Hundreds of comments from first-time bakers and veterans alike rave about this Key Lime Pie recipe! With a 3-ingredient graham cracker crust, 5-ingredient filling, and my easy, step-by-step instructions, you’ll wow your family and friends with this sweet-tart and creamy pie!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ One Reader said: “This pie was DELICIOUS! It was my first time making a key lime pie, and it was sooo simple. The taste is spot on! I used regular limes. The flavors were very well balanced. I’ll be making another one soon. There were NO leftovers! YUMMM!”
Why You Should Make This Key Lime Pie Recipe
This Key Lime Pie has been one of the most popular recipes on my site since 2018. Over the years, hundreds of people, from first-time bakers to seasoned pros, have shared their successes and tips in the comments here and on Pinterest.
Key Lime Pie is probably my all-time favorite dessert, though Mud Pie is a close second. I typically make it with the quick graham cracker crust, but I also love it with nuts (try Macadamia nuts!) or this cookie pie crust.
I’ve used Key Limes when they are available and in season, but this pie is just as delicious using “Persian” limes, which are your basic grocery store variety and are way better than using the sometimes off-tasting bottled key lime juice.
A pie loved by millions, I hope to make you a KLP lover too! Trust the process and the shared experiences of our baking community! You CAN do it!
Plan Ahead for Easy Key Lime Pie – It needs to CHILL!
It does take a bit of pre-planning as it needs to cool and then chilled a couple of hours before being eaten, but WOW! If you are a key lime anything lover you will L O V E this crazy good Key Lime Pie!
Watch how easy it is to make key lime pie
The original recipe is an award-winning Key lime Pie recipe! In fact, several readers have won ribbons for first place with this recipe at state and county fairs. So if you are looking for the best, perfect Traditional Key Lime Pie recipe you have found it!
Easy Key Lime Pie Recipe Ingredients
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: provides a silky, creamy, sweet texture. I use organic.
- Sour Cream: I use full fat, but several readers have used full-fat fat thick plain Greek yogurt too!
- Zest from Key Limes: Usually available in the produce department or you may use Persian limes too (that’s your regular lime).
- Key Lime Juice: If you can find real key limes, they make a difference, if you cannot, Persian limes will work and taste delicious! And if you must use bottled key lime juice; purchase quality key lime juice.
- Egg Yolks: Help to thicken the cream pie filling, you may omit them for an egg free key lime pie, it will be a bit looser but the pie will still set up.
- Graham Cracker Crust Ingredients: finley crushed graham crackers, sugar and butter. You may also use gluten-free graham crackers, or be creative and use gingersnaps, biscoff cookies or your favorite crust!
How to Make an Easy Graham Cracker Crust
- Start by making the crust, as it will need to bake and cool prior to placing your filling in it.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175° C) and gather your ingredients.
- Melt the butter and set aside, I love my butter melter, I still do it on the stovetop, so my microwave doesn’t get splattered.
4. In a food processor or blender (I used my Ninja – love it!) whir your crackers into fine crumbs. Or place crackers in a gallon sized freezer baggie, crush your graham crackers; if using a baggie, I like to hand break them, then using a rolling pin, roll back and forth until the crumbs are about the same size.
5. 1 ½ – 2 sleeves of graham cracker equals about 2 cups. You can use store bought Graham Cracker Crumbs, but honestly it’s so easy and fresh to make your own.
6. Pour in sugar, pulse a few times, then pour in butter and pulse, or just mix with a fork as I’ve done here.
7. Reserve about ⅛ cup of graham cracker crumbs for topping, if desired.
8. Press the graham mixture into your pie plate. I chose a 9″ rimmed deep dish pie plate, so I could easily press the crumbs all of the way up the edges.
9. Using my knuckles, I gently pressed into the sides and smoothed the edges/tops creating a pretty fluted edge.
Carefully place the crust in the preheated oven and bake for 6-8 minutes. You want it golden, not brown.
Success Tips for Cooling Graham Cracker Crust Quickly
- Allow to cool on a cooling rack for 10 minutes, then place in freezer for 20 minutes until pie plate is cool to the touch.
- Careful you don’t put it somewhere it will get scraped or bumped, the crust is still rather fragile. While the crust cools, make your key lime filling.
How to Make Key Lime Pie
This traditional key lime pie recipe takes a bit of planning, but it’s so easy and so worth it, every sweet-tart pucker-powered bite.
- Wash and dry the limes and get out your zester, zesting just the green part of the lime, not into the bitter white “pith.”
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2. Juice the limes, this hand juicer works like a charm and is probably the MOST used tool in my kitchen, besides my favorite knife and mini measuring cup, is that weird?
3. It took 24 Key Limes to get a little over ⅔ of a cup of juice, plus 1 Persian lime to get it up to ¾ cup lime juice. I reserved one key lime to use as garnish.
I prefer fresh lime juice over bottled juice, but if you must use bottled, I like Nellie & Joe’s Key Lime Juice best.
How to Thicken Key Lime Filling
- Now that you’ve done the hardest part, pour the sweetened condensed milk, sour cream, key lime juice, egg* yolks and lime zest into the bowl of a mixer (I love this type of recipe, where you just dump and mix).
- Beat on low until combined, then increase speed and beat medium-high for 2-3 minutes. Scraping down the sides every now and then. It should be thick and creamy, nice and thick, whip longer if it’s still a bit runny.
- Pour mixture into cooled graham cracker crust.
To ensure a firm key lime filling, beat it on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes or whisk vigorously. Bake at the correct temperature until set; it will further firm up as it cools.
How to bake the Best Key Lime Pie
- Bake in a preheated 350°F (175° C) oven, 15-20 minutes, just until filling wiggles a bit in the center when gently shaken back and forth, don’t allow it brown.
- Cool on wire rack for 30 minutes, then place in fridge for at least 3 hours before serving (you can still serve earlier, it just won’t be quite as set as it will a bit later. I personally recommend you bake it the day before you need it.
A beauty isn’t it! While the pie is cooling, make your whipped cream, it’s optional, but does add a beautiful touch.
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How to Make Stabilized Whipped Cream
- In a cool mixing bowl (sometimes I’ll put mine in the freezer for a few minutes if it’s a hot day) pour your cold whipping cream (heavy cream) into the mixing bowl and using a hand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment and whip on high speed until stiff peaks form. See my homemade whipped cream recipe.
- Add in powdered sugar and vanilla extract and continue to whip until firm, more firm than you are used to, you want it nice and thick, almost to butter!
- Scoop whipped cream into a piping bag with a tip (this is a good starter set), and keep in the coldest part of your fridge until the pie is completely cooled and ready to serve.
How to pipe whipped cream without a pastry bag
Simply scoop whipped cream into a sandwich baggie and once ready to pipe, snip off a corner to desired size — about ½ inch), pipe as desired.
Garnish, if desired with a whipped cream, slices of lime, reserved graham cracker crumbs, and grated lime zest.
Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
Best Key Lime Pie variations and substitutions
- Use Store-Bought Crust | While a homemade graham cracker crust is not only easy but delicious, you may substitute it for your favorite store-bought graham cracker crust.
- Swap Persian Limes for Key Limes, not quite as limey, but still delicious.
- Use Nellie & Joe’s Key Lime Juice and skip juicing altogether.
- Use plain Greek Yogurt instead of sour cream.
How to make Mini Key Lime Pies
I love when my readers get creative, make it their own! A reader reached out to me to see if she split it into mini pie pans how long she should bake them and here’s her response.
Best Key Lime Pie Recipe FAQs
YES! Easily convert this recipe to gluten free, by substituting gluten free grahams.
EGG FREE Key Lime Pie | Simply omit the eggs, it won’t be quite as creamy, but it will still set up!
You may omit the egg yolks if needed; they provide some of the lift and lightness, enhance the color and creaminess of the pie, but it should still set up just fine.
Yes, I have many readers who make their key lime pie using a store bought graham cracker crust, I have some who have made it with a delicious cookie crust (yum!) and others who have used a regular pie crust.
If you can’t find fresh Key Limes in the store, I can tell you that I’ve used regular (larger) Persian limes for other Key Lime recipes; it’s not quite as tart, so I’ll add another lime or two worth of zest, but otherwise it’s delicious.
– Leftover sweetened condensed milk? Check out this post from Bon Appétit and this one from Serious Eats for some great ideas.
– My personal favorite is drizzling over hot cinnamon rolls.
– I could see using it in place of Creme Anglaise in this Chocolate Bread Pudding.
– Drizzle a little in your coffee, yum!
– Be sure transfer to a glass jar and refrigerate.
Eight minutes worked perfectly for the mini pies! This recipe made 12 mini pies and they were delicious!
~ Jennifer
Recipe adapted from Souffle Bombay.
Let me know if you enjoyed making this award winning key lime pie recipe! Pop down below the recipe to the comments!
Recipes that complement Key Lime Pie!
- Start with a light and vibrant Mediterranean Dip
- Maybe a flavorful Shawarma Chicken for the main dish or this Easy Cheesesteak Sandwich.
- Wash it all down with this crisp Colorado Mule
More Fantastic Cool Desserts:
- Fried Ice Cream Cake | Yum and Yum!
- Easy Dirt Cake | I make this at Easter, but no reason you can’t make all year long!
- Mile High Mud Pie | an outstanding dessert, requiring no baking!
- Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream | amazingly easy, creamy and delicious!
- Strawberry Shortcake — the old fashioned kind with a chewy cookie cake.
- Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake | a must try for chocolate lovers
- Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream | I think I’ve died and gone to heaven!
- Patriotic No Churn Ice Cream | the base is a basic vanilla ice cream, you will love!
Don’t forget that while we think of Key Lime Pie as a summertime dessert, it’s a delicious, tasty and beautiful non-chocolate, non-pumpkin holiday dessert as well! The most popular recipe on the blog, year round!
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Video
Equipment
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs typically 1 sleeve equals about a cup, but measure out, some sleeves = more
- ¼ cup sugar
- 6 Tablespoons butter melted
Key Lime Pie Filling
- 2 cans sweetened condensed milk 14 ounce cans, I love Organic
- ½ cup sour cream I use full fat, may use Greek Yogurt too
- 2-3 Key Limes zested (Persian limes may be used)
- ¾ cup Key Lime juice* about 30 Key Limes or about 9 Persian limes, or if storebough I recommend Nellie and Joe's
- 2 large egg yolks
Whipping Cream
- 8 oz Heavy Whipping Cream
- 1-2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2-4 tablespoons powdered sugar
Instructions
GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Melt butter and set aside. Finely crush graham crackers in food processor, blender or freezer baggie with rolling pin until all the same size. Add in sugar and pulse a few times until blended, pour in butter and stir with fork or pulse a couple times until mixed. Reserve ¼ cup crumb mixture for topping, if desired.2 cups graham cracker crumbs, ¼ cup sugar, 6 Tablespoons butter
- Pour crust mixture into 9" deep dish pie dish and using hands, press into bottom and up sides, evenly. Bake for 6-8 minutes, just golden, not browned. Remove from oven and cool completely on wire rack. *If need to speed things up, cool for 10 minutes on rack, then transfer to freezer for 20-30 minutes to cool completely.
KEY LIME FILLING
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175° C). Wash, dry and zest limes, set zest aside until ready to use. Squeeze ¾ cup of lime juice (about 24-30 key limes, or 6-9 Persian limes). See notes about bottled lime juice.¾ cup Key Lime juice*
- Pour lime juice, sweetened condensed milk, sour cream, egg yolks (if using) and zest into the bowl of a stand mixer and mix on low until combined, then increase to medium-high for 2-3 minutes. Scraping down sides once or twice. DO NOT SKIP THE LONGER WHIPPING. Whip until batter is thickened.2 cans sweetened condensed milk, ½ cup sour cream, 2-3 Key Limes, 2 large egg yolks
- Pour Key Lime filling into COOLED graham cracker crust. Bake at 350° F (175° C) for 15-20 minutes until center is set, but still jiggles slightly when shaken. DO NOT ALLOW TO BROWN. Remove from oven to cooling rack and cool for 30 minutes. Place in fridge for at least 3 hours, perferably 6 or more — if you remove sooner it will still taste good, it will just not be quite as set if you had let it sit longer in the fridge. See notes for details if making key lime mini pies.
WHIPPED CREAM AND GARNISH
- While your pie is cooling, make whipped cream.Pour cold whipping cream into cool bowl and whip until stiff peaks form. Add vanilla and powdered sugar, mixing on low until combined, then increase to speed to medium-high and whip until thick, almost to a light butter stage.
- Scoop out and into piping bag with star tip. Whipped cream in bag may be kept in fridge until ready to garnish pie. Garnish with whipping cream stars, a little lime zest, graham cracker crumbs and a slice of lime. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve and chill all leftovers.
Notes
Nutrition
Steven
Great recipe for an awesome pie! Turned out perfect..
rebecca collier
Okay, I am from Florida and had many Key Lime Pies, this is amazing key lime pie!!! I made two and had left over so I made mini, thank you!!!!! This is an awesome recipe!!!!!!
Faridah Begum
This is so so good
Gaby
I think I over mixed the cool whip topping. It’s watery, I put in refrigerator right now. But i will try another batch, just thinking that’s what I did wrong.
Hi Gaby, sorry I am just getting to this, hope it all went okay. There actually isn’t Cool Whip in this recipe, real whipped cream or whipping cream is what is used. You can certainly top it with Cool Whip, but I wouldn’t advise whipping it, let me know if you have more questions about how to whip whipping cream, the longer you whip it the firmer it gets, and you can actually make butter if you whip it too much! Hope it all turned out okay! Happy baking, Kathleen
Jennifer
I have made this recipe several times and it is SO GOOD!! I love how tart it is! I am going to make it for a friend this week and want to make it in several mini pies. How long do you suggest baking the mini pies?
Love hearing this Jennifer, thank you!! Okay, did a little research, if you are using those premade mini graham cracker pie crusts, I would start at about 5-8 minutes (placing the mini pies on a large baking sheet for easier testing and removal). Pull them out when there is just a teensy jiggle in the middle. Let me know how they work out!
Jennifer
Eight minutes worked perfectly for the mini pies! This recipe made 12 mini pies and they were delicious! Thank you for your response!
Yeah!! I love hearing this, thanks for the tip! I’ll add it to the post!
Holly
This has to be the best Key lime pie I ever had! I made it for my husbands birthday and he loved it!
Betsy
I have a 10 inch prepared graham cracker crust. Will I need to pre-bake it for this recipe?
If store bought Betsy, it should already be prebaked, so no need, if you however made it and just have on hand, then bake and cool first! Hope you love the recipe!
k
Crystal C
Hi there! Just had a quick question. Before putting the pie in the fridge to cool sho i need to cover it with anything?
Hi Crystal, I typically do not cover it initially, really allowing it to set undisturbed. But if you were worried about it, you could cover it loosely with plastic wrap. Same after you have put the whipped cream on, let it firm up in fridge for a bit and then place plastic wrap on it. Happy 4th! Kathleen
Cass
I’m making a mango key lime pie based off this recipie! I am using mango nectar in addition! Any tips so that the pie doesn’t come out runny? Extra egg yolk or two?
YUMMY! This sounds amazing, I would suggest replacing a portion of the lime juice with the nectar and then adding an extra yolk, be sure to whip it really well, and after baking give it as much time as you can to cool! Let me know how it turns out!
Kathleen
Jaime D
I am planning on making this pie for Father’s Day for two citrus lovers in the family. Have you ever tried subbing Greek yogurt for the sour cream? I only thought of it b/c I have a tub of Fage 2% plain in my fridge. If not, I’ll get sour cream, no biggie. Thanks!
Hi Jaimie, YES! You may replace with greek yogurt, especially Fage, since it’s so thick and rich! I’ve had several people do that lately and it turns out fabulous! I even made adjustments to the recipe on the blog, hopefully those came through. Let me know how it turns out!
Happy Baking and Happy Father’s day for your two citrus lovers, they are gonna love this!
Kathleen
Bob
We’ve had this and it is, truly, aptly named: “THE BEST key lime pie! AMEN…..
You are the best my friend! Thanks Bob!
Rose
Can I use Key West Lime Juice from Nellie & Joes instead of the key limes ?
Yes, of course Rose. While not as fresh or tart, it should still taste great!
Amanda
How long do I need to whip it for to thicken?
Thanks
Hi Amanda, 2-3 minutes, longer if it still feels runny. If you used fat free sweetened condensed milk it might not be as thick. It should still set up after baking, just cool on the counter and refrigerate really well, overnight would be best.
Cin
I’ve been whipping it for almost 20 minutes and still won’t thicken. I’ve checked 10 times to make sure I had all the ingredients in and everything that it listed is in the mixing bowl.
Hi Cin — Oh no! My best suggestion at this point is maybe add an additional egg yolk, whip it for a minute or two, then bake it, I’ve had people say this happens sometimes when using fat free items, which I don’t recommend. But hopefully once it’s baked and set, overnight in the fridge it will set up for you. But I guarantee even if it’s “soupier” than you want it, it will still taste great. Hope it works out.
Marji
Is this a tart key lime pie. Seems like a lot of recipes the pies are very mid. Looking for a tart pie. Thanks.
It’s pretty tart, I personally like it tart as well, you can always add more key lime juice and lime zest!
Victoria
Why Wondering why you use sour cream? Does it make it lighter?
Hi Victoria, the sour cream lends to the smoothness and creaminess of the pie!
Ashley
I made this pie to serve at my restaurant, and I sold every slice! It set up perfectly and had the perfect amount of lime flavor. I cheated and used key lime juice; I’m from West Texas, and key limes are hard to find! I used Nellie and Joe’s key lime juice, and you couldn’t even tell! I found it at World Market for $2.99. Thanks for a great recipe, this is going to become a regular at the restaurant!
Michelle
They absolutely loved it! Very happy Bride that did not like cake 🙂 it ended up making 3 pies! So I kept one and could not believe how good it was! I did a regular pie crust on these ones per client request but next time will do graham crust. Thanks again!
Woot-woot Michelle!! So happy it made everyone happy!! It’s rather amazing with the graham crust but a bride wants what a bride wants!! Thanks for sharing!!
Nicole
I just made this afternoon for my husband’s birthday! It looks delicious! It was really easy, too! Can’t wait for dessert! ????
Ooh Nicole, I’m so excited to hear what you all think!! So glad it was easy and hopefully equally delicious!!
Marcia
Best key lime pie ever! Perfect balance of flavor. Texture was great! This is a keeper for sure!
YAY! Makes me so happy Marcia, thank you for taking the time to write a comment!
Michelle
I made this tonight! First time ever making a keylime pie. That was a lot of limes to juice! I doubled the recipe and ended up being able to make 3 pies. They all came out amazing and I will have some very happy clients tomorrow! Thanks so much for such a great recipe!
Wow! That was a lot of like juice!! Thank you for sharing and I do hope your clients are very happy! Have a great weekend Michelle!
Karyn
Mine is currently in the oven with double bake time and still not done. I re-read the blog and see that my mixture was incredibly thin even though I followed the directions. The pie will probably end up in the trash now and I’m not sure what went wrong.
Oh Karyn, I’m so very sorry. A couple questions. Did you use egg yolks? Sweetened condensed milk (not plain condensed) and did you whip it really well and long that’s where it will thicken up. I’d love to trouble shoot with you, mainly so I can make my directions more clear. Please feel free to email me.
Anonymous
Bob
WOW….I love Key Lime Pie!!!!!!!!
Good to know Bob!
Janice
I can’t wait to make this. I love Keylime pie!
Yay!! Let me know how it turns out!!