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    Soulfully Made » Desserts » Best Key Lime Pie Recipe

    Best Key Lime Pie Recipe

    Nikki Lee Published:March 2, 2019 | Updated: August 18, 2020

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

    Recipe Save Saved!

    The Best Key Lime Pie Recipe you'll ever make. The filling is sweet and creamy with the tartness from the Key Limes and wrapped up in a buttery delicious nutty graham cracker crust. It's so easy you find yourself making it over and over again!

    A slice of the Best Key Lime Pie topped with whipped cream and lime zest

    I wanted to start this sentence out with this is our favorite. I know we have a lot of favorites in our house - wink, wink! And this KEY LIME PIE is one of them. It's my son's favorite pie of all time hands down.  I have a few in the running, but this is one I would pick over just about any pie. It is the perfect combination of sweet and tart. And this kind of tart is one you can only get from a key lime.

    What is different about Key Limes

    Key limes are very small and have a slightly yellow flesh, they also contain more seeds.

    They are also known as West Indian Limes, and are more aromatic. The juice is tarter and has more floral notes.

    The are less common here in the U.S. Y'all know I am from Florida and this pie became famous down in the Florida Keys. These limes were once grown there commercially until a hurricane wiped out many of the groves there. Many farmers replaced those crops with Persian Limes that you see more often in your grocery stores. 

    The taste difference in these limes make the most unique and delicious pies! You will be thinking your Florida stars this one was invented!

    a pie dish with the best key lime pie recipe and one slice removed

    This one is EASY as PIE to make - don't you just love my jokes?? But it really is simple and you might just find yourself making them in your sleep!

    Simple Key Lime Pie Crust

    It all starts with a graham cracker crust! I am not the best pie crust maker.  It is something I keep promising myself to get better at. A homemade one just tastes amazing.

    If I can do it so can you! It's just crushed graham crackers (you pulse in a blender or food processor or take out all your stress with a can or rolling pin and crush them in a zip-lock bag). You can also buy them already crushed in the grocery stores now! Add some melted butter and sugar and voila you have a homemade crust!

    TIP - You can add in crushed nuts for an extra divine crust!

    What is in Key Lime Pie Filling

    • Key Lime Juice
    • Lime Zest
    • Egg Yolks
    • Sweetened Condensed Milk
    • Sour Cream
    A slice of the best key lime pie on a white plate topped with whipped cream and lime zest

    What you need to make the Best Key Lime Pie in the World

    • Pie Plate - I used this 9.5 inch Pyrex pie plate! It is my favorite. If you have a smaller one it will work too. You crust will be a little thicker or just don't use it all. It's great sprinkled on some ice cream too anyway!
    • Key Lime Juice or Key Limes - I almost always use Nellie and Joe's Key West Lime Juice and you can get it on Amazon delivered right to your door! It really has that distinct taste you want!
    • You need a Citrus zester! The lime zest adds a ton of flavor and ya can't skimp on flavor y'all!

    I tend to go with simple when it comes to desserts. I like them to be pretty, but I always say mine have a rustic look. Thank heavens that is still in right now! Dollop or pipe on some whipped cream and grate some lime zest over the top and it is stunning!

    The Best Key Lime Pie topped with whipped cream and lime zest
    Pin - Best Key Lime Pie -to SAVE for later and Share with Friends
    The Pinterest image for the Best Key Lime Pie topped with whipped cream and lime zest

    I’d love it if you enjoy this recipe if you’d comment and rate the recipe in the recipe card. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Hashtag any recipes you make from Soulfully Made #soulfullymade or tag me @soulfullymade_ on Instagram to be featured on our stories!  

    A slice of the best key lime pie on a white plate topped with whipped cream and lime zest

    Best Key Lime Pie Recipe

    Author: Nikki Lee
    5 from 5 votes
    The Best Key Lime Pie Recipe you'll ever make. The filling is sweet and creamy with the tartness from the key limes and wrapped up in a buttery delicious nutty graham cracker crust. It's so easy you find yourself making them over and over again!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Save Saved! Pin Recipe Rate
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 17 minutes mins
    Chilling Time 3 hours hrs
    Total Time 3 hours hrs 22 minutes mins
    Course Latest Recipes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 10 servings
    Calories 620 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Graham Cracker Pie Crust

    • 1 ½ cups graham crackers, crushed, (You can sub ½ cup of these with finely chopped walnuts or pecans or nuts)
    • ⅓ cups sugar
    • 6 tablespoon butter, melter

    Key Lime Pie Filling

    • 28 ounces sweetened condensed milk
    • ½ cup sour cream
    • 3 egg yolks
    • ½ cup key lime juice
    • 1 tablespoon key lime or lime zest

    Whipped Topping

    • 1 cup heavy cream
    • ¼ cup powdered sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla

    Instructions
     

    Graham Cracker Pie Crust

    • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
    • Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter in a bowl until combined. Pour and press crumb mixture into 9.5 inch pie dish. Bake pie for 6 to 7 minutes. Cool for about 30 minutes.

    Key Lime Pie Filling

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
    • In a medium bowl, whisk together sweetened condensed milk, sour cream, egg yolks, key lime juice and lime zest until smooth and creamy. Pour into graham cracker crust and bake for 10 minutes.

    Whipped Cream Topping

    • In a stand mixer or with electric hand mixer, beat heavy cream, sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Spread or pipe whipped cream on chilled pie. If desired top with lime zest and serve.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 1 serving Calories: 620 kcal Carbohydrates: 80 g Protein: 11 g Fat: 30 g Saturated Fat: 18 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 10 g Trans Fat: 1 g Cholesterol: 144 mg Sodium: 261 mg Fiber: 1 g Sugar: 72 g

    Nutrition Disclaimer

    Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    1. Michaela Kenkel says

      August 22, 2021 at 11:33 pm

      5 stars
      This pie was so fantastic!Thanks for the great recipe!

      Reply
    2. Debi says

      August 16, 2021 at 9:11 am

      5 stars
      This recipe was easy to make and my family loves it every time I make it.

      Reply
    3. Sandra Shaffer says

      August 15, 2021 at 11:37 pm

      5 stars
      Made this for my husband and first thing he said is, reminds me of mom! She would make this pie for special occasions, but we never got the recipe. Thanks for such a delicious pie 🙂

      Reply
    4. Kathleen Pope says

      August 15, 2021 at 5:33 pm

      5 stars
      We loooovvvee key lime pie and this one did not disappoint! So delicious, fresh and tangy!

      Reply
    5. Julia says

      March 04, 2019 at 5:12 pm

      This pie looks delicious

      Reply
      • Nikki - Soulfully Made says

        March 11, 2019 at 5:28 am

        Thank you so much! It's on my favorite pie list. Along with Chocolate Silk, Coconut Cream and Chocolate Peppermint. Ok, I guess I love pie 😉

        Reply

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    Hi, I am Nikki. Faith, family, and food are my passions! I'm a Southern cook from Florida who loves sharing food and creating memories around the table with my family and friends. Welcome to my Kitchen, where you will find delicious, home-cooked, easy recipes!

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