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
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Recipe
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
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I originally shared this recipe August 2017. Updated November 2019, November 2022 and March 2025.
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OMG THIS WAS A REALLY GOOD RECIPE! WILL DEFINITELY MAKE AGAIN A REAL KEEPER. BUT NEXT TIME I WILL SPRAY MY PIE PAN CAUSE IT GOT STUCK. BUT OVERALL A GOOD RECIPE. DEFINITELY DOING AGAIN👍😊
Love the pie crust from scratch. Also I really prefer the recipe from the label on Nelly and Joe’s Key Lime Juice product. You can find it on-line if you prefer a key lime pie, not as sweet, and more like the original key lime pies from the Florida Keys. The change in recipe is…the pie only takes 1/2 C juice, one can of sweetened condensed milk , no cream cheese, but does use 4 eggs yolks (the yolks make it setup), cook 15 minutes.
My father in law , loves the key lime pie posted from Tastes Better from Scratch, with the cream cheese, so I think it just depends on the personal preference. Both are really really great pie’s!!
Buen Provecho
Absolutely the best key lime pie I’ve ever had. Easy to make. Nelli’s Lime juice gives it amazing flavor!😉
If I make this recipe into smaller individual pies, do I have to change the baking time
Would love to make this pie but I live in Toronto, Canada and I have yet to find Key Lime Juice….just regular lime juice. Will this make a great difference?
PS When in Florida this winter I will certainly stock up on this item!!
You could get it online! https://www.amazon.ca/Nellie-Joes-West-Juice-Plastic/dp/B000SRK7Q2/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2TZKHPM5UJIHN&keywords=nellie+key+lime&qid=1662039651&sprefix=nellie+key+lime%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-3
Interesting recipe, all the other ones I have read call for eggs. Will try yours & send comment.
Can I use ” whipped ” cream cheese ?????
Thanks for giving it a try. Make sure to use the brick of cream cheese NOT the whipped kind!
I know you posted this question a year ago but for future reference, whipped cream cheese will change the texture of your pie to some degree and you would need to use more than what the recipe calls for because whipped has more air in it so it’s less density. I would suggest trying 6 oz instead of four and see how it goes
This pie was so easy to make and was a real crowd pleaser! I will definitely be making this again, so light and refreshing with the perfect amount of tartness.
I’m sorry to say that this key lime pie was very, very sweet. So sweet that we couldn’t eat it. I’ve not had an official key lime pie in Florida so I cannot compare it to the real thing. My husband loves key lime pie and liked the lovely lime flavour but it was sickly sweet. We’ve enjoyed so many of your recipes but this one is not for me.
Best Key Lime Pie EVER! Always a holiday favorite at our house!
This pie is perfection! Everyone loved it!