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The best Key Lime Pie recipe has a creamy, fresh, and flavorful 4-ingredient filling on top of a homemade graham cracker crust. It's so easy to make and great to make in advance!
The best Key Lime Pie and you only need 4 ingredients!
The best Key Lime Pie and you only need 4 ingredients!Key Lime Pie is one of my favorites because there's no easier pie (seriously, any beginner cook can make this and look like a pro doing it), and it's absolutely delicious! The base of the pie is a graham cracker crust–you can use store-bought but homemade is just 3 ingredients and tastes way better.
If you are feeding a large group, try my Key Lime Pie Bars!
If you want other quick pie recipes, try No-Bake Cheesecake, Peanut Butter Pie, Eggnog Pie, or Chess Pie.
How to make Key Lime Pie:
Make Crust and Filling: Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter in a small bowl then firmly press into pie pan. Bake for 10 minutes at 350°F (180°F) then let cool completely. Beat cream cheese with hand mixer until smooth then add sweetened condensed milk, lime juice, and lime zest, mixing until smooth.
Bake: Pour filling into graham cracker crust then bake for 10 minutes at 350°F (180°F). Let pie cool for 30 minutes then place in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours before serving. For whipped cream, beat heavy cream with hand mixer for one minute then slowly add powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until stiff peaks. Spread or pipe whipped cream on top of key lime pie.
Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:
To Make Ahead: The graham cracker crust and filling can be made in advance and stored seperatly in the fridge until ready to assemble and bake. Leftover key lime pie will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.
To Freeze: Let key lime pie cool completely then place a piece of parchment paper on top then wrap in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before serving.
More Pie Recipes:
- Lemon Cream Pie
- Coconut Cream Pie
- Apple Pie
- Chocolate Cream Pie
- Banana Cream Pie
- Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake
- Lemon Meringue Pie
- Blueberry Pie
- German Chocolate Pie
Key Lime Pie
Equipment
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust:*
- 1½ cups ground graham crackers, (150g), (about 12 full sheets, crushed)
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar, (67g)
- 6 Tablespoons butter, (86g), melted
Key Lime Filling:
- 2 14 ounce cans sweetened condensed milk
- 4 ounces cream cheese, , softened (full fat)
- ¾ cup key lime juice*, (170g)
- zest from 2 regular limes, , or 4 key limes
Whipped Cream Topping:
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream, (227g)
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar, (30g)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Graham Cracker Crust: Preheat oven to 350F (180C). Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter in a small bowl. Pour crumb mixture into an 8" – 9.5" pie pan and press it firmly in the bottom of the pan and a little bit up the sides of the pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
- Key Lime Filling: Add cream cheese to a mixing bowl and beat well with electric beaters until smooth. Add both cans of sweetened condensed milk, lime juice, and lime zest and mix again until smooth. Pour into prepared graham cracker crust.
- Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes. Allow pie to cool for about 30 minutes, then refrigerate for at least 3 hours, before serving.
- Whipped Cream Toppings: Add heavy cream to a mixing bowl and beat with electric mixers for 1 minute. Slowly add powdered sugar and vanilla and continue beating until stiff peaks form. Spread or pipe the whipped cream on top of the cooled pie.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I originally shared this recipe August 2017. Updated November 2019, November 2022 and March 2025.
I’ve been using the Key Lime pie recipe on the back of Nellie & Joe’s key west lime juice bottle for many years, but your
Recipe by far surpasses theirs ! It’s fabulous ! Looking forward to trying more of your recipes
My family noticed the difference immediately
Best key lime pie recipe!! I use cinnamon graham crackers for the crust. It is a perfect pairing. Super easy to make and everyone loves it!!
Absolutely the BEST and easiest Key Lime pie. I’ve only made 1 or 2 in my life because they never turn out but this one came out perfect. I used the Nellies key lime juice and the rinds from 2 lime and made my own crust, just as you suggested,
Took me back to our Key West vacation! This was so the recipe if been looking for that would copy cat the pie we had there. Thanks for sharing this recipe, Love IT!!!
Delicious. I used a gingersnap base, as ginger and lime are tastes I know from South East Asia.
This pie was the BEST! New favorite. XO
Wow, absolutely fabulous recipe.
I wanted to make this in a 9 x 13 pan, so I just increased everything by 1/3 and it turned out perfect. Graham crackers in the food processor made for a quick crust, and I sliced up the cream cheeese so it would get to rrom temp faster. I really think the cream cheese added so much to the recipe, though you’d never taste it in the final product. So many compliments, thanks again.
Fabulous! Served it last night at a dinner party for 8 and everyone raved about it!!
Very easy to make. I really liked the texture and flavor.
Delicious!