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The Best Easy Key Lime Pie Recipe

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As someone who has spent years perfecting citrus-flavored desserts, I can confidently say that this Key Lime Pie Recipe is perfection. The filling comes together with just four simple ingredients while still hitting all of the right notes of both sweet and tangy. If you love lime desserts, then this no-bake lime pie is about to become a family favorite.

A key lime pie with homemade whipped cream and a graham cracker crust.
Table of Contents

A classic graham cracker crust provides the perfect buttery base for this easy pie. It compliments the creamy texture and bright lime flavor perfectly. You can also make your life a bit easier and grab a store bought pie crust if you prefer.

No amazing dessert is complete without a generous dollop of homemade whipped cream. With just heavy cream, powdered sugar, and a splash of vanilla, you can whip up a topping that’s light, fluffy, and the perfect finishing touch to this pie. This recipe is proof that simple can still be incredibly delicious.

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What you’ll need to make key lime pie

The ingredients needed to make a key lime pie with graham cracker crust and whipped cream.
  • Graham Cracker Pie Crust- I love this simple crust made with graham crackers that is sweetened with brown sugar and held together with melted butter.
  • Key Lime Juice- While you can totally juice your own key limes, I prefer to use key lime juice from the grocery store.
  • Lime Zest- I love to use this microplane to get the perfect zest texture.
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk- The magical ingredient in this recipe, giving the filling just the right amount of sweetness.
  • Whipped Cream- Nothing beats homemade whipped cream unless of course your are trying to save time. Then I would substitute it with whipped topping from the supermarket.

How to make Key Lime Pie

  1. Make the graham cracker crust by combining the graham cracker crumbs and sugar. Add melted butter and mix it together. Then pour the mixture into a 9-inch pie plate and press down firmly.
  2. For the filling combine the sweetened condensed milk, lime juice and lime zest. Mix with an electric mixer until it is totally combined.
Making the graham cracker crust and combining the filling ingredients.
  1. Make the homemade whipped cream by combining the heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla in a large bowl. Mix until the mixture is thick and has stiff peaks. Add 1 cup of the whipped cream and gently fold it into the filling.
  2. Pour the key lime filling into the prepared graham cracker crust and refrigerate for 2-4 hours or until set up.
Adding whipped cream to the filling and pouring the key lime filling into the crust.
  1. Take the remaining whipped cream and add it into a piping bag {or zipper bag}.
  2. Pipe the whipped cream along the edge of the pie and then finish with additional lime zest and lime slices for serving.
Making the homemade whipped cream and adding it to the top of the pie before serving.

Tips for making Easy Key Lime Pie

  • Use a store bought pie crust and save time. There are some really great pre-made graham cracker pie crusts in the baking section of the grocery store.
  • Use store bought key lime juice instead of squeezing your own. This saves so much time and gives you all of the great tart flavors.
  • Give the pie plenty of time to set up. If you try to cut the pie too early then it will not hold up nicely.
  • Use whipped topping from the grocery store as a quick alternative to the homemade whipped cream. It is both affordable and ready to go.

Storage and Freezing Instructions

Store: Store this classic key lime pie covered tightly in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freeze: This easy key lime pie recipe can be frozen for up to 3 months, either whole or sliced.  Thaw the pie in the refrigerator.

Recipe FAQs

Why is using jarred key lime juice a great option?

First of all, have you ever tried juicing key limes?  To get a 1/2 cup you would literally need about 50 of those babies.  You know I am all about keeping things simple and thankfully you can buy Key Lime Juice at the grocery store in the juice aisle. 

Secondly, I live in a town where you have to go with what you have got.  There was not even a key lime in Safeway, so I used a regular lime for both the zest and garnish.

Can I use regular limes in this pie?

Yes, regular limes can definitely be used to make this pie but will give the pie a different flavor. Key limes are a bit harder to find which is why I prefer to use key lime juice.

Do I have to use a pie plate?

No.  This recipe can easily be made into key lime pie bars.  To make them, line a 9×9 baking pan with parchment paper before adding the homemade graham cracker crust.  Then pour mixture over the top and let it set up. Serve as directed.

Showing the inside of a key lime pie with graham cracker crust.

Do you love Citrus desserts? Try these recipes…

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A key lime pie with homemade whipped cream and a graham cracker crust.

No Bake Key Lime Pie

A delicious No Bake Key Lime Pie is nestled inside of a buttery graham cracker crust and topped with easy homemade whipped cream.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 10 slices
Calories: 559kcal
5 from 2 votes
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Ingredients

Graham Cracker Crust

  • 2 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup butter {melted}

Homemade Whipped Cream

  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • ¼ cup powdered sugar
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste {or vanilla extract}

No Bake Key Lime Pie Filling

  • â…” cup key lime juice
  • zest one lime
  • 28 ounces sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cup whipped cream {or whipped topping}

Instructions

Graham Cracker Crust

  • Add graham crackers crumbs and brown sugar to a large bowl and mix together.
    Pour the melted butter into the graham cracker and sugar mixture. Stir until all of the crumbs are damp from the butter and hold together when pressed between your fingers.
    Transfer the graham cracker mixture to a 9-inch pie dish or a springform pan. Using your fingers or the bottom of a glass or measuring cup, press the mixture firmly and evenly onto the bottom and up the sides of the pan.
    Transfer the pie pan to the fridge and chill for 30 minutes. Put the pie in the freezer for 15 minutes to shorten the chill time. This will help the crust set.

Homemade Whipped Cream

  • Add whipped cream to a mixing bowl with powdered sugar and vanilla, beat with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.  Note: If you accidentally over-whip the cream, and it looks curdled and heavy, pour in a little bit more cold heavy cream, and fold it in gently by hand with a spatula until it smooths out. 

Key Lime Pie Filling

  • Combine the key lime juice, lime zest and sweetened condensed milk in a large bowl and mix until combined. Add 1 cup of the homemade whipped cream to the filling mixture and gently fold into the filling. Pour into your prepared pie shell. Refrigerate for 2-4 hours or until set up. Top with remaining whipped cream and serve. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Notes

  • Purchase graham cracker crumbs in the baking aisle of the grocery store and save yourself some time.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 559kcal | Carbohydrates: 71g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 321mg | Potassium: 392mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 58g | Vitamin A: 895IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 273mg | Iron: 1mg
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5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)