Key lime pie combines a tart, tangy, sweet, and creamy custard all in a beautifully toasted graham cracker crust that will have your guests so impressed!

This recipe is…

I don’t know why I had never made key lime pie before! It’s honestly one of my favorite desserts to order at a restaurant. I’m not sure if I was intimidated by the process (which I wasn’t familiar with) or had just overcomplicated it in my head (there’s just something so fancy to me about pie). In any case, I finally tried, and I’m SO glad that I did! This key lime pie recipe has easily become my favorite, go-to dessert based on the simplicity of the assembly process and the perfectly sweet and tart key lime flavor all in the creamiest custard. It also feels like quintessential spring, and I love it! 

There is actually some heated debate about exactly where the key lime pie originated. Some will argue that it originated in Key West, FL in the 1930s. There is also evidence that the Magic Lemon Cream Pie (which is a sweetened condensed milk citrus pie) was developed by the Borden condensed milk company in New York City about a decade before the key lime pie made its way to Florida (where pie makers swapped the lemons for the sweet and tart key limes that are indigenous to the area). Another theory is that the pie was first made by sponge fishermen around Key West in the 1800s. Regardless of where the key lime pie was truly born, it is a staple dessert that can be enjoyed in nearly every restaurant in the Florida Keys. 

Citrusy, sweet, and tart are the three words that come to mind when I think of key lime pie. Traditional key lime pie filling contains key lime juice, sweetened condensed milk, and egg yolks giving it a sweet and slightly bitter flavor. The bitter flavor (which comes from the highly acidic key limes) is balanced by the sweetness in the condensed milk, making for a really sharp, brightly flavored custard. It is truly the perfect marriage of fresh, sweet, and tangy flavors that dance on your taste buds. 

This recipe comes together SO easily (although juicing the key limes is a slightly tedious process, it’s so worth it!). Once you juice the limes, all you have to do is mix the filling ingredients together, pour over your crust, and bake! That’s it! 

Recipe Ingredients 

Just a few fresh ingredients deliver BIG flavor in this key lime pie. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

For the crust:

  • Graham Crackers – to make the crust, you’ll start with 8 ounces of graham crackers (we use these for gluten free) and…
  • Butter – 6 tablespoons of softened butter to hold the graham cracker crumbs together. 

For the filling:

  • Egg Yolks – you’ll start your custard with 4 egg yolks to make your custard thick, smooth, and rich. 
  • Lime Zest – the zest of one lime really enhances the key lime flavor and brings it to the next level. 
  • Condensed Milk – to balance the tart and tangy of the lime juice and zest, you’ll use one 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk.
  • Key Lime Juice – what would key lime pie be without the lime juice? For this filling, you’ll use ¾ of a cup of fresh lime juice. 

For the whipped cream:

  • Heavy Cream – to make your honey-sweetened whipped cream, you’ll need one pint (or 2 cups) of heavy whipping cream.
  • Honey – to add sweetness, you’ll use 1½ tablespoons of honey.
  • Vanilla Extract – 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract gives a subtle warmth to the whipped cream.

Ingredient Modifications

This pie is classic and does not leave a lot of room for modification, but here are some ways you can change things up:

  • Use a homemade pie crust – instead of the graham cracker crust, use a homemade pie crust, like this gluten free one
  • Sub for key limes – can’t find key limes at the store? You can sub the key lime juice for equal parts lemon juice and lime juice for a similar flavor profile. You can also use the more commonly found Persian limes (they aren’t as acidic or sour, so know that the authentic flavor will be altered). 
  • Top it – have fun with the toppings for your key lime pie! A personal favorite of mine is a honey whipped cream, which would also be really tasty spiked with some coconut rum if you are serving solely to adults. Meringue is also a popular choice that makes for a beautiful finish! 

How to Make Key Lime Pie

As promised, this process is super easy for any baking level! Here’s how you’ll make this sweet and tangy key lime pie:

Citrus juicer, glass bowl with lime juice, and juiced key lime halves on a wooden cutting board.
Microplane with key lime and small glass bowl with lime zest on a wooden cutting board.
Pie dish with graham cracker crust pressed down inside.
Glass bowl with whisk and condensed milk and lime juice mixture.
Pie dish with graham cracker crust and pie ingredients poured inside.
Mixer whisk being held upright with whipped cream on top.
  1. Preheat – preheat the oven to 350℉.
  2. Make the crust – place your graham crackers in the food processor and pulverize until you have a very fine crumb. Add the butter and pulse until the crust comes together. If you don’t have a food processor, that’s ok! Place your graham crackers in a large ziploc bag, squeeze the air out, seal the bag tight, then use a rolling pin or heavy duty bottle to roll over the graham crackers until they are broken into a fine dust. Then stir in your butter by hand. 
  3. Toast the crust (optional) – this crust is delicious as a no-bake crust, but if you want to add an additional depth of flavor, toast the crust in the oven for 10 minutes while you prep your filling. Remove the crust from the oven and let cool before adding your filling.
  4. Prep the filling – to make the filling, start by beating the egg yolks and lime zest together in a bowl. Then add the condensed milk and beat to combine. Last, add the lime juice and whisk one final time. 
  5. Fill the crust – to your pie pan, pour the filling over the cooled crust.
  6. Bake – bake for 10 minutes. 
  7. Let cool and chill – remove your pie from the oven and let it cool on the counter (until your pie dish is cool to the touch) before covering and transferring to the fridge to finish setting. 
  8. Make the whipped cream – add the heavy cream, honey, and vanilla extract to a stand mixer or large bowl and whip the ingredients until soft peaks form.
  9. Serve and enjoy! – add desired garnish (additional lime zest, sliced key limes), top with whipped cream and enjoy! 

Your key lime pie is done baking when the middle is slightly jiggly and firm. The custard will set more as it cools, but you don’t want it to be liquidy. After 10 minutes of baking, give the pan a gentle shake to see how much jiggle you get in the custard. Bake an additional 2-3 minutes if it is still liquidy. 

Why does my key lime pie taste bitter?

Key limes are inherently bitter since they are smaller and more acidic than regular limes. A pinch of salt can go a long way to counter the bitterness if you prefer.

How do you thicken key lime pie?

The egg yolks and how they interact with the condensed milk are key to a thick key lime filling. I found that 4 yolks are the perfect amount for a nice, thick custard.

Should key lime pie be served cold?

To allow for the filling to be fully set, it is best to serve key lime pie cold.

How do you store key lime pie?

To store your leftover key lime pie, tightly wrap the pie pan or transfer slices into an airtight container (so the cool fridge air doesn’t dry out the top) and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Can you freeze key lime pie?

Yes! You can freeze key lime pie for one month. Make sure that it is wrapped or sealed tightly in the pan or an airtight container to protect against freezer burn. To defrost, set your pie out on the counter for 15-20 minutes or allow it to thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.

Key Lime Pie

5 — Votes 27 votes
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 35 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Key lime pie combines a tart, tangy, sweet, and creamy custard all in a beautifully toasted graham cracker crust that will have your guests so impressed!

Ingredients  

For the crust:

For the filling:

  • 4 egg yolks
  • zest of one lime
  • 14- oz can sweetened condensed milk
  • 3/4 cup key lime juice, fresh

For the whipped cream:

  • 1 pint (or 2 cups) heavy whipping cream
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350℉.
  • Place your graham crackers in the food processor and pulverize until you have a very fine crumb. Add the butter and pulse until the crust comes together. If you don’t have a food processor, place your graham crackers in a large ziploc bag, squeeze the air out, seal the bag tight, then use a rolling pin or heavy duty bottle to roll over the graham crackers until they are broken into a fine dust. Then stir in your butter by hand.
  • (optional) Toast the crust in the oven for 10 minutes while you prep your filling. Remove the crust from the oven and let cool before adding your filling.
  • Beat the egg yolks and lime zest together in a bowl. Then add the condensed milk and beat to combine. Last, add the lime juice and whisk one final time until all ingredients are incorporated.
  • Pour the filling over the cooled crust.
  • Bake for 10 minutes.
  • Remove the pie from the oven and let it cool on the counter (until your pie dish is cool to the touch) before covering and transferring to the fridge to finish setting.
  • Add ingredients for the whipped cream into a stand mixer or large bowl and whip until soft peaks form. 
  • Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Make 12 mini key lime pies:
  • Follow the same preparation instructions. 
  • Line cupcake tin with liners.
  • Pack 2 tablespoons of graham cracker crust mixture in the bottom of each tin. 
  • Pour the key lime custard mixture into the cupcake tins, filling almost to the top.
  • Bake at 350℉ for 10 minutes. Let cool and remove to a dish to finish setting in the fridge.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 353kcal | Carbohydrates: 31.7g | Protein: -12g | Fat: 23.7g | Saturated Fat: 13.1g | Cholesterol: 149mg | Sodium: 233.7mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12.2g

Additional Info

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 353
Keyword: dessert, pie

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Melissa Guevara


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50 Comments

  1. I’ve made it several times and it’s easy and delicious. If I might make a few suggestions, I might reference a pie dish size, as well as an approximate number of graham crackers equal to 8oz., for those that are just starting out! It’s the best recipe for Key Lime Pie I’ve tried! Thank you!

    1. Those are great ideas, Marilyn! Thank you! We are so happy you loved it!

  2. 5 stars
    This was so yummy! It was very easy to make and my family loved it. I have all her cookbooks and switch back and forth all the time.

  3. 5 stars
    My husband LOVES key lime pie and when I saw the Fed and Fit version I had to try it! It was delicious! Just as Iโ€™ve come to expect with any recipe I get from fedandfit.com! Thanks to Cassy and the team for this one! Itโ€™s a winner!!

    1. Aw, thank you so much for sharing this with us, Adrienne! We’re so glad you loved it!

  4. 5 stars
    This pie smells amazing as it’s baking and cooling! My family kept circling around wanting to know when it was done. It’s fine (though not as pretty) if someone just decides to cut into it when it’s not cool yet, just in case you’re wondering. It is much prettier if you wait until it’s thoroughly chilled. ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. We’re so glad everyone enjoyed it, Brighid! Thanks so much for taking the time to share this with us!

  5. This was light, creamy, and delicious! I made it as written, and the whole family gave it rave reviews. Next time, I might try it with coconut milk instead. Thank you so much for all your tireless workโ€ฆI look forward to your emails each and every week!

    1. Wahoo! We’re so glad you all loved it, Andrea! Thanks so much for sharing this with us!

  6. 5 stars
    I made one pie using a pre-made crust and one pie with the homemade crust from this recipe. Both were delicious! To get 3/4 cup of key lime juice took about 20 key limes. Lastly, fresh whipped cream beats merengue any day, and this whipped cream recipe is simple and soooo good. A+

    1. That’s awesome, Brittany! We’re so glad you loved this recipe. Thanks so much for sharing this with us!

  7. 5 stars
    My kids (age 5 & 7) and I just made this recipe this evening for my husbandโ€™s birthday. It was fantastic! Easy to make, kids could help with all the mixing and it turned out super well. Perfectly sweet and tart and the taste of summer coming soon! We will definitely make this again!

    1. That’s amazing, Alison! So fun that your kiddos helped! We’re so glad everyone loved it!

  8. 5 stars
    this was amazing! I made it in a muffin tin for easy serving and storage. thank you for all the great recipes!

    1. Great idea, Rebekah! We’re so glad you loved this recipe!

  9. 5 stars
    So so good! And who knew key lime pie was so easy to make?!? This will for sure go in the rotation!

    1. We’re so glad you love this recipe, Kristan! Thanks so much for sharing this with us!

  10. 5 stars
    This pie was delicious. I didn’t realize how easy it was to make Key Lime Pie at home!