Best Key Lime Pie Recipe (2024)

5 from 7 votes

9 comments

March 12, 2019

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.

There is no better, more refreshing dessert than Key Lime Pie! Sweet, creamy and tart this Key Lime Pie Recipe will have you swooning.So simple to make with a small list of ingredients.

I am head over heels in love with this Key Lime Pie Recipe. Thrilled to be sharing it with you all today! After you haven’t made a recipe for some time and then experience it again all over again, it’s love at first bite. That’s what happened to me when I started testing this recipe. So sweet and tart yet creamy and smooth. The buttery graham cracker crust compliments the very limey filling and the whipped cream just takes it all over the top.

Best Key Lime Pie Recipe (1)

Key Lime Pie Recipe

This is an easy key lime pie recipe with a simple ingredients list. Just gather the ingredients outlined below and you’re good to go. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Graham Cracker Crumbs –every good pie starts out with a graham cracker crust. You can crush your own graham crackers here or just buy the pre-crushed package.
  • Butter –to hold the graham cracker crumbs together.
  • Granulated Sugar –to sweeten the crust slightly.
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk – this reacts to the acid from the lime juice to become thick. It also helps sweeten.
  • Egg Yolks – toensure the filling will set after baking.
  • Lime Juice –fresh is best. You can choose to use key limes here to stick to the classic pie or use regular limes.
  • Lime Zest –once again, fresh is best.
  • Whipped Cream –this is an optional garnish that is sure to make your pie look amazing.

If you love key lime pie, be sure to check out these other recipes:Key Lime Pie Sheet Cake,Lime (Tofu) Cheesecake,Lime Sheet Cake with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting andCoconut Lime Dessert Shots.

Best Key Lime Pie Recipe (2)

How to Make Key Lime Pie

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a small bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs with melted butter and granulated sugar until completely moist. Pour into a glass pie dish and press evenly into the bottom and up the sides. Bake 8 minutes until lightly golden brown.
  3. While crust is baking, stir sweetened condensed milk together with egg yolks, lime juice, and lime zest. Once the crust is pulled out of the oven, pour in the filling, smooth the top and bake for another 15-20 minutes or until set.
  4. Remove from oven and cool completely before covering and refrigerating.
  5. To serve, cut the key lime pie into eight even pieces and top with whipped cream.

Best Key Lime Pie Recipe (3)

Storing

This Key Lime Pie Recipe can last up to 5 days in the fridge as long as it’s covered with plastic wrap…not that I’m promising it will last that long. 😉

Freezing

You’re in luck because this pie can be frozen! Do this to make this pie ahead of time or just to keep it fresh for longer.

Freeze.Do not top with whipped cream before freezing. Wrap tightly in heavy-duty plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store in a freezer bag for up to 2 months.

Serve.Thaw in your fridge overnight, then top with whipped cream and serve.

Best Key Lime Pie Recipe (4)

More Pies to Try!

  • Lemon Cream Pie with Fresh Raspberries
  • Double Chocolate Silk Cream Pie
  • Mixed Berry Pie with Streusel
  • Homemade Pumpkin Pie
  • Banana Cream Pie with Toasted Coconut
  • Creme Brulee Lemon Pie

The printable recipe card is below, make sure to save it because this classic recipe is to die for. Enjoy! 🙂

Best Key Lime Pie Recipe (5)

PrintPrint Pin ItPin It

5 from 7 votes

Best Key Lime Pie Recipe

There is no better, more refreshing dessert than Key Lime Pie! Sweet, creamy and tart, this Key Lime Pie Recipe will have you swooning.

servings 8 servings

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 28 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 38 minutes mins

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  • In a small bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs with melted butter and granulated sugar until completely moist. Pour into a glass pie dish and press evenly into the bottom and up the sides. Bake 8 minutes until lightly golden brown.

  • While crust is baking, stir sweetened condensed milk together with egg yolks, lime juice and lime zest. Once crust is pulled out of the oven, pour in filling, smooth the top and bake for another 15-20 minutes or until set.

  • Remove from oven and cool completely before covering and refrigerating.

  • To serve, cut pie into eight even pieces and top with whipped cream.

Nutrition

Calories: 326kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 249mg | Potassium: 224mg | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 490IU | Vitamin C: 6.4mg | Calcium: 156mg | Iron: 0.6mg

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: how to make key lime pie, key lime pie, key lime pie recipe

Best Key Lime Pie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between Florida key lime pie and key lime pie? ›

Plenty of people like a dessert with a bit of bite and will appreciate the extra acidity that comes from Persian limes. The main difference is that it requires more aromatic Key lime juice to make the famous pie sing.

What makes key lime pie thicken? ›

Here's the science: The acid in the key lime juice reacts with the proteins in the milk to thicken the mixture. That's why you don't need to bake it. To be fair, there are lots of fancier key lime pie recipes out there.

Can I use regular lime juice instead of key lime juice for a key lime pie? ›

While the flavor will be significantly different, you can also use regular limes or a combination of lime and lemon juice. Key Lime Zest: If you cannot get fresh key limes, you can substitute regular lime zest. Make-Ahea​​​​d: This pie can be made up to 2 days in advance.

Why is Publix key lime pie so good? ›

Rather, the key to perfecting the Publix key lime pie is a simple ingredient added to the graham cracker crust. It's not the graham crackers themselves that make the crust special, but rather the unique addition of crushed toasted almonds.

What is a interesting fact about Key lime pie? ›

The sweet and tart pie reportedly originated in Key West, Florida, in the late 19th century. The use of sweetened condensed milk, an essential ingredient, is probably because fresh milk and refrigeration were uncommon in the isolated Florida Keys until the 1930s.

Why is my Key lime pie weeping? ›

As it turns out, undercooking and overcooking can both cause weeping meringue and unwanted moisture on top of your pie (aka beading). Overcooking meringue causes those little sugary drops of moisture on top of baked meringues.

Why isn t my Key lime pie green? ›

People expected their authentic Key lime pies to be green, matching the bright green lime color of the Persian limes they saw in their grocery stores. Key lime pie filling, however, takes its yellow color from the egg yolks used in its production.

Does Key lime pie need to be refrigerated? ›

How long will my pie last out of the refrigerator? We recommend to leave your pie out at room temperature for no longer than 4 hours.

What if I can't find key limes? ›

So if you can't find Key limes, go ahead and use Persian limes. You'll still wind up with a delicious summer pie. Just try to avoid pre-squeezed, store-bought juice; its flavor pales in comparison to the freshly-squeezed product.

Who made the original Key lime pie? ›

A widely reported story claims that William Curry's cook Aunt Sally invented it in the late 19th century.

What state is known for key lime pie? ›

It's generally accepted common knowledge that the Key lime pie was invented in Key West, Florida, where the key limes needed to achieve its signature tart taste grow in abundance.

What is Florida's favorite pie? ›

Key lime pie was invented in Key West, where Key limes are anything but scarce. Key limes are different from regular limes. Key limes are more aromatic, smaller, seedier and are more tart than regular limes. Key lime pie is the Sunshine State's official state pie.

Is Key lime pie from Florida Keys? ›

It's generally accepted common knowledge that the Key lime pie was invented in Key West, Florida, where the key limes needed to achieve its signature tart taste grow in abundance.

Are Mexican Key limes the same as Florida Key limes? ›

A key lime, also known as a Mexican lime or West Indies lime, is a type of hybrid citrus fruit commonly grown in the Florida Keys. They typically measure about one to two inches in diameter. Although they are picked when they're green, they actually begin to turn yellow as they ripen.

Is Key lime pie named after the Florida Keys? ›

They say key lime pie originated in Key West some time toward the end of the 1800s. As the story goes, one William Curry, a prominent Key West resident and Bahamian-born immigrant who became Florida's first millionaire, had a cook called “Aunt Sally” who concocted the first pie from key limes.

Is Key lime pie the official pie of Florida? ›

Key lime pie is synonymous with the Florida Keys. This citrus pie is the official state pie of Florida. Plus, there is an annual summertime Key Lime Festival in Key West, Florida. One bite of this pie is a true taste of the Florida Keys, a 120-mile island chain off Florida's southernmost tip.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Edwin Metz

Last Updated:

Views: 5912

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (78 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Edwin Metz

Birthday: 1997-04-16

Address: 51593 Leanne Light, Kuphalmouth, DE 50012-5183

Phone: +639107620957

Job: Corporate Banking Technician

Hobby: Reading, scrapbook, role-playing games, Fishing, Fishing, Scuba diving, Beekeeping

Introduction: My name is Edwin Metz, I am a fair, energetic, helpful, brave, outstanding, nice, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.