Key Lime Pie with Graham Cracker Crust
This scrumptious Key Lime Pie with Graham Cracker Crust is one blissful citrus dessert! Sweet, tart, and creamy, each bite will make you swoon!
One of my favorite desserts, this Authentic Key Lime Pie Recipe does not disappoint! Transport yourself to the tropics when you taste this lip-smacking pie!
Why You’ll Love this Key Lime Pie
- The sweet graham cracker crust and sweet-tart creamy filling is an exquisite pairing!
- This is a classic pie that’s pure Americana!
- It can be made with standard limes, too, and still be scrumptious!!
Once again, we’re a family divided. One of us does not like lime desserts. Lemon treats thrill his taste buds, but lime is another story. Yes, it IS annoying when I want to indulge in just a sliver of Key Lime Pie but the hubby has no interest in even a sliver. Thank goodness for girlfriends as I could easily lose my skinny chick status if this whole pie was tempting me hour after hour and day after day.
Reader Endorsement:
From Dawn via Pinterest: Loved this recipe!! My pie turned out like a pro made it & it was super easy. This is by far my favorite Key Lime Pie.
Expert Tips
A popular pie created in the 1800s in Key West, this state pie of Florida was likely created after sweetened condensed milk became available to home bakers. Here are a few tips for making the best authentic Key lime pie!
- PRO-Tip: Use fresh or bottled Key lime juice if at all possible for the most authentic Key lime pie experience. Nellie & Joe’s Famous Key West Lime Juice (affiliate link) is available in most supermarkets when Key limes are not in season.
- Of course, you can use fresh standard (Persian) limes in a pinch. The taste will be slightly different, but still delicious.
- PRO-Tip: Make sure to zest your limes before squeezing. Once they’re squeezed, it’s hard to get a good grip on them to zest.
- Using a Citrus Press (affiliate link) makes it easy to juice your limes.
- Do not over-mix the filling ingredients. You want the filling smooth, but without air bubbles. Making it the night before and leaving it overnight in the refrigerator allows any air bubbles to dissipate.
- Save your leftover egg whites for meringues or macaroons!
- Sweetened condensed milk is a must! It provides the perfect amount of sweetness to balance the acidity of the limes. It is a key ingredient for an authentic easy Key Lime Pie recipe.
- Also, a graham cracker crust is imperative in a Key lime pie recipe. Sturdy and sweet, it’s the perfect contrast to the citrus filling.
- Make sure to cool your crust thoroughly before adding the filling and baking.
- Sweetened whipped cream is the best topping. It balances the tart filling perfectly. I like to pipe stars of cream around the perimeter and top those with thin slices of lime right before serving. You can also serve pie slices with a dollop of whipped cream.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are two main varieties of limes, the Persian lime and the smaller, less common Key Lime. Key limes are from Florida, rounder, more yellow and their flavor is tarter, more aromatic, and floral.
In a pinch, yes, but hunt down Key limes when they’re in season as they do have their own special flavor.
Definitely! It’s a time-saver to use a store-bought crust, but it’s not hard to make a graham cracker crust from scratch. Plus a homemade crust with graham cracker crumbs and real butter makes a tastier crust.
Yes, to have a safe-to-eat pie, it must be baked. The chemical reaction between the egg yolks and the key lime juice will thicken the filling without cooking, but it can be dangerous to eat. Raw eggs may harbor salmonella bacteria which cause a nasty foodborne illness or food poisoning. So bake this pie as directed.
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- Lemon Scones
- Lemon Meringue Pie
- More Pie Recipes
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Key Lime Pie Recipe
Classic Key Lime Pie with a citrus filling nestled in a graham cracker crust.
Ingredients
Graham cracker crust:
- 1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 5 tablespoons butter, melted
Filling:
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 4 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons fresh Key lime juice (may substitute standard lime juice)
- 2 teaspoons very fine lime zest
Topping:
- 3/4 cup chilled heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar, sifted
- Lime slices, optional
- Lime zest, optional
Instructions
Make crust:
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Stir together graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter in a bowl with a fork until combined well, then press mixture evenly onto bottom and up side of a 9-inch pie plate.
- Bake for 10 minutes and cool in pie plate on a rack. Leave oven on.
Make filling and bake pie:
- Whisk together condensed milk and yolks in a bowl until combined well. Add juice and zest and whisk until combined well .
- Pour filling into crust and bake in middle of oven 15 minutes. Cool pie completely on rack (filling will set as it cools), then chill, covered, at least 8 hours.
Make topping:
- Just before serving, beat cream with powdered sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer until it just holds stiff peaks. Serve pie topped with cream. Garnish with lime slices or zest if desired.
Notes
Classic Key Lime Pie adapted from Epicurious.
Recommended Products
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1 sliceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 278Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 138mgSodium: 134mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 1gSugar: 16gProtein: 3g
49 Comments on “Key Lime Pie with Graham Cracker Crust”
My favorite flavor pie. Yours looks terrific. And guess what? I’m totally craving a slice. Or two. 🙂 Thanks!
When in Rome or in the Keys, this recipes is a must try. Key limes are in season now. Can’t wait to give your refreshing bright recipe a try.
Can I place an order? I’d like two please.
Recipe very easy to follow since my first time making any type of pie.
SO glad it worked well for you, Crystal! Happy New Year!
This pie turns out great every time! The crust is so good and the filing is full of delicious lime flavor!
This was really ahhhmazing! Everyone was impressed!
I’ve tasted a lot of key lime pies in my day, and this is my favorite! The flavor is tangy and perfect!
Your desserts are always so pretty! This key lime pie was perfect for summer! Such a great flavor and loved by all!
Doubled the recipe and used fresh squeezed Key Limes. It was great. Also used pretzels instead of graham crackers and added some course salt to the crust. Yum yum yum. Delicious.
I love how you made this your own!! Thanks for taking the time to report back!
Such a great pie – key lime is one of our favorites!
I love key lime anything- and let me just say how pretty yours is- but I also love a good homemade graham cracker crust! What a great recipe!
Key Lime Pie is one of my favorite desserts – yours is absolutely gorgeous!
My very favorite dessert in the whole world – the more tart the better! I love that pucker when it’s super tart. Love the flecks of zest in the filling!
Key Lime Pie is my favorite and this is the best recipe by far!
Liz, This pie is absolutely gorgeous! I’m a huge key lime pie fan. But I’ve never seen a key lime pie quite so lovely. I rarely pick up a pastry bag. However, now that I’ve seen what you’ve done, I must try your topping with thin lime slices next time. PS – I once tried juicing key limes. But ever since that unhappy experience, I’ve always used “regular” limes for the juice and zest and no one has ever known the difference.
I’m hiding this post from my husband. He and I both are HUGE key lime pie lovers, but the problem is that since it’s just the two of us, it would be dangerous to have a whole pie in the house. Yours look so good that it would be impossible to resist!
Ahhhh… Key Lime Pie is one of my favorites. This looks dee-lish.
Key Lime Pie is a splendid choice for a St Patrick’s Day holiday dessert =) You could definitely keep your skinny status at the Ninja Baker’s house with this pie =)
You pie makes me green with envy. Actually the whole menu does too. GREG
I am tickled pink with all of the beautiful fresh spring desserts being shared. This pie is the picture of perfection and I can’t wait to try it.
We love key lime pie in our house! In fact, weirdly, it is a Thanksgiving tradition for us. My son usually makes it and was even featured in our local newspaper’s food section! We also have a lime tree and can never quite keep up with the supply. This is so gorgeous Liz!
Your pie is beautifully decorated for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration. We used to live in the Keys and this was the most served dessert down there.
Liz that is a gorgeous presentation. I like this pie a lot and it is my mom’s favortie! Can,t alwasy fin the Key Limes though 🙁
I love anything that has lemon or lime, this pie is just perfect in anyway possible…gorgeous pictures Liz…I would love a slice of this pie.
Thanks for this fabulous post…I hope you are enjoying your week 🙂
Beautiful! I wouldn’t mind a slice of that delicious pie!
LOVE Key Lime pie. My favorite. I love lemon (I’m a lemon freak) and of course lemon meringue pie. But Key Lime is better. Yours looks totally gorgeous — good job. Thanks!
What a pretty looking key lime pie, Liz. Stunning. This pie is making me drool. I make mine with digestive biscuits, next time it’s gonna be your recipe. I wish I could have a huge slice right away. YUM.
Such a showstopping pie! I love anything lime, and this looks exceptional!
Yep! This is how I make mine, too! The BIG difference is that mine never looks like this stunning beauty! And luckily we are a family of lime lovers, but Zoe just found out that she breaks out in hives whenever whe has limes. No more margs for her! And this pie is her favorite!
Ooo… I am drooling ! I have very sweet tooth and this looks like mine kind of THING ! Yumm….
Hope you’re having a great week.
Blessings, Kristy
that’s beautiful! almost too pretty to eat
What a gorgeous dessert!
I love the pretty green lime slices on top! Now, I’m pondering my St. Patrick’s Day menu.
absolutely delicious Lizzy!!
This might sound INSANE but I have never had key lime pie before….. And now I really can’t unless I figure out a way to make it work for my diet. Your creation looks so stinking good though!!!
It sounds delicious, but pics, etc aren’t loading. Love the pie though!
I love that you chose a green dessert for St Patrick’s without making it really green, Liz! It looks absolutely stunning and sounds delicious too. I still wish I could taste a key lime, though. Us folks in Paris don’t have access to them but one day I’ll come to the US when they’re in season – they sound extraordinary. Love your presentation x
It’s just so gorgeous, Liz. Thank you for a wonderful theme this month. And I will gladly help you finish a key lime pie or any pie for that matter.
Your key lime pie is just stunning, Liz! Lemon and lime desserts are my absolute favorite and I’ll gladly help finish any that are left 🙂
Mmmm, I adore Key Lime Pie – pass me a big ol’ slice!
A personal favorite of mine Liz! Your presentation is stunning. I can almost taste it now 🙂
That is one gorgeous pie Liz! Key lime is a favorite with everyone around here so I know this pretty dessert wouldn’t last long!
A speciality in Florida and yours looks better than anything I have ever seen here!
I love key lime pie, what a fantastic colour. Love the sound of the crust too!
Magnificent! Simple yet elegant garnish…I love it!
This might sound funny, but I only know key lime pie from movies and the bakery-style games I used to play when I was younger…. We don’t have ANYTHING like it here in the Netherlands! This Friday I have some friends coming over, and I am still looking for a dessert to wow them… This might just be it 😉
Looking great once again!
Spectacular! I literally said “wow” when the pic loaded, it’s a beautiful pie:@)