This is truly the BEST Key Lime Pie recipe – 6 simple ingredients and full of delicious flavor. Key Lime Pie is the perfect, light, and refreshing dessert.
Key Lime Pie is one of those simple pleasures in life that I just love. It’s probably one of my most favorite pies. And to say that I’ve eaten a lot of Key Lime Pie is an understatement. I’ve eaten it in all forms and all over the place, but I can honestly say this recipe is my absolute favorite. I don’t take calling something “THE BEST” lightly… so this is truly The BEST Key Lime Pie.
You know, Key Lime Pie is one of those recipes that I feel like a lot of people are intimidated by, but I’ve made it SO easy for you here! In fact, you can get this one on the table with as few as 6 ingredients… seriously.
Do I have to use eggs in my Key Lime Pie?
A more authentic Key Lime Pie calls for egg yolks, but I find that leaving them out and adding sour cream produces a smoother and creamier pie that we just love. I actually made both versions and served them to the family and everyone picked this version with the sour cream as the best. Just try it and you’ll see what I mean!
What is a substitute for key lime juice in key lime pie?
What makes this a KEY Lime Pie are the Key Limes. They’re not your standard Persian lime. The flavor is a bit different, and they are much smaller. That means it will take a lot more to get the juice you’ll need for this pie. It took me about 20 Key Limes to get 3/4 cup of juice, but could take a few more.
Now, you are welcome to use regular lime juice or even use bottled Key Lime juice, just know it will affect the flavor. This is also a case where fresh is best.
You may also substitute a combination of lemon and lime juice for a closer variation of key lime juice. Simply use 1/2 fresh lemon juice with 1/2 fresh lime juice for a key lime juice substitute.
Tips for your Key Lime Pie crust:
- Store-bought is fine! If you’ve been around here any time at all, then you know I’m all about using shortcuts to make meal prep easy and less time-consuming, so using a pre-made graham cracker pie crust is perfectly fine here.
- Deep dish is best! Try to get or make a deep dish pie crust, if possible. Otherwise, all the filling may not fit. And, no one wants to miss out on any of that creamy goodness.
- You can make your own very easily! Making a homemade crust is easy! If you want to make one from scratch, you can follow my very simple recipe below on how to make a homemade graham cracker crust.
Learn how to make a Homemade Graham Cracker Crust!
There’s something about a buttery, sweet, and salty graham cracker crust that makes for the perfect vessel for just about any pie. And while I am certainly no stranger to the convenience of a pre-made crust, sometimes I want to make a recipe a little special and make the crust, too.
How to make a Graham Cracker Crust
Recipe Card
The BEST Key Lime Pie
Ingredients
- 1 (9-inch) deep dish prepared graham cracker crust
- 2 (14-ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 3/4 cup key lime juice
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F. In a large bowl, whisk together the condensed milk and sour cream. Once smooth, add the lime juice. Whisk until smooth and thickened. Pour into the prepared pie crust. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes.* Cool on the counter, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
- Once ready to serve, beat the cream and powdered sugar together until you get stiff peaks. Top the pie with the whipped cream and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
Janine
The key lime pie recipe was amazing! My husband said, a 9.5. And he is hard to please with desserts.
I used the sour cream variation. Organic. AND I added one egg.
Beautiful, Janine! So glad to hear y’all enjoyed it!
Kerinsa
I love making these into mini key lime pies. Do you think they would freeze well?
Great idea! Yeah, I think they’d freeze just fine.
MARIE STEADMAN
Pie came out beautifully!! I am from Michigan, we usually don’t get key limes this far North. I used key lime juice and it came out great. If I get the opportunity to get Key Limes I will make the pie with them for sure.
I’m so happy to hear it turned out great for you, Marie!
Amy Clark
I never made key lime pie and I always assumed it was very complex! I made it for a cook out this weekend! My great aunt always had key lime pie on hand when we were little and eanytime I eat it I think of her ❤️
Hope everyone enjoyed it!!
Elizabeth Wagner
I’ve been making this recipe for years! It’s my husband’s absolute favorite. We use the store bought shortbread pie crust- he says this is his favorite combination ever.
Big smiles over here!! 🙂
Joyfuljan
This is the recipe I have used for years. It is truly the best! I have actually won 1st place in a couple of recipe contests at church with this pie. Also brings a good price at our dessert auctions to help our teens pay for their camp costs. Such a yummy recipe!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful recipes!
I love this so much!!
Samantha
I’ve made this pie many times, and will be making it again this weekend for a friend’s birthday. My husband says it may be the best pie I’ve made – and I make a lot of pies. Thanks for sharing!
Awww! Thank you!! I’m so glad y’all have enjoyed it!
Mary Faircloth
This is a great pie and always a hit when I serve it. Freezes beautifully.
Thanks, Mary!!
Renae Frizell
I love this pie & crust I do add pecans to my crust and give them a rough chop reminiscent of Hillstones. Wonderful recipe …
That sounds a delicious twist on the crust! Thanks for sharing!
Debbie
Didn’t have limes, so I used lemons. Made a great lemon pie.
Sounds great! I actually have a lemon version of this! 🙂
Joan Stephens
2 Questions: 1. what brand of sweetened condensed milk do you use?
2. If using a premade graham cracker crust, does it need to be baked and cooled? Can’t wait to try this recipe. I love Key Lime Pie.
I typically use Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk. And no, the store bought graham cracker pie crust doesn’t need to be baked before being used. Hope you enjoy it!
Gloria Holland
We loved the pie! It was awesome! Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Of course! So glad you loved it!
Janet cherry
Can’t believe you only cook 6-8 minutes, is the recipe wrong?
You cook for that time just to set and to let the bubbles rise to the top. Not a required step!
Randy Smith
I recently made this for my family and everyone loved it. Easy recipe to make and very tasty! Also loved the homemade whipped cream on top. Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks, Randy! Glad to hear y’all enjoyed it!
Lisa @ The Plain-Spoken Pen
Sour cream? I’m intrigued! I’ll have to try it and report back with what the family thinks.
I know they will LOVE it!
Dave
I’m not sure how you guys got it yellowish or greenish (not that it should be greenish). Mine turned out brownish which is the same color as the sweetened condensed milk. The sour cream slightly lightened the brownish color so I guess I would call it a tan color. I don’t really care though as long as it tastes good. We still have a couple of hours before we are going to chow down on this thing.
The pie isn’t actually green, it’s just the way it looks in the photos. Different brands of sweetened condensed milk will have different colors.
Phyllis
Oh Stacey, I made this pie for a dinner party I hosted last night, and it was absolutely the very best key lime pie I’ve ever made. (And believe me, I’ve made a few!) So creamy, so tasty, and so easy!! I can’t believe a reader could have slammed your recipe without reading the full blog first. At any rate, this pie is absolutely delicious. I used 10 key limes and it gave me just a tad under 3/4 cups of juice, which turned out to be just the right amount. This recipe is a keeper, for sure. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.
Fantastic! I’m so glad to hear that it turned out great for you!! Thanks for letting me know!
Carol Walker
This pie is just yummy! My husband wanted a key lime pie and even though my local grocery didn’t have key limes, the Persian ones worked out just fine. We both just love your recipe. The sour cream sold me on trying it and I’m so glad I did. I may try the bottled key lime juice for the next one. Thanks for sharing.
So glad to hear y’all enjoyed it, Carol!
Laura
Has anyone tried to double and put in 9 x 13 dish? I’d love to take to family gathering.
I think you’d be better off to make two pies rather than trying to double this one. Hope everyone enjoys it!
Tara
Made this for my uncles birthday tonight. Our family raved .. my born and raised in FL mom even said it was the best key lime pie she’d had. The creamy texture is amazing and it’s the perfect tart / sweet ratio. This is replacing a recipe that we’ve used for over 20 years.
PS – the color is spot on.
Thank you for another winner. Your recipes have been a bright spot for our family during this quarantine!
Thank you so much, Tara! Your sweet words mean so much. And I’m so glad everyone enjoyed the pie!!
JAMIE
Loved it, very good. My husband and I don’t like whipped cream so we skipped it but actually may try it next time. This set perfectly and the homemade crust was solid as well. I halved both recipes and used a standard pie plate since I didn’t have a deep dish.
So glad to hear that you enjoyed it, Jamie! This is one of my most favorite recipes!
Bonnie
I made this for my husband’s Birthday, since Key Lime pie is his favorite ever since he visited Key West as a kid. We only could get regular limes and no juice (due to pandemic situation). I squeezed limes and one lemon to reach 3/4 cup. I followed everything else exactly. I also used a zip lock bag corner to pipe the whipped cream on the outside edge and a little in the center. I sprinkled lime zest over the top. He absolutely LOVED it, and I did too!!! We put his birthday candles in the pie and sang! I will definitely make this again. The flavor and texture were amazing!!!!
Thank you so much, Bonnie! I’m so glad the recipe made his birthday special!
Cara
Fuck all these haters about the color of the pie Stacey. Dont even worry about that shit. Thanks for sharing your pie recipe
Cara
Kris
Oh, adding 5 stars!!!
Kris
Every year I make my nephew something key lime for Christmas, after he fell in love with key lime pie after visiting Key West. This year I tried your recipe. I got a late night text from him saying “this is the best key lime pie I’ve ever had” and that means a lot coming from him. He commented how smooth and balanced it was. I didn’t have the heart to admit how easy this recipe was!! This is the new go-to recipe for his Christmas key lime pie (which he eats the whole thing with a fork out of the plate, and doesn’t share with anyone). Thank you!
LOVE hearing stories like this! So glad your nephew enjoyed it!
Marissa
Love this recipe!
Do you think you could freeze the pie after cooking to cut down the setting time?
I don’t see why not. Enjoy!
Cheryl Lesley
My sister has a Key Lime tree in her back yard. We live in Florida. I baby the tree all year, watering and making sure it has everything it needs so when it is ready to give limes we are ready and willing to pick and make our pies. The lines are great in cocktails as well.
You’re so fortunate to have access to fresh limes like that!
Jenny McGee
Forgot to post the stars. I gave it 5.
So glad you enjoyed it, Jenny!
Jenny McGee
This is a great recipe. First one that I have tried at home and this Will be my go to recipe for my key lime pie cravings. It is wonderfully sweet and tart. I used Nellie and Joe’s bottled key lime juice. Thanks so much for sharing.
Lynda Blocker
Hi Stacey,
I had a recipe for Key Lime Pie that I had used for years but after trying your recipe, I threw my old recipe away. I love yours and everyone that has tried the pies I’ve made from your recipe seem to love it. As for Debbie and her complaints, I will say what my grandmother always said. “If you can’t say something good, don’t say anything at all”. She was a smart woman and a good cook too!
Thanks for sharing your recipe and I’m happy I found it!
Lynda
What a compliment! Thanks so much, Lynda! So glad you enjoyed it! Now it’s got me thinking about Key Lime Pie too!
Cathy
I can’t believe the comments Debbie made, I cannot eat eggs so traditional key lime pie kills me. This pie tastes just like the ones we get when we are in Florida! However I have never been to Key West but if the people are mean and bitter, like Debbie, I may never visit that area. Who really cares what color the pie is? So petty, maybe you should focus on being grateful and not tear others down. I don’t see your blog!
Thanks so much, Cathy. You just can’t please everyone, I suppose.
Eva
Stacy, the lady with the “REAL” key lime recipe is a bit persnickity to say the least, I have never wanted to try that recipe because of the raw egg, I don’t care if it’s technically cooked by the acid in the juice. I will give this a try, and I must say your graham crust recipe is better than most I’ve seen in the past year, a small amount of sugar not the 1 cup a lot call for. But I make mine without because I find it’s sweet enough. I love key limes, they do have a totally different taste, they are hard to find way up here in Northern Canada but they do occasionally show up.
I sure hope you can find some up that way and will get a chance to make this one. Thanks, Eva!
Linda
Hi there! This looks wonderful! I have a couple questions:
1. Can low-fat sour cream be used
2. If using your recipe for the graham cracker crust, does it still need to be prebaked before filling? I wondered since the pie is baked after the filling is poured in the crust.
Thank you!
Hi Linda! I’ve not tried it with the low fat sour cream, so I can’t say for sure. I would still recommend baking the crust.
Susan
This looks and sounds delicious. I’m going to the store for key limes so I can make this soon.
Hope y’all enjoy it!!
Angela Oddo
Excellent! I made it for my son, & he loved it! Thanks!!!!
So glad y’all enjoyed it!!
Anna Banana
That couldn’t possibly compare to the wonderful key lime pies that the legendary Captain Kutchie Pelaez bakes at his key lime pie factory.
What couldn’t compare? My pie?
Elizabeth Brown
I make a LOT of Key lime pies using the recipe from Kermit’s Key Lime Pie Shop in Key West. People here seem to really like them. I am open to new recipes, so I plan to try yours. You can’t have too many good Key lime pie recipes!
Bigred – Russellville, AR
This one has a super creamy texture that we just love.
emily
This is probably a really dumb question but why do you have to bake it if it doesn’t have eggs? What is changing when you bake it?
That’s not dumb at all. The heat helps to set the pie a bit.
Sandra
Once it is chilled, will the filling set up nicely so it can be sliced in neat slices?
It should! Are you having trouble with it?
Stacey English
I look forward to making this pie for our Friday lunch at work, with green food coloring added. I love key lime pie!
Awesome! I hope everyone will enjoy!!
Cory
This is EXACTLY the pie I have been looking for for YEARS. THANK YOU!!! Super delicious, creamy, perfect combo of tart and sweet. You have no idea that you made my YEAR with this pie.
Well, I’m just tickled you finally found THE RIGHT one! 🙂
McKenzie
This pie was a huge hit! Had the perfect amount of tart and sweet. LOVE!
So glad y’all enjoyed it!!
Pam
Yum!! I know what I am making for Christmas day!!!
Hope you’ll enjoy!!
Sandy
This pie is awesome. I had some reservations cause I am a key lime pie lover for years.
So smoother and creamy and I used bottled keylime juice they have now. Lots easier then driving time to the keys and grabbing a few limes off the trees. Thank you and I am sure wirh a little dash of real key limes not one would know the difference. So happy with this now
.
Awesome, Sandy! I’m tickled you tried it and enjoyed it!
Dolores Evans
I added a small can of crushed, drained pineapple to all and served it…..everyone flipped over it…….had this recipe for over 60+ years. Limelight Pie….
Yum!
Jen
Where can real key lime juice be found? I don’t want to substitute with lime juice.
Thanks!!!!
You can usually find a shelf stable version right next to the other fruit and lemon juices.
Sandy
Oh boy, I can’t wait to make this. And I live in Florida too. Very hard even here to get a good key lime. I planted one in my yard and everyone loved it for baking, drinks. Personally I don’t care if it’s purple, if it’s good go for it. Can’t wait to make this tonight.
Ha! Hope you enjoy!!
Susan
I see key lime juice listed in the recipe. I think it looks great! I assumed you added a dash of green food coloring just for looks, no biggy. Its your recipe and you can add what ever you want. : ) Some people just get up in the air at every little detail. It looks refreshing in this heat, so I’ll be trying it asap !
You are SO right, Susan! I actually didn’t add any coloring to the pie. It is really more of a yellowish. It just appears slightly green in the photos. Regardless of what it’s made with or what color it is, I promise it tastes delicious! Have a great one, my friend!
Debbie
Please don’t call it a key lime pie if it DOESN’T have key lime juice in it! As a native Floridian I am offended when I go someplace and they advertise they have key lime pie and it doesn’t have a drop of key lime juice in it!! Key lime pie is NOT GREEN, it is a pale yellow!! If you use regular lime juice then you are making a lime pie! The traditional key lime pie consists of one can sweetened condensed milk, one egg yolk, 1/2 cup KEY LIME juice, and one egg white beaten. You pour this into a graham cracker crust and chill until firm. Then you can put whipped cream on top.
James
Aren’t we fragile. If you don’t lie the recipe don’t make it, If that offends you I feel very sorry for you, I imagine life is pretty tough for you. If it tastes good I don’t care what it is called, is it that important. By the way instead of being offended maybe you should read the recipe, it does have key line juice in it.
Thanks, James! And you’re right, it’s made with 100% Key Lime juice. 🙂
Rose Beatrice
James, This is a deliciuos pie. All I can say to Debbie is, how rude!
Absolutely delicious and so so easy.
Hi Debbie! I would imagine you’re the type of person that gets offended easily, if that’s the case. That said, let me clarify… The recipe does use Key Lime juice. Simply reading the recipe will show that. I do mention that regular lime juice can be used if folks can’t find Key Limes in their grocery store, simply as a substitute. I also let them know the flavor will be different. I didn’t tell them they had to call it Key Lime pie, though. As I mentioned before, this pie is a pale yellow color, it just happens to appear greenish in the photos. I sure hope your day gets better from here on out! 🙂
Joy
This recipe does use Key Lime Juice. 🙂 I squeezed a whole bag of Key Limes and it was the perfect amount- 3/4 cup. This pie was DELICIOUS! 🙂 And everyone I served it too voiced similar opinions. Thank you for the recipe, Stacey!
Joy
*Sorry, just a hair under 3/4 cup, but I went with it and I was perfectly happy with the results! 🙂
I’m so glad it turned out great for you, Joy!
Etta
Good grief, are you for real? You’re offended? You must live a sad little life. Read the recipe before bitching.
Julie
OMG… Offended by the name of a pie?
Native Floridian
Key limes are yellow when they are ripe. And the juice is not green so I’m not sure why your pie is green. Real key lime pie is yellow.
But I do love the idea of adding the sour cream and I will try it.
While that is true, most commercially sold Key Limes are harvested when they are green. They don’t continue to ripe once picked. Being that I don’t have access to a Key Lime Tree, I have to rely on what’s available at my local grocery store – as will most of my readers. But to clarify, the pie is actually yellowish – it just looks slightly green in the photos because of the other colors.