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Key Lime Pie – the summer classic with a creamy smooth, tart filling!
Don’t miss this easy Key Lime Pie with a sweet graham cracker crust and a luscious tangy filling.
Way 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 almost 80 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.
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 pies.
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 at least one Key Lime Pie.
Pucker up and savor every bite of the creamy, velvety filling.
The classic combination of sweet and tart is heavenly
I hope you’ll give this pie a try – it’s super easy to make and tastes fantastic!
Thanks for PINNING!
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?
Don’t miss our Key Lime Pie Ice Cream Sandwiches. You’ll want to hide a few of these in the back of the freezer just for yourself.
For a super creamy cold treat, check out our Key Lime Pie Gelato recipe too. The perfect summer dessert for any occasion and extra pretty served in a Margarita glass with a sugared rim.
We have another lime recipe you might like for Marshmallow-Almond Key Lime Pie.  It’s almost a cross between Key Lime Pie and cheesecake – yum!
We 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.
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!
Lori @ RecipeGirl
Gorgeous, my favorite!
Tricia Buice
Thanks Lori!
Susan
Almost missed this one! I’ve been spending a lot of time outdoors cleaning up the gardens before I start planting 🙂 What a gorgeous pie, Tricia. I love how you piped and garnished it. A perfect spring and summer dessert!
Abbe@This is How I Cook
I make this pie every year when Zoe comes home! It is THE BEST! So I went to Sanibel Island as a kid. Still have all my seashells from there and bring them out every summer. Would love to go back one day!
Tricia Buice
We love Sanibel and Key Lime Pie! Sounds like a great place for a blogger meet-up 🙂
Pam
Oh la la! That’s a lot of pies and this one would be my favorite. I love the pie but have never made one as no one else here likes it and I’d be forced to eat the whole thing. This just reeks of Key West to me, some of the best pie there. Thanks for the recipe, Tricia, I just might have to make it for company! Take care
Tricia Buice
Thank you Pam – I think you should make it for yourself. I bet somebody would try it and find out they really do like it! Happy Mother’s Day 🙂
John / Kitchen Riffs
Key lime is totally my favorite pie! We used to live in Florida, and I feel in love with it there. Yours looks terrific — it’s the real deal. Thanks!
Tricia Buice
Thank you John!
sippitysup
I’m just back from a trip to the Keys and it gave me a hankering for this pie. Well-timed Tricia! GREG
Tricia Buice
I hope you had a wonderful trip! I adore beach vacations – so relaxing. Key Lime Pie is perfect for such occasions 🙂
Monica
Looks perfect, Tricia. And key lime pie is one of those desserts everyone still has room for no matter how much they already ate at dinner! It’s just sweet enough but yet tart and interesting. It looks sensational and I’m wishing for a slice right now.
Tricia Buice
You’re right Monica! Key Lime is always a welcome ending to a meal, especially in summer. Thank you so much for stopping by!
Chris Scheuer
With each picture my mouth is watering more! This looks so wonderful and I’m glad you’ve republished it!
Tricia Buice
Thanks Chris!
Gerlinde
If I can find some key limes I will make this delicious looking pie. Have a wonderful week. Pinned!
Tricia Buice
Hope you get to make it Gerlinde – so easy and delicious. Love that sweet tart combo!
sue | theviewfromgreatisland
You are the Queen of Pies, Tricia, and this one is one of your best…I can feel my mouth watering as I read this post, pinning and sharing!
Tricia Buice
Haha – thanks Sue!
Liz
One of my favorite desserts and yours is picture perfect! I think my husband would love if I made a pie every week and maybe I’d finally get the knack of making pie crust 😉 Pinning this beauty!
Tricia Buice
A year of pies will do it Liz! My family was not at all upset about all the pies. Such a fun project. Thanks for pinning!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
Such a sunny pie! Love key lime pie and this looks perfection 🙂
Tricia Buice
Thanks Jennifer – love that tart and sweet combination 🙂
Angie@Angie's Recipes
Wish I had bought some limes today…this looks so sunny, beautiful and utterly delicious, Tricia.
Tricia Buice
Thanks Angie – I saw key limes in the grocery store and knew they had to come home with me. Thanks so much!
Penny
Hi – over from "Virginia Bloggers". This looks fantastic – recipe, step by step, and photos. Key Lime pie is my fav and I'll have to try this recipe! Must look around your wonderful blog for more good food….
lovesweatandbeers
I love key lime pie! It's a top 3 fav dessert for me, and I've been really craving it lately. I blame the heat…
Anna and Liz Recipes
Wow… I am so glad I just found your site! Its beautiful! I too love desserts and just started our blog a few months ago. I made a key lime pie this past weekend and plan to post it on Friday. Its our ultimate favortie pie this time of year. Thanks 🙂 I am now a follower!
thecompletecookbook
I have seen a few recipes for key lime pie the past couple of weeks but yours is the most most beautiful of them all plus it uses the same ingredients for the filling as my family lemon meringue pie so it has to be the best key lime pie ever!<br />:-) Mandy
Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking
Wow this pie looks amazing!! Key Lime pie is one of my favorites!!
Ashley@Piesandpushups
Oh my word! I just discovered your blog and I'm in love. Seriously – this may be my new favorite website. Your recipes look A-mazing – I'm not going to be able to sleep until I make this key lime pie! I didn't even know that was what I was craving until I read your post.
Tanna at The Brick Street Bungalow
Be still, my heart!! I love key lime pie. We vacationed once on Sanibel and I so enjoyed it! Riding bikes everywhere… The FOOD!! Is is Bubble Cakes, that odd little place with incredible cakes??? Oh, my. <br /><br />I know your son was overjoyed to get a whole one!! blessings ~ tanna