Key Lime Pie
The perfect balance of tart and sweet, this Key Lime Pie recipe delivers the perfect dessert each and every time.
Luscious key lime filling sitting on a bed of buttery, delicious graham cracker pie crust, Key Lime Pie is a truly refreshingly, satisfying dessert.
Serve with other fruit pies like this Strawberry Pie or Fresh Peach Pie for a fun selection of desserts.
This is by far the best Key Lime Pie! This Key Lime Pie only takes 8-10 minutes to bake and the taste has the perfect amount of Key lime goodness with each every bite.
Make your own stabilized whipped cream and graham cracker crust, or buy them pre-made to make this pie faster.
Key Lime Pie is a such a delicious treat. I love that it is not hard to make and only requires 5 ingredients, which is counting the lime juice and zest of the lime as two separate ingredients. So, you could really argue only four ingredients.
Just a handful of simple ingredients away from an incredible dessert.
How Are Key Limes Different From Other Limes?
Are Key limes even different from other limes? Well, yes they actually are. From taste, to size, to texture, to even the amount of seeds, they are different.
This doesn’t mean all is lost if you can’t find Key limes, but some people will pretend that there is no difference and I hate to break it to you, there is.
Key limes known as West Indian limes or Mexican limes are different than Persian limes, the ones you typically see all the time in the United States.
4 Key Differences Between Key Limes And Other Limes:
- Key limes are tarter than other limes.
- They have more seeds.
- Key limes possess a slight yellow color.
- They are smaller than other limes.
So, if you make a Key Lime Pie with Persian limes, the taste will be different. Hold on before you start stressing, deep breaths. It doesn’t mean I’m saying you can’t do it though.
Can You Use Other Limes In Key Lime Pie?
Key Lime Pie has such a better ring to it than Lime Pie, don’t you think? With that said though, can you sub out the Key limes with Persian limes?
Okay so don’t tell anyone, but with a little tweaking you can. As already mentioned Key limes do offer a different flavor so you have a couple options.
Substitution Options:
Sub out Key limes for regular limes and just realize the taste will be different. This option is not my favorite option though.
Better option: If you don’t have Key limes use regular or Persian limes accompanied with lemons. Use the same ratio of limes to lemons. The lemon will help offset the different element of taste in the Persian limes. giving the pie that tart delicious flavor!
Note: Do not use bottled lime juice as a substitution for fresh lime juice. Simply put, it won’t be as good. The End.
So, if you can’t find Key limes at your local grocery store, don’t give up Friend. Don’t feel defeated. No need to take the drastic measure of ripping up the recipe and never looking back.
You still have solid options that will result in an amazing pie.
How To Make Key Lime Pie:
Don’t worry, this Key Lime Pie recipe is easy peasy. And I mean would I have it any other way?!
5 Simple Ingredients Needed:
- 9 inch prepared graham cracker crust : No need to make a graham cracker crust from scratch with this killer Key Lime filling. You’re welcome.
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Sour cream
- Key lime juice
- Grated lime zest
Simple as that.
Note: Exact amounts are listed later in the printable recipe card.
For garnishes I like whipped cream and lime slices, but if that’s not your jam, you don’t have to add these ingredients.
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix all the above listed ingredients.
- Pour mixed ingredients into pie crust.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes.
- Cool pie and chill, then garnish and serve.
That’s it! Didn’t I tell you it was easy peasy? A quick, easy, crowd pleasing dessert. Just my kind of dish.
Storing Key Lime Pie:
This Key Lime Pie recipe is so easy to make. Even when I have a busy day and still need a dessert I can whip it up pretty quickly with little mess.
However, sometimes you want to get ahead of the game or knock one thing off your to do list and make it ahead of time and I get it. You totally can.
Although fresh is always best, Key Lime pie can be frozen ahead of time and will still be delicious. It can also last in the fridge for about 2-3 days before it starts to lose integrity and get weepy and not as good.
For the fridge, use plastic wrap and wrap the pie in it. Make sure not to wrap it fitted or tight around the pie.
If you are freezing the pie, then you want to wrap it fitted with freezer wrap. You can also put it in a freezer bag.
Key Lime Pie can last for a while in your freezer. Up to 3 months, just thaw and serve!
How To Know If Pie Has Gone Bad:
- Smells Bad
- Has Mold
- Color Doesn’t Look Right
- It has Been In The Fridge For More Than The Recommended Time Frame and is super weepy.
- Has Been Left At Room Temp For More Than 2-4 Hours
Hopefully you won’t have to worry about the shelf life of this Key Lime Pie. We never have because it is so good it usually gets eaten up in one sitting.
Serving Suggestions:
Key Lime Pie makes a great finish to any dinner. I recommend serving it will a dollop of whipped cream. Whipped cream makes a great accompaniment to the tartness of the pie.
Then I like to put some lime slices on top. They are just so pretty.
Why stop there? Make an incredible meal from start to finish and have some Tacos Al Pastor for dinner, or keep with the lime theme and have some Slow Cooker Honey Lime Chicken Tacos. Accompany dinner with some Spanish rice and Seared Watermelon salad.
Then end the meal with a splash and have this delicious Key Lime Pie. I get so excited just thinking about it.
Wait No Longer To Have The Best Key Lime Pie!
Do yourself a favor and make this delicious Key Lime Pie immediately. It is not only delicious, it is soooo easy to make.
Trust me once you make this pie, you will definitely want to keep this recipe handy. It is one that you will want to use again and again.
In the mood for some other tart and sweet desserts?
Try some of these citrus inspired desserts:
Key Lime Pie
Ingredients
- 1 (9 incprepared graham cracker crust
- 28 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 3/4 cup key lime juice approx 20 key limes
- 1 tablespoon grated lime zest
- Garnish
- Whipped cream
- Lime slices
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- In a medium bowl, combine condensed milk, sour cream, lime juice, and lime zest, and mix to incorporate.
- Mix well and pour into Graham cracker crust.
- Bake in preheated oven for 8-10 minutes. DO NOT BROWN!
- Cool pie completely and chill in a refrigerator for at least a few hours before serving.
- Garnish with lime slices and whipped cream
Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.
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