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
Carol Ann Rosenbeck
Kathleen: If I use regular limes, about how many would I need? Thanks. Carol.
Hi Carol Ann, it all depends on how juicy your limes are, typically a lime will yield about 2 tablespoons of juice. 2-3 limes ¼ cup, so based on that I would buy 9 Persian limes. I will add that info to my notes! Thanks for asking, hope you love the pie!
Ava monarca
The best key lime pie!!! Have to try and it’s soooo easy!! Please don’t underestimate the sour cream it works!!
Thank you so much Ava! So appreciate your kind words!
Bunnie Sitko
Hi there I was wondering if I could make this into squares and can it be frozen. Thanks. Bunnie
Hi Bunnie, while I have never tried it I have other la say they have and it worked!! Let me know how it turns out!
Karen
My family loves this pie and were disappointed I didn’t make it for Thanksgiving! I want to make it in squares for a Christmas dinner party but not sure of any changes I should do as to times for cooling or the size pan. Thanks for sharing this great recipe!
Hi Karen, I’ve never made it in a regular pan, this should easily equate to a jelly roll pan (making it thinner), 7×11 or 9×9 pan, I’m not positive on the baking time either, but start checking early if you use a larger pan and if you need to add more time add a bit more. Cooling should take about the same time, I would imagine! Thank you for your kind reply.
Sara
I had this the other day at an event and it was absolutely delicious. Now I’m preparing to make it myself and I hit the ‘get ingredients’ button. Now in my shopping cart is 2 blocks of cream cheese. Is that in the recipe because I don’t see it other places. Thanks you.
I am so glad you loved it and are making it yourself! I’ll have my Chicory manager check on that, there is not cream cheese in this recipe, so that is so strange!
Sara
Thanks Kathleen. Key Lime Pie is my Moms favorite dessert and this recipe is the best I’ve ever had so I’m glad I have the ingredients correct for when I make it for her (and me.) Chicory did add cream cheese to my shopping cart.
Well thank you for letting me know, I am reaching out to my contact to let them know, because that’s not good, especially in our world of much more expensive groceries!
Barbara Miller
I bet this would be really great with a Key Lime Oreo crust.
Oh my goodness, I didn’t even know that Oreo made a Key Lime Oreo! Swooning over here! Great idea!
Gail B
I made this key lime pie and followed recipe exactly. The directions instructed mot to ship the extra whipping but for me when I whipped it a little longer the consistency became thinner. The pie came out pretty good but a little too dense for me.
Thanks for your tips Gail.
Trina
So first time making this and it browned a little on one side. How will it affect the taste? I’m serving for a crowd and won’t be able to try it beforehand. Otherwise it looks delish and can’t wait to make another one!
Shouldn’t affect it at all Trina, might be a smidge dryer on that side. Next time, maybe rotate the pie plate half way through, sounds like you have a hot spot in your oven.
Beth K
Looks and smells delish…serving tomorrow. I neglected to put in the sour cream ???? Hope it still tastes good!! Oh boy.
I am so tickled to hear this Cathy, that was the only way I could get them to keep their shape while so large! 🙂 So glad you loved them! Thank you for your kind words!
Beth K.
Came out amazing without the sour cream!! My husband was raving as well as my guests! Definitely THE Best!!! ????
YAY! Love to hear that, thank you so very much Beth — especially for coming back and reporting on how it turned out!
Jessica Vice
I have made this recipe now 3 times & it keeps getting better! I’m an avid baker myself, and love to entertain a crowd. I do have a question about making this ahead of time.
I am traveling on Thursday for a crab boil held on Saturday. Do you have any suggestions as far as potentially freezing this beforehand? My ideal goal would be to make it tomorrow (Wednesday) freeze overnight & chill in refrigerator until Saturday. Any suggestions or tips would be most appreciated!
I love reading comments like yours, Jessica! Thank you! While I have not frozen it, I have other readers who have. I suggest you freeze once it’s completely cooled and keep frozen moving t to the fridge the night before you plan on serving. Let me know how it goes!
Naomi
This recipe is perfection. Thank you. My son requests key lime pie every year for his birthday. This recipe is the best.
Thank you so very much Naomi, love, love, love hearing this you made my year! Happy baking!
Gigi
I have never made a key lime pie but have looked at mane recipes. Some look more like a cheesecake and some more like a custard. Some use eggs, some Sour cream and yours uses both. I am curious how these ingredients effect the color and texture of the filling to get just the right texture balance?
The eggs are not totally necessary, but they do add creaminess and a little lift to the pie, mine is somewhere in between a cheesecake and custard, a little more firm than a custard, smooth and super creamy. I hope you try it!
Kate
My pie turned out citrusy, creamy and delicious.
Perfect! Just how it should!
Biana
This key lime pie looks great! This is such a fun, flavorful summer dessert.
Great year round too!
Caitlin
Such a fantastic pie recipe! Love the sweet, tart citrus flavor and perfect for summer!
Absolutely Caitlin thank you so much!
Jayne
This recipe for Key lime pie has quickly become one of my favorites.
That is wonderful to hear Jayne, thank you!
Sharon Chen
I love how simple this recipe is, definitely saving this for when I crave for some good keylime pie!
You won’t be disappointed!
Joyce
This came out perfectly tart and sweet. The balance was amazing, and we all loved how light it was as well! Thank you so much for sharing the best key lime pie recipe!
YAY! Love to hear that Joyce!
Kali Alexandria
The title says it all. This is the best key lime recipe I’ve tried!
Thank you so much!
Carrie Robinson
I just love a good homemade key lime pie! Can’t wait to try out this recipe soon. 🙂
I know you will love it Carrie!
Claudia Lamascolo
Since this was my nephews favorite and it said prize winning I gave it a shot and boy was he thrilled said it was the best he ever had and he lives in Key West so congratulations and thanks for posting this is a marvelous recipe Ps he is one of the fussiest critics I know nice job!
Thank you so much Claudia, wow, love, love, love hearing this! You made my month — that says a LOT that he thought that way since he can get the best and most authentic right there in Key West! I appreciate you taking the time to write a kind comment! Happy baking! Kathleen
Cheffzilla
Hi Kathleen. FYI, I made 60-80 Key Lime pies a week for a world-famous South Beach stone crab restaurant (which shall remain nameless) for several years. Making that many pies using key limes would have been impossible. We used a 50/50 blend of Persian lime juice and lemon juice (both fresh, of course). In blind taste tests—which we conducted every month or so—comparing our blend with key limes, not one tester could consistently tell the difference. Fruit tastes do vary with the seasons—sugar content, you know—so I recommend this as a perfectly acceptable alternative.
Otherwise your recipe is spot on, although our ratios were slightly different (1 cup juice and 4 egg yolks). Our pies were frozen, and slices were served 15 minutes out of the freezer, the way they serve them in the Keys.
Also, we made them in 9-inch springform pans, with the crust patted in and 1/2-inch up the sides. Much easier to serve than pie plates.
Thank you so very much for that tip — I have definitely used Persian limes before but love the idea of using both! And love the tip to freeze the pies, serving them partially thawed. Thanks again so much and yes, some folks have made this in 9” springform pans, I need to remake it that way myself!
UpstateAC
I live in the Northeast US and we don’t often see Key limes in the grocery store. I saw they had them recently and I bought a big bag. I followed this recipe to a T and it was perfect. A big hit with the family-just the right amount of tart vs sweet. Will make again next time I see Key limes in the store!
Oh I love that, thank you so much! You may also use regular Persian limes and I provide the details in the post!
Lisa
Excellent!
Thank you Lisa, so glad you loved it!
Robyn
Good lord! I’ve been making key lime pie bars for forever and just to shake up the family I tried this recipe. Shame on you for putting this mom grandmother to shame lol this was better than ANYTHING I’ve made key lime wise.
Thank you thank you thank you ! Everyone else RUN DO NOT WALK TO MAKE THIS PIE!
Oh Robyn thank you so much for making my year!! Your kind words are so so sweet and this food blogger so appreciates your kind comment! It’s why I do what I do! Thank you again so much!
Nan B
Absolutely the best
Thank you so much Nan!