Key Lime Pie

Published March 22, 2019. Updated March 11, 2020

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My favorite Key Lime Pie! It’s deliciously rich and creamy thanks to the sweetened condensed milk and sour cream and it has the perfect amount of zesty, bright lime flavor.

Each bite truly just melts in your mouth. Just be sure to finish it with fluffy whipped cream for an over-the-top, incredibly enticing dessert!

Slice of Best Key Lime Pie on white scalloped dessert plate set over a maroon napkin.

The Best Key Lime Pie Recipe!

Key lime pie is a great dessert year round but doesn’t something about it just scream spring and summer?

It’s so vibrant and refreshing and I love that is an easy to make pie that doesn’t require a whole lot of extra effort.

The simple filling comes together in no time and its so nice that it uses a graham cracker crust so you don’t have to wait for dough to chill and it doesn’t make the big floury mess all over the counter (and the floor, and your clothes if you’re a messy baker like me).

Plus, it’s a flavor pairing that’s just meant to be the way the honey graham cracker flavor blends with the creamy lime flavor is the perfect match.

The great thing about this pie is that it fancy enough for the holidays but it’s easy enough for an after dinner weekend treat. Any of the 365 days of the year are the perfect day to make this decadently luscious pie!

Watch the Key Lime Pie Video!

 

 

Whole key lime pie with one slice removed. Pie is decorated with swirls of whipped cream around the edges and mini lime slices.

Ingredients Needed for Easy Key Lime Pie

  • Graham crackers – for the crust. I prefer the flavor of Honey Maid brand.
  • Granulated sugar – used to sweeten the crust and the whipped cream.
  • Unsalted butter – to moisten the crust and help hold it together.
  • Egg yolks – to help set the pie.
  • Fresh limes – for bright key flavor. You’ll use both the zest and juice so zest the limes before you cut into them. Key limes or Persian limes work fine.
  • Sweetened condensed milk – classic ingredient used to add richness and sweetness.
  • Sour cream – for more rich flavor and creaminess.
  • Heavy cream – this adds the perfect finish to the pie, don’t omit it and feel free to double it!

Eight ingredients needed for key lime pie shown here including graham crackers, butter, sugar, egg yolks, limes, sour cream, sweetened condensed milk and heavy cream.

How to Make Key Lime Pie from Scratch

Prepare the graham cracker crust:

  • 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • 2. For the crust, in a food processor pulse graham crackers to fine crumbs (or alternately place graham crackers in a gallon size resealable bag, seal bag then finely crush using a rolling pin).
  • 3. In a mixing bowl stir together graham cracker crumbs and sugar then mix in butter using a fork, mixture should appear evenly coated.

Making graham cracker crumbs in a food processor for key lime pie crust.

Showing how to make graham cracker crust for key lime pie. Stirring together graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar in a glass mixing bowl.

Bake the Crust:

  • 4. Pour mixture into a 9-inch pie dish (not deep dish) and spread and press into an even layer along bottom and edges of pie (you won’t need to go the entire way up the edge, leave about 1/3-inch).
  • 5. Bake crust in preheated oven until golden brown, about 11 – 13 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. If crust bubbles up in places press it down with a cup.
  • 6. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees.

Pressing graham cracker crumbs into a 9-inch glass pie dish for key lime pie base.

Make the Filling:

  • 7. For the key lime pie filling, in a mixing bowl whisk together egg yolks and lime zest.
  • 8. Stir in sweetened condensed milk, then mix in lime juice and sour cream until well blended.
  • 9. Set mixture aside to rest 15 minutes (this allows it time to thicken before pouring into the crust).

Showing how to make key lime pie filling. Whisking egg yolks and lime zest in a glass mixing bowl.

Adding lime juice and sweetened condensed milk to key lime pie filling mixture.

Bake the Pie:

  • 10. Pour into cooled crust and spread out evenly.
  • 11. Bake pie preheated oven until nearly set, 15 – 16 minutes (pie should jiggle just slightly).
  • 12. Remove from oven and allow to cool pie on a wire rack 30 minutes, then chill in refrigerator 4 hours.

Pouring key lime pie filling over crust in glass pie pan.

Making whipped cream topping in a glass mixing bowl using an electric hand mixer. Topping is for key lime pie.Prepare the Whipped Cream Topping:

  • 13. For the whipped topping, in a mixing bowl (preferably one that has been chilled in freezer 5 minutes) using an electric hand mixer, whip heavy cream and sugar until stiff peaks form (you can mix even a little further from here for nice sturdy peaks).
  • 14. Pipe whipped topping over top, garnish with lime wedges if desired and cut into slices.

Whole key lime pie after baking, chilling and decorating.

How Should It Be Stored?

Because of the dairy and fruit juice in the pie should be stored in the refrigerator. It should keep well in there for a few days.

Can You Make Key Lie Pie with Regular Persian Limes?

Either type of limes works perfect here. They taste so similar that I don’t find it necessary to squeeze 40 mini key limes (or whatever it takes to get that much juice), the regular Persian limes work just as well.

Can I Use a Store-Bought Pie Crust?

A store-bought crust should work great here as well but you may have a few extra tablespoons of filling.

Tips for Perfect Key Lime Pie

  • Don’t use a cheese grater to zest the limes. Use a zester and press gently when zesting so you don’t get any of the white pith of the lime. That white pith would make the pie bitter.
  • Use fresh juicy limes. When selecting limes look for larger ones and give them a squeeze, they should have some give and not be hard as rocks. Juicier limes will mean less work.
  • Don’t use bottled lime juice. It wouldn’t be anywhere near as good as fresh.
  • Let the pie chill fully so it sets up properly. Plus when it’s fully chilled through it’s so refreshing.

Three slices of key lime pie on white scalloped dessert plates set over a maroon linen napkin. Plates are decorated with purple orchids.

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Slice of Best Key Lime Pie on white scalloped dessert plate set over a maroon napkin.
5 from 17 votes

Key Lime Pie

This is no doubt my favorite key lime pie! Each bite truly just melts in your mouth. It's deliciously rich and creamy thanks to the sweetened condensed milk and sour cream and it has the perfect amount of zesty lime flavor. Just be sure to finish with fluffy whipped cream for an over-the-top incredibly satisfying dessert!
Servings: 8
Prep30 minutes
Cook25 minutes
Ready in: 55 minutes

Ingredients

Crust

Filling

  • 3 large egg yolks
  • 1 Tbsp lime zest or key lime zest
  • 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk*
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) strained fresh lime juice or key lime juice
  • 1/4 cup (56g) full fat sour cream

Topping

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • For the crust: In a food processor pulse graham crackers until they become fine crumbs. Pour into a mixing bowl, whisk in sugar then pour in butter and using a fork stir until evenly moistened.
  • Pour mixture into a 9-inch pie plate and spread and press into an even layer along bottom and edges of pie dish, coming within about 1/3-inch of the top edge.
  • Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 11 - 13 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely (meanwhile prepare filling). Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. 
  • For the filling: In a mixing bowl whisk together egg yolks and lime zest. Stir in sweetened condensed milk, then mix in lime juice and sour cream until well blended. 
  • Set mixture aside to rest about 15 minutes (this allows it time to thicken before pouring into the crust).
  • Pour into cooled crust and evenly spread. Bake in preheated oven until nearly set, 15 - 16 minutes (pie should jiggle just slightly). 
  • Remove from oven and allow to cool on a wire rack 45 minutes, then chill in refrigerator 4 hours.
  • Pipe whipped topping over top, garnish with lime wedges if desired and cut into slices. Store pie in refrigerator.
  • For the whipped topping: in a mixing bowl (preferably one that has been chilled in freezer 5 minutes) using an electric hand mixer, whip heavy cream and sugar until stiff peaks form.

Notes

*Don't use fat free sweetened condensed milk or it won't turn out the same. Just the standard stuff.
**If you want enough cream to cover the pie double the amount of heavy cream and sugar for the topping.
Nutrition Facts
Key Lime Pie
Amount Per Serving
Calories 441 Calories from Fat 216
% Daily Value*
Fat 24g37%
Saturated Fat 14g88%
Cholesterol 144mg48%
Sodium 193mg8%
Potassium 265mg8%
Carbohydrates 49g16%
Sugar 38g42%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 840IU17%
Vitamin C 6.1mg7%
Calcium 189mg19%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.
Recipe originally shared March 2015, photos updated March 22, 2019.

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60 Comments

  • Michele

    I’ve made this at least 10 times. It’s different from most other recipes because of the addition of sour cream. The sour cream not only adds richness, it cuts the sweetness of the condensed milk. I’m fact I upped the sour cream to 1/2 cup for a fuller pie.

    So easy, and everyone thinks you’re a baking genius when you make it!

  • Kimberly

    Delicious. I’ve made it twice in two weeks. My husband and daughter have celiac and so I used gluten free graham crackers, which worked just fine. The pie is not too sweet and has a great, fresh lime flavor. Excellent recipe.

  • Candice Kirby

    this recipe is my go-to when making key lime pie! It’s simple enough to whip up and tastes AMAZING! The 15 minute wait before baking is 100% needed and thickens up so much.

  • Ramona St Marie

    I love this recipe. I make it for my mother, who is a huge fan. Is it possible to use the same filling recipe to make it as a pudding?

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      For a pudding I would use more egg yolks and skip the sour cream, like this.

      Glad to hear you and your mom have enjoyed this pie!

  • Melvin Castilo

    Me gustó a mi y a la familia gracias por tan buena y fácil receta

  • Tracy Chambers

    I going ahead and rating it five stars because the filling (before baking) was excellent. I think the sour cream help to cut the extreme sweetness of other key lime pies I have made. I think I will make it with sour cream from now on. I used a premade gluten free graham cracker crust as I cannot have wheat. I also used fresh squeezed let lime juice and the taste difference is incredible. I will not be using bottled juice again. It really does thicken up with the 15 minute wait before baking. Waiting for it to bake and then chill. Can’t wait!

  • Nicole B

    This pie was fresh and tangy, just like a lime pie should be. It was a huge hit at my New Year’s Eve party!!