make the graham crust. The sugar holds it together when it bakes. You can replace the graham crackers with any cracker-like cookie (ginger snaps are my fave). And if you need a gluten-free pie, there is an excellent selection of gluten-free crackers that make a fantastic crust.
• Key Lime – It has a more robust and bolder flavor and a unique and more distinct aroma than regular lime. Don’t forget to add the key lime zest because it gives our pie its iconic key lime flavor.
• Egg Yolks – Aside from being a binder, egg yolks also add richness and a velvety texture to our pie filling.
• Heavy Cream and Sour Cream – I love the added kick of tanginess from sour cream. It provides another layer of flavor to the filling apart from just being plain creamy. You may use plain yogurt or Greek yogurt as a substitute.
• Condensed Milk – It thickens our luscious pie filling while adding creaminess and sweetness, too. Homemade condensed milk from scratch is super easy and more economical.
• Topping – Let’s keep it simple with a lovely whipped cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Aside from making our pie more enticing, it also balances its tartness.

How to Make Key Lime Pie

Make the Crust

• Grease the Pan – Grease a 9″x1.5-inch pie pan with baking spray or butter. Set aside.
• Crush the Crackers – In a food processor, add graham crackers and pulse several times until crumbs are fine. Or crush them manually, as shown in the photos. (Photos 1-2)
• Add Sugar, Cinnamon, and Melted Butter – Continue grinding until everything is thoroughly mixed. If using ground graham crackers, place all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly – proceed with the following steps. (Photos 3-4)
• Prepare the Crust – Press the graham cracker mixture into the prepared pie pan with the bottom of a measuring cup. Keep pressing until the crumbs are firmly positioned on the bottom and up the sides of the pan.
• Bake It – Bake until set, about 8-10 minutes, or until slightly brown. Then remove it from the oven and place it on a rack to cool.

Make the Pie Filling

• Slice and Squeeze – Carefully grate the skin to get the key lime zest. Then cut the key limes in half and squeeze out the juice. (Photos 7-9)
• Combine sweetened condensed milk, sour cream, egg yolks, key lime juice, and zest in a large bowl. Whip or beat the mixture to increase the volume and thicken it slightly. (Photos 10-12)

Bake and Chill

• Pour the thickened mixture into the warm graham cracker crust. (Photo 13)
• Bake, Cool, and Chill – Bake for 15-18 minutes until the filling is almost set; it should wobble slightly. Let it cool at room temperature for 30-45 minutes, then place it in the refrigerator to chill thoroughly, about 3 hours. (Photo 14)

Make the Topping and Decorate

• Whip – Pour the whipped cream into a large bowl and mix with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Then add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, and continue mixing until medium peaks form. (Photos 15-17)
• Decorate – Pipe whipped cream mixture decoratively on top of the pie. Alternatively, you can place the mixture on the pie without piping. Decorate the pie with the lime zest and lime slices. (Photos 18-20)
• Refrigerate – Store the pie in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
• Serve – When ready to slice, place the knife in hot water and slice into wedges, wiping your knife clean in between slices. (Wiping the knife produces a clean cut.) Serve cold.

Recipe Variations

• Meringue Topping – What to do with the egg whites? Make meringue! The airy texture is similar to marshmallow fluff, only lighter. I like toasting the top for the caramel flavor. Yum!
• Dairy-Free – Replace both cream and sour cream with equal amounts of coconut cream and a teaspoon of fresh lime juice. Then replace the evaporated milk with a dairy-free substitute for a dairy-free filling. Tofu with a teaspoon of lime juice also works if you don’t like coconut.
• Eggless – Go eggless with a no-bake key lime pie, just like my No Bake Key Lime Mango Coconut Cheese Cake Pie. Simply use the same graham cracker crust and the no-bake filling. As easy as 1, 2, 3! Oh yes! 😉
• Fruity Surprise – Shake things up a bit by adding a fruity surprise to the pie filling. You can add a half cup of pureed or sliced strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, or mango to our luscious filling.
• Chocolately Twist – Instead of the usual graham cracker crust, you can replace it with crushed Oreos for amazing chocolate goodness.

Tips and Tricks

• You can replace key lime with regular lime if you can’t find them. However, the taste will be slightly different, which is not a bad thing.😉
• Do not overmix the pie filling mixture to prevent incorporating too much air. Overmixing causes the filling to inflate while baking and then deflate after baking, cracking the pie’s surface.
• The filling should be a little jiggly in the middle. But don’t worry because it will set as it cools down and after chilling.
• Zesting the lime before juicing makes the job easier.

Make-Ahead Instructions

I highly recommend making this easy key lime pie recipe a day ahead to give it enough time to set before serving. The flavors meld beautifully, and the texture is so irresistibly good, giving this summertime dessert its soft melt-in-your-mouth goodness.

However, I suggest adding the whipped cream topping and decorations on the day of serving. That way, it’s easier to wrap the pie with a cling wrap and store it in the fridge to keep it fresh before serving.

Serving and Storage Instructions

This pie is best served cold. That is why it’s also the perfect treat this summer to help you cool down on a hot summer day. Along with refreshing, wholesome beverages such as mango or pineapple juice. Or fruity summer cocktails, like a hurricane and mimosa, to kick off the party.

As for the leftovers, you can cover the dish with a cling wrap or foil or transfer them into an airtight container before storing them. They will keep in the fridge for three days and for two months in the freezer.

Tip: Make sure to remove as much air as possible if you intend to store the pie in the freezer to prevent ice build-up and minimize curdling after thawing.

FAQs

What to Serve With Key Lime Pie

A perfect dessert needs equally deserving beverages, such as these refreshing drink recipes below.

• Tropical Sangria
• Strawberry Daiquiri
• Peach Bellini
• Pina Colada
• Rum Punch

More Fruity Dessert Recipes to Try

• Pineapple Upside Down Cake
• Passion Fruit Pudding Cake
• Blueberry Lemon Cake
• Strawberry Shortcake
• Patti LaBelle’s Sweet Potato Pie

Conclusion

This key lime pie recipe is the best you’ll ever make. No doubt about it because it has the right amount of sweetness and tartness, not too overpowering. Yum!! Are you hungry for more fabulicious recipes? Then sign up for my newsletter for the latest and greatest. 😉

Watch How to Make It

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”N4OP9BxK” upload-date=”2022-05-10T13:25:05.000Z” name=”KEY LIME PIE video.mp4″ description=”Feast your eyes on this perfect summer dessert that the whole family will surely love. It is made with a beautiful blend of creamy, citrusy filling in a buttery graham cracker crust – such a heavenly delight filled with creamy, velvety, and melt-in-your-mouth goodness with every bite.” player-type=”collapse” override-embed=”false”]