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Key Lime Pie is one of our favorite summer classics with a rich, creamy smooth, tart filling in a lightly sweetened graham cracker crust!
Don’t miss this easy Key Lime Pie with a sweet graham cracker crust and a luscious tangy filling.
Wayyyyy back in 2011, I posted a new pie recipe every week for the entire year. This delicious, creamy, smooth and authentic Key Lime Pie was No. 31. That year I shared some of our long-time family favorite pie recipes, tried a bunch of new recipes, and developed a couple of new pie recipes too.
I’ve always loved making pies and was thrilled to share all the best recipes with you. Now with about 100 pie recipes on SRFD, you can find them under their very own tab on the Recipe Index!
What’s the difference between a key lime and a lime?
Key limes have a distinct flavor but are not drastically different than larger Persian lime.
Some people substitute Persian limes for key limes in recipes. While the pie may still be delicious, it’s just not the same. Personally, I think it would be a sin to make a true Key Lime Pie without using actual key limes. Just saying … I’m a purist when it comes to this recipe!
In the United States, key limes are grown in Florida, California and Texas. You should be able to find them in your well stocked local grocery store.
Key Lime Juice
It doesn’t take long to extract the juice of the key limes, especially if you use a juicer/press/citrus squeezer.
The citrus press is an inexpensive kitchen tool and a real time-saver when juicing lemons and limes. See the link at the bottom of this post for more information on some of our favorite kitchen tools. If you love citrus recipes as much as we do, it’s a must have!
Without a doubt this pie is one of our favorite pie recipes
While our kids were growing up, we often vacationed on Sanibel Island and that’s where our son Patrick fell in love with the ‘real deal.’ Sanibel is a lovely tropical paradise north of the Florida Keys so if you’re looking for a relaxing, soul-mending break, perhaps you can find it there.
There are many wonderful restaurants on the island but one of our favorites is Gramma Dot’s. They have one of the best Key Lime Pies and sell it either whole or by the slice. Take the whole pie ‘to go’ and enjoy! It’s the closest thing I’ve ever found to homemade.
We never use bottled key lime juice for our Key Lime Pie and normally prepare it with our favorite homemade graham cracker crust. Feel free to use a store bought crust if you prefer and especially if making more than one pie at a time.
However, homemade graham cracker crusts are easy to make. Made with only a few ingredients, it comes together in just a few minutes in the food processor.
Ingredients overview
For the graham cracker crust:
- graham cracker crumbs
- unsalted butter, melted
- granulated sugar
To make the key lime filling:
- sweetened condensed milk
- egg yolks
- fresh squeezed key lime juice strained of seeds and pulp
- fresh key lime zest plus more for garnish
For the sweetened whipped cream topping:
- heavy whipping cream
- sifted powdered sugar
- vanilla extract
Overview: how to make key lime pie
1. Prepare the graham cracker crust:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine the graham crackers and sugar in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse to fine crumbs. Add the melted butter and pulse again until well mixed.
If you don’t have a food processor place the graham crackers in a plastic bag and use a rolling pin to crush to fine crumbs.
Press the mixture into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool while preparing the filling.
You can also use a pre-made store-bought pie crust.
2. Make the filling:
Using an electric mixer or whisk, combine the sweetened condensed milk and egg yolks until smooth. Add the lime juice and zest and whisk again until blended. Pour the filling to the prepared crust and bake for 15 minutes.
Cool on a rack to room temperature then refrigerate before serving.
3. To prepare the whipped cream topping:
Using the whisk attachment on a stand mixer, beat the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until stiff but not dry peaks form. Pipe the whipped cream decoratively on top of the pie or spoon dollops over each piece as served.
Garnish with lime slices and additional lime zest.
Don’t let the summer go by without making a Key Lime Pie
Key Lime Pie is the perfect ending to a summer BBQ, or family get together. This pie will be served again this summer at one of our monthly family Sunday suppers. I may have to make more than one since our son will fight you for another slice or two 🙂
Pucker up and savor every bite of the creamy, velvety filling. Key Lime Pie practically melts in your mouth! This is a memorable dessert that anybody can make at home. Easy peasy 🙂
The classic combination of sweet and tart is heavenly
I like to serve Key Lime Pie with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream and more lime zest. The contrast of the sweet graham cracker crust and the tart filling is dessert perfection.
I hope you’ll give this pie a try – it’s super easy to make and tastes fantastic!
While most Key Lime Pie recipes are very similar, this is my version and our family favorite for many years
Key Lime Pie
Ingredients
For the graham cracker crust:
- 1 ¼ cups crushed graham crackers (one whole wax paper package – not the whole box)
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
For the key lime filling:
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 4 large egg yolks room temperature
- ½ cup fresh squeezed key lime juice strained of seeds and pulp
- 1 teaspoon key lime zest, plus more for garnish
For the sweetened whipped cream:
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 3 tablespoons sifted powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
To prepare the graham cracker crust:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the graham crackers and ¼ cup of sugar, process until finely crushed. Add the melted butter and pulse until well mixed.
- Press the mixture firmly onto the bottom and sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Bake for 8 minutes at 350°F. Remove from the oven and cool while preparing the filling.
To prepare the key lime filling:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk and the egg yolks until smooth. Add the lime juice and zest and whisk until blended. Pour the filling into the prepared crust and bake for 15 minutes. Allow the pie to cool on a rack to room temperature.
- Refrigerate several hours or overnight before serving.
To prepare the whipped cream:
- Beat the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until stiff but still a little soft. Using a pastry bag and large star tip, pipe large blossoms of whipped cream around the outside edge of the pie. Garnish with sliced key limes and additional key lime zest if desired.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Craving more Key Lime recipes?
Key Lime Icebox Cheesecake
A terrific summer dessert with a light and creamy no-bake filling, a not-too-sweet tart and tangy flavor, and a perfectly crunchy graham cracker crust.
View this RecipeKey Lime Pie Gelato
A deliciously creamy, tart and sweet Key Lime Gelato with ribbons of crushed graham crackers
View this RecipeKey Lime Pie ~ Ice Cream Sandwiches
Lightly sweet key lime gelato is sandwiches between homemade graham crackers then frozen before serving. A great summer make-ahead treat for the whole family.
View this RecipeWe love key limes and always look for delicious recipes using these wonderful little gems! Check out this creative Key Lime Fudge. What a special treat it must be. How about these Key Lime Margaritas?! I bet it’s so refreshing on a hot summer day. And finally, change up your weekend brunch with these Homemade Key Lime Waffles.
Originally posted August 2011, updated May 2018.
Katelyn
I’ve made this recipe so many times! It’s my go-to key lime pie recipe and everyone always loves it. Great recipe!!
Tricia Buice
Thank you Katelyn! Me too 🙂
Ray
I made this pie and love it! So refreshing and tart. But I do have a question. My pie seemed very thin as in height wise. Can I add another can of condensed milk or will I have to just double the filling all together. Thank you
Tricia Buice
Hi Ray! It’s all about the size of your pie pan. If you have one that’s on the smaller side, that’s the one I would use. Nine-inch pie plates vary greatly in size even though they all say they’re 9-inches in diameter. I have a variety of pans I use for different recipes. However, yes you can double the filling for this recipe and follow the baking directions found on our Lemon Icebox Pie recipe. Typically Key Lime Pie is thinner, perhaps because it can be very tart. But double the filling would be awesome too!
chalene
Excited to try this recipe for Easter dinner. How long does this keep in the fridge?
Tricia Buice
About three day Charlene. The crust starts to soften but the flavor is still fantastic. Enjoy!
Tara
This is by far the best pie I’ve made! It disappears before I have a chance to get a slice sometimes. I was wondering if you have ever tried to make this as a square?
Tricia Buice
Thank you Tara! I haven’t made it into a square but I bet it will be fine. Add parchment paper to the bottom of the pan leaving enough to hang over on two sides so it’ll be easy to lift out and slice. Enjoy!
Kamini
I lost my key lime pie recipe a couple of years ago. A week back I found your recipe, and I craved for this pie. For the holidays this year I made it. My entire family loved it. I used gluten free graham crackers for the base. I served it with blackberry coulis and whipped cream. Thank you for sharing your recipe. It is the perfect one. 🙂
Tricia Buice
Thank you Kamini! What a great holiday pie. Sorry you lost your recipe but so glad you found mine!
Alma Wright
I made two of the pies. I took one to sister circle at my church. The ladies had a fit over it. I had none bv to bring back home. The other pie had already been eaten. I will be making another one or two or more.
Tricia Buice
Thank you Alma! So glad you make this pie, it’s such a terrific summer treat. Fresh key limes make all the difference 😉
Brenda
Amazing recipe! Everyone raves about it!
Tricia Buice
Thank you Brenda! We eat this pie at least once a year, without fail 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it too.
Lisa
Made this yesterday for work and many people said it was the best key lime Pie they ever had. Thanks for the recipe. The hardest part was juicing all those little limes.
Tricia Buice
Thank you Lisa! It is a bit tedious to juice all those little limes but worth every minute!
Pamela L Clark
Can you do a key lime pie with meringue?
Tricia Buice
Hi Pamela – Yes! Key Lime Pie with meringue is very popular. Do you need a meringue recipe or do you have one? Thanks for the great question.
Gail Lewis
Interesting. When my husband dive the state of Florida a few years ago we had key lime pie from everywhere. Finally a local told us the best comes from a grocery store chain! Honestly it wasn’t any better than what I make with Joe and Nellies!
Tricia Buice
We adore key lime pie and could really get into drive across Florida trying them all (haha) Thanks!
Anna Banana
Your pie looks great, it reminds me of the ones that the legendary Captain Kutchie Pelaez bakes. Kutchie’s pies are very famous all over the country and seem to have everyone talking and raving about them lately.
Tricia Buice
Thanks Anna. I’m not familiar with those pies but I’ll try to check them out. Thanks for stopping by!