This is the Mr.'s favorite dessert: key lime pie.
★ Why You'll Love this Recipe ★
No baking required!
This tangy, cool pie is a popular treat, originating from the tropical paradise, Key West. There's a lot to love about this pie, it's quite unique on all accounts.
It's not a warm pie, it actually doesn't even need to be baked! The texture is completely blended and silky smooth, not quite like any other pie or dessert really.
Then there's the flavor. It extremely tangy! Zesty limes combined with creamy sweetness really zings your tongue in a very good way!
Try it for special occasions.
It's a fun dessert for summer picnics, birthdays, or we like to make it on St. Patrick's day because of it's pretty green coloring.
★ Ingredients You'll Need ★
You only need 7 total ingredients to make this key lime pie, completely from-scratch including the crust!
Here's a look at everything you need:
You can buy a ready-made graham cracker crust to save time, or if you have some graham crackers laying around, it's not hard to make your own crust.
The magic happens in the middle so the crust isn't as important.
★ How to Make this recipe ★
Key lime pie is surprisingly easy to make!
For such complex flavors, this pie is actually really easy to make homemade. Here are the basic steps involved (full recipe is below):
- Combine crust ingredients and press into pie pan.
- Heat crust to set if desired or skip for a more crumbly crust.
- Mix together filling ingredients.
- Pour filling into pie crust.
- Chill.
- Top with whipped cream, lime zest and lime slices.
Easy!
★ Tips & FAQs ★
What does key lime pie taste like?
Key lime pie is very creamy, sweet and tart. The texture is thick and velvety. Similar to pudding but a bit more firm.
This pie is very rich. You'll only need a little slice to satisfy a craving. I like to top it with light and airy whipped cream to balance out the intense flavor.
Do you have to bake key lime pie?
Not this version. This recipe does not call for eggs so there's no need to bake anything but the crust.
However, you can get away with not baking the crust if you don't mind it being a little crumbly or you can use a ready-made graham cracker crust.
When you bake the crust you're essentially melting the sugar to make it stick together. So you could actually just press it into a glass pie pan, and then microwave it for about a minute and it would work just fine and hold together nicely.
So skip the baking, and make this a no-bake key lime pie which is just perfect for summer.
What I really enjoy about this and what I consider the "secret" ingredient is the sour cream. It really compliments and enhances the natural juices of the key limes.
Where to Find Key Limes
Well, depending on the season and the store, you may be bale to pick up a bag of key limes and fresh squeeze them. However, almost all stores, any time of the year, carry bottled key lime juice.
This Nellie & Joe's brand of key lime juice is usually easy to come by and so is what I normally use.
Does this taste like authentic Key Lime Pie?
If you've been lucky enough to enjoy a slice of authentic key lime pie then this will take you back!
Whether you've been there or not though — this recipe will have you feeling the tropical vibes with each silky smooth bite.
The verdict is out whether the first, original key lime pie recipe contained eggs or not. Some recipes call for the use eggs whites or egg yolks.
This recipe requires no eggs at all. Since we're using sweetened condensed milk, the pie holds together just fine without the use of eggs as a binder.
★ More Recipes You'll Love ★
Want the full experience of Key West at home?
Then you might like my simple Mojito and frozen Piña Colada cocktail recipes.
Want more easy dessert ideas?
Browse all my dessert recipes. Be sure to Pin your favorites for later!
This easy, no-bake key lime pie recipe was featured on South Your Mouth!
Easy Key Lime Pie
Ingredients
- ⅔ cups key lime juice
- ½ cup sour cream
- 20 oz sweetened condensed milk
- Zest of 3 large limes
- Pinch salt
GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs about 25 crackers
- ¼ cup butter melted (4 tbsp)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Toppings
- whipped cream
- 3 lime slices (regular or key limes)
- lime zest for garnish
Mighty Mrs. is a #WalmartPartner.
Instructions
- For the crust: Using a food processor, blend graham crackers with butter and brown sugar then press crumbs firmly into your pie pan. Optional (for more firm crust): Bake at 375˚ for 7 minutes (OR microwave for 1 minute to quick set) then let cool while you prepare the key lime filling.*
- For the filling: Beat together key lime juice, sour cream, sweetened condensed milk, lime zest and salt using an electric mixer.
- Pour key lime filling into crust, smooth out the top and chill, ideally for 2 hours or more.
- Before serving: Top with a thick layer of whipped cream and garnish with lime slices in the center of the pie. Zest the outside of a lime to add some green garnish to the top as well as added lime flavor!
Notes
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