The Best Key Lime Pie

This key lime pie is an American classic. Ours is made with lime juice and sweetened condensed milk in a graham cracker crust and topped with whipped cream. Use key limes if you have them, otherwise substitute regular limes.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated May 12, 2023
Elise Bauer
One slice of the best key lime pie on a plate with the rest of the pie in the background
Elise Bauer

There is something irresistible about key lime pie. Like its cousin lemon meringue, key lime pie is mouth-puckering tart and a smile-making sweet, like a pie version of lime flavored starburst candy, but in custard form, surrounded by whipped cream and graham cracker crumbs.

Key lime pie is one of those sweet indulgences that you probably shouldn't eat on a daily basis. But on a hot summer day? Or for a special gathering? This key lime pie is just perfect!

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Watch How to Make Key Lime Pie

What Is Key Lime Pie?

This all American pie is easy to make, too. Key lime pie ingredients are simple: sweetened condensed milk, lots of lime zest and juice (preferably from key limes), and just enough egg to give it a good set.

Pour the filling into a pre-baked graham cracker crust, bake briefly until the pie is set, and let it chill. Top the pie with whipped cream and serve.

Overhead shot of Key Lime Pie
Elise Bauer

Can You Use Regular Limes to Make This Pie?

Key limes are great if you can get them! They're from the Florida Keys, where they now grow wild. They are smaller and more tart than our standard Persian limes, and they have yellow centers and rinds.

If you, like me, live nowhere near Florida, you can easily make key lime pie with regular limes.

Can You Add a Meringue Topping?

Our version of Key Lime Pie has a whipped cream topping. If you'd prefer to make a meringue topping, just follow the instructions in our Lemon Meringue Pie recipe.

Key Lime Pie topped with whipped cream and lime zest
Elise Bauer

Storing Key Lime Pie

Key lime pie will keep for 2-3 days in the fridge, covered loosely with foil or plastic wrap. For presentation purposes, we recommend waiting to top your pie with whipped cream until the day you plan to serve it.

While "Frozen Key Lime Pie" exists, that's actually a different recipe. We do not recommend freezing this particular version of key lime pie.

More Recipes for Pie Lovers

The Best Key Lime Pie

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Chilling 60 mins
Total Time 100 mins
Servings 8 servings
Yield 1 pie

If you are using a store-bought graham cracker crust, please follow the directions on the package to pre-bake. Store-bought crusts are thinner than homemade and don't need as much time in the oven.

This filling will be enough for a standard store-bought crust. A homemade crust in a regular pie plate will hold more filling. You should be able to double the amount of filling if using a homemade crust if you want a thicker pie, in which case you will want to bake it longer, perhaps 15 minutes, for it to set.

Ingredients

For the crust:

  • 1 1/2 cups finely ground graham crackers (from about 9 crackers, 145g)

  • 1/4 cup butter, melted

  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar

For the Filling:

  • 1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon lime zest, divided

  • 3 large egg yolks

  • 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

  • 1/2 cup lime juice (from about 20 key limes or 4 to 6 regular limes)

For the whipped cream:

  • 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

  • 1 tablespoon powdered sugar

  • 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method

  1. Make the graham cracker crust:

    Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix the ground graham crackers, melted butter, and sugar in a bowl.

    Pour into a 9-inch pie dish and spread the graham cracker mixture with your fingers, all over the inside of the pie dish in an even layer. Use the bottom and sides of a measuring cup or drinking glass to make form a compact, even layer on the bottom and up the sides of the pan.

    Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes, then remove and set aside.

    graham cracker crust in bowl for key lime pie
    Elise Bauer
    Pressing graham cracker crust into pie dish for key lime pie
    Elise Bauer
  2. Make the lime filling:

    Put the egg yolks into a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer or whisking by hand, beat until the yolks thicken and lighten up a bit in color, about 3 minutes.

    Beat in 1 tablespoon lime zest and the sweetened condensed milk for another 2 minutes.

    Whisk in the lime juice until smooth.

    Mixing the key lime pie filling with a hand mixer
    Elise Bauer
    Pour the key lime pie filling into the pre-baked pie crust
    Elise Bauer
  3. Bake:

    Pour filling into the prepared graham cracker crust and bake at 350°F in the middle rack for only 10 minutes, until the filling is just set. It should jiggle slightly in the center like Jell-O.

  4. Chill:

    Remove from oven and let cool to room temperature. Chill in the refrigerator for an hour to overnight.

  5. Make the whipped cream topping:

    For a good sturdy whipped cream topping, it helps to start with a chilled bowl and very cold heavy whipping cream.

    Pour the cream into a large chilled bowl. Add the powdered sugar (sifted is best) and vanilla. Using an electric mixer (or whip by hand if your gym membership ran out and you want the exercise), start on low speed and increase the speed to the highest level. Whip for several minutes until firm enough to hold shape, between soft and firm peaks.

    Don't over-whip or you'll make butter.

    Spread the whipped cream over the top of the chilled key lime pie. Sprinkle with a little more lime zest. Chill until ready to serve.

    Key lime pie
    Elise Bauer
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
479 Calories
24g Fat
58g Carbs
10g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 479
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 24g 31%
Saturated Fat 14g 68%
Cholesterol 156mg 52%
Sodium 248mg 11%
Total Carbohydrate 58g 21%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 47g
Protein 10g
Vitamin C 8mg 38%
Calcium 237mg 18%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 349mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.