In the warmer months, citrusy desserts are always a refreshing treat—particularly the tart and people-pleasing Key lime pie. However, turning on the oven in the warmer months isn’t always so appealing. That’s where a no-bake Key lime pie can be a great addition to your recipe box.
Ingredients for No-Bake Key Lime Pie
- Cream cheese: Our Test Kitchen found the best cream cheese brands to bake with so your cheesecakes can come out top-tier.
- Sweetened condensed milk: Sweetened condensed milk provides a concentrated sweetness and creaminess to the pie filling.
- Key lime juice: You’ll need about 12 or so Key limes for this easy Key lime pie recipe. If you end up having extras, use them as garnish!
- Graham cracker crust: A graham cracker crust adds a lovely crunchy contrast against the smooth, light no-bake Key lime pie filling.
- Whipped topping: We complete this pie with a fluffy whipped topping.
- Limes: Thinly sliced limes make the perfect garnish. Take some decorating inspo from a few of our favorite Key lime recipes!
Directions
Step 1: Prep the crust (optional)
This first step is totally optional. If you’ve got a premade graham cracker crust in the cupboard, that’s all you’ll need to move on.
However, if you want to make a homemade graham cracker crust, it’s very simple. (Keep in mind, there’s a little baking needed here, though.) Preheat your oven to 350ºF. Crush up the graham crackers. You’ll need 2-3/4 cups. Then stir the crushed graham crackers together with 1/4 cup sugar and a stick of melted butter. Press the mixture into a pie pan, and bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes.
Remove from the oven, and let the crust cool completely to room temperature before filling.
Step 2: Stir up the filling
Grab your hand mixer and a large mixing bowl. Beat the softened cream cheese until it’s nice and smooth. Then add the sweetened condensed milk and lime juice, and beat just until blended.
Spoon the filling into the crust, and cover.
Step 3: Chill and serve
All that’s left to do is to pop the pie into the fridge for at least four hours—overnight works, too! Before serving, top with whipped topping or even homemade whipped cream.
Garnish with a few lime slices for that extra finishing touch, and serve.
Editor’s Tip: Need help getting those picture-perfect slices? Here’s the best way to slice a pie.
Recipe Variations
- Try a different crumb crust: Substitute nuts, cookies or even saltines for the traditional graham cracker crumbs. We’ve got plenty of different crumb crust ingredient ideas to inspire you.
- Garnish with extras: Along with sliced limes, you can also top your pie with extras like toasted coconut or chopped macadamia nuts!
- Swap for lite cream cheese: Feel free to swap the full-fat cream cheese for low-fat or lite cream cheese. However, avoid fat-free cream cheese or tubs of cream cheese. They won’t set as nicely, and your pie slice won’t hold its shape.
How to Store No-Bake Key Lime Pie
To store Key lime pie, wrap it in a layer of storage wrap, and keep it in the fridge for up to three days. You can leave it out at room temperature to serve for about an hour, but be sure to cover and chill it after serving.
No-Bake Key Lime Pie Tips
Can you use regular limes instead of Key limes?
Absolutely! You can use regular limes in place of Key limes in any Key lime recipe. Key limes are a bit more tart than their traditional counterparts, but the results of this substitution will still be delicious.
If you’re set on using Key limes, keep an eye out for them in the summer when they’re in season. They can be more challenging to find the rest of the year. Also, Key limes are much smaller than regular limes, so consider purchasing three or four Key limes for every regular lime you’d normally use.
What do I serve with no-bake Key lime pie?
Key lime pie is a gem on its own and doesn’t really need any other food accompaniments. If you’re looking for a wine pairing, though, a sweet and bubbly Prosecco, Lambrusco or Moscato d’Asti is a treasure with this pie.
