Key Lime Pie

This delicious Key Lime Pie has a homemade graham cracker crust, rich and thick key lime custard, topped with whipped cream, and garnished with key lime slices. My son’s favorite dessert!

The Best Key Lime Pie

This pie is one of my favorite desserts and I’m not the only one. I’m a sucker for cherry pie first and foremost, but my son loves this Key Lime Pie.

Between the rich, buttery graham cracker crust to the smooth, slightly tangy, custard, there’s so much to love about this Florida dessert!

And while there’s nothing wrong with the classic recipe, I made a few tiny tweaks to that famous lime filling that I feel really take this pie to the next level!

While the basics are still there, I also add in sour cream and powdered sugar. The sour cream adds a little extra tang and also helps to create a thicker and creamier custard. And the powered sugar adds that little extra sweetness.

So go ahead, and make this beautiful pie for your next summertime get-together. Your friends and family will be so happy that you did!

Key Lime Pie Ingredients

Graham cracker crumbs – You can buy these already in crumb form or you can use crackers and crush them in a food processor or smash them in a bag with rolling pin or glass.

Key lime juice – You can find these small key limes in the produce section of most grocery stores. Be sure to zest them before juicing them as it will be much easier. If you can’t find the fresh ones, feel free to use the bottled key lime juice. Nellie and Joe’s is the best! You will need some lime zest too.

Sweetened condensed milk – Be sure to use sweetened condensed milk and not just condensed milk or evaporated milk.

Pantry staples – Light brown sugar, salted butter, sour cream, large eggs, powdered sugar.

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How to Make Key Lime Pie

First: Preheat oven to 350F. Mix together graham crumbs, brown sugar, and melted butter. Press this mixture into a 9-inch pie pan. Bake for 10 minutes.

Remove and let cool on a wire rack while making filling.

Second: Using an electric mixer, combine the key lime juice, zest, sweetened condensed milk, sour cream, 2 egg yolks, and powdered sugar in a medium bowl. Pour the filling into the baked crust.

Third: Bake the pie at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Remove the pie from the oven and allow it to cool to room temperature. Refrigerate the pie to completely cool.

Fourth: Once refrigerated, garnish the cooled pie with whipped cream and lime wedges. Cut into slices and enjoy!

For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the end of this post.

How long does it last?

Cover any leftovers with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for 2-3 days. Freeze the pie by placing in your freezer, uncovered, and leave it until it’s frozen.

This generally takes about 2 hours depending on your freezer. Once completely frozen, completely cover (pie and container) with 2 layers of plastic wrap.

When your pie is completely wrapped, place in a freezer safe zip lock bag then put back in freezer. Fresh key lime pie will last for 1 month in the freezer.

Can I make it without eggs?

You traditionally make key lime pie with only the egg yolks. The yolks give the key lime custard a rich velvety texture.

However; if you cannot tolerate eggs, you can certainly make the pie without them and it will be delicious!

Another eggless option would be to substitute cream cheese. The cream cheese will actually give the pie an even smoother texture!

What is the difference between limes and key limes?

Not only are key limes smaller in size, but they have thinner skin, are more yellow in color, usually have a few more seeds, and a stronger flavor.

They have more juice than regular limes and you will need roughly 40 key limes to make 1 cup of juice.

Can I substitute regular lime for key lime?

You can, but the color will be slightly more green in color. And the lime flavor won’t be as strong.

Is it yellow or green in color?

Key limes have a more yellow color so if the pie is authentic it will be yellow and not green. A green pie means that regular limes or green food coloring might be added.

Can I use whole eggs?

Yes, you can use whole eggs in this recipe. But it will slightly change the texture of the pie. In classic key lime pie, only egg yolks are used. The egg yolks really do make it richer in flavor.

Adding the whites to the mixture will give the lime custard a light almost airy consistency. Different but delicious just the same!

Can I use condensed milk or evaporated milk?

Unfortunately, you cannot. Sweetened condensed milk, like this recipe calls for, has a lot more sugar in it than condensed milk.

Using condensed milk (also called evaporated milk) will create a very different consistency in the pie.

Can it be made into bars?

Sure can! Just swap out the pie pan for an 8×8 inch square pan. I have doubled the recipe and made a pie and a batch of bars at one time.

More Summer Recipes

• Lemonade Cake
• Easy S’mores Cupcakes
• Watermelon Pizza
• No Bake Fruit Tart
• Easy Spanish Flan

Tips for No Leftovers

• If you do not or cannot find key limes, you can substitute regular limes (also know as Tahiti or Persian limes).
• Can I make this pie without the eggs? I find that the egg yolks give the pie a richer taste and a velvety texture but if you prefer you could leave them out and the pie will still be delicious!
• Don’t over bake! Bake the pie until the center is slightly jiggly (about 15-20 minutes). Custard should be firm to touch but not completely liquid or totally solid. The pie continues to firm up while it chills in the fridge.
• Personalize this pie! You can finish it off however you choose. Some ideas to decorate are: topping with homemade whip cream, sliced limes – either in thin slices or quarters, lime zest, or do a combination of all 3!
• Can I make in a bar pan instead? Yes, use an 8×8 inch square pan.
• The pie is still slightly jiggly in the center after 15 minutes in the oven – should I continue baking it? No, the pie filling will continue to firm up as it chills in the fridge. If it is still very jiggly, continue to bake and check on it every 5 minutes. When you overcook it, it will become spongy rather than creamy.

If you love this recipe as much as I do, please write a five-star review in the comment section below (or on Pinterest with the “tried it” button – you can now add pictures into reviews, too!), and be sure to help me share on facebook!

Ready to dive in and make this easy but totally delicious key lime pie recipe? Be sure to whip up this beauty next time you have something to celebrate!

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