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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!

A creamy key lime pie decorated with whipped cream and limes in a 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!

Key Limes and one Persian Lime on a cutting board

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 limes that have been juiced in a strainer

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!

An overhead view of a Key Lime Pie with Whipped Cream, Lime Zest and sliced key limes in a graham cracker crust

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.

Sliced key lime pie on a plate with a fork

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

A slice of key lime pie on a plate garnished with key lime wedges, whipped cream and lime zest

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.

a slice of key lime pie with a bite on a fork

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.

An overhead view of a sliced key lime pie with a pie server

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

Prep Time: 30

Cook Time: 25

Total Time: 4 55

Yield:

Course: Dessert, Pie

Author: Tricia

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5 from 9 votes

This summer classic has a creamy smooth, tart filling and a sweet graham cracker crust. Use fresh key limes and plenty of zest for the best flavor!