No Bake Key Lime Pie

Easy No-Bake Key Lime Pie tastes terrific and is so easy to make. It’s tropical goodness in a pie pan and is the perfect treat for a hot summer day.

No Bake Key Lime Pie

My husband loves the flavor of Key Lime! He would happily fly to Key West monthly to enjoy his favorite Key Lime pie.

He keeps trying to convince me that we should do a series on the best Key lime pie in Key West.

He may just want an excuse to eat everything key lime he can find. LOL!

I love how easy this no-bake key lime pie is to make. We make it with key lime juice and zest, but you can easily use regular limes if that is all you can find.

Plus, you don't have to turn your oven on when it is crazy hot out. This quick and easy Key Lime Pie recipe does need to rest in the refrigerator for a few hours.

Plan time for the pie to rest and space in the refrigerator.

If you have guests over for a barbecue, dinner, or event, make two pies. This pie's tart, tangy goodness is a crowd-pleaser and disappears quickly.

Ingredients

Here is a quick overview of the simple ingredients needed to make an epic No-Bake Key Lime Pie! The printable recipe card at the bottom of the post includes specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.

• Cream Cheese
• Whipped Cream
• Sweetened Condensed Milk
• Key Lime Juice (Fresh or Prepared)
• Key Lime Zest 
• Homemade or Store-Bought Graham Cracker Pie Crust

 

Optional Garnishes: Lime Slices, More Whipped Cream and Lime Zest

Equipment Needed

• KitchenAid Stand Mixer
• Hand Mixer
• Large Mixing Bowl: We are big fans of this glass batter bowl with a handle. It makes it easy to mix ingredients and keeps the mixing bowl steady on the counter.
• Measuring Cups
• Zester

How to Make No-Bake Key Lime Pie

I love how easy no-bake desserts are to make. They have quick and easy instructions and take little time to prepare.

The most challenging part of this recipe is planning time for this no-bake summer pie to rest in the fridge.

I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here's a quick version.

Prepare a homemade graham cracker crust, or make sure you have a store-bought crust.

If you are making a homemade crust, you will need graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar, and a 9-inch pie dish.

We use our food processor to get even graham cracker crumbs. You can crush them with a rolling pin if you do not have a food processor.

Whip the heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form, then set to the side.

In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese until it is smooth with the paddle attachment. Whisk in the lime juice, sweetened condensed milk, and fresh lime zest.

Gently fold in the whipped cream. Pour the mixture into the graham cracker crust and chill in the fridge.

You can add a variety of toppings to this no-bake Key Lime Pie.

Fun options include lime slices, more zest, Cool Whip, strawberry pieces, sliced lemons, shaved chocolate, or a combination.

Preparation and Storage

Make-Ahead: This No-Bake Key Lime Pie is make-ahead-friendly! Let it set in your fridge for at least three hours before serving for the best results.

Its a great easy twist on a traditional key lime pie

Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container and enjoy them within three to five days. The graham cracker crust will turn a bit soggy as it absorbs moisture from the pie, but it will still taste terrific.

Freezing/How to Freeze: This no-bake pie freezes well! Transfer whole or individually wrapped leftovers to an airtight, freezer-safe container and enjoy them within three months. Let frozen leftovers thaw overnight in your fridge before serving.

 

Recipe Variations

Substitutions:

You can use fat-free cream cheese or full-fat cream cheese for this recipe. The flavor will be slightly different.

Vegetarian Option: This easy, no-bake dessert is 100 percent vegetarian!

Vegan Option:

To make this recipe vegan, use plant-based cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, heavy whipping cream, and graham cracker crust.

We have yet to try it in this recipe, but we have seen a vegan sweetened coconut condensed milk that would be yummy with this Key Lime Pie’s tropical flavors. Key lime and coconut - hello, YUM!

Gluten-Free: Look for a gluten-free pie crust to make this recipe safe for a gluten-free diet.

Smaller Serving Size: Making this recipe into No-Bake Key Lime Tarts is as easy as pie! Divide the pie mixture across mini graham cracker pie crusts and place them in your fridge to set like the full-sized version.

Larger Group/More Servings:

The written recipe makes ten servings but can easily be adapted to make more! Use the slider in the recipe card to adjust it to your desired number of servings, and check that you have enough pans and fridge space to make what you need before you start.

Sugar-Free: 

This Key Lime Pie contains 26 grams of sugar per serving. Since each ingredient in this dessert contains some sugar, replace each or as many as possible with sugar-free substitutes to make it sugar-free or lower the sugar content.

 

Tips for the Best No-Bake Key Lime Pie

• Store this no-bake pie in the fridge for at least three hours to set.
• If you don't have graham crackers to make the crust, you can also make a Nilla wafer crust, sugar wafer crust, an Oreo Crust, or use a store-bought crust.
• Leave the cream cheese at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes to soften it so it mixes in easily.
• We have a ton of easy cream cheese recipes that everyone will love. 

 

What to Serve with No-Bake Key Lime Pie

This No-Bake Key Lime Pie is a must-have for your next summertime barbecue, cookout, or tiki night! Here are some menu pairing suggestions to help you celebrate more yummy tropical flavors.

Sides: Pineapple Stuffing, Hawaiian Hurricane Popcorn, Watermelon Salad, CrockPot Jamaican Jerk Wings, Hawaiian Mac Salad, CrockPot Spicy Mango Jerk Wings

Main Dishes: CrockPot Teriyaki Chicken, Funeral Sandwiches, CrockPot Hawaiian Chicken, CrockPot Teriyaki Chicken and Veggies, CrockPot Pineapple Salsa Chicken Tacos, CrockPot Hawaiian Pulled Pork

Desserts: Pig Pickin' Cake, Mandarin Orange Jello Salad, Pineapple Angel Food Cake, CopyCat Sonic Coconut Cream Pie Shake, 2 Ingredient Coconut Macaroon Cookies, Bahama Mama Popsicle, Piña Colada Poke Cake, Key Lime Bars, Coconut Pineapple Drop Cookies

Drinks: Vodka Sunrise, Malibu Sunset, Carnival Rum Jumper Cocktail, Carnival Ting Mojito, Pineapple Upside Down Cake Shot, Blue Shark Cocktail, CopyCat Carnival Caribbean Breeze Cocktail, Dirty Banana Cocktail, Mai Tai, Guavaberry Colada, Coral Reef Cocktail

When to Serve a Piña Colada

• Summer Parties
• Barbecues
• Cookouts
• Tiki Parties
• Memorial Day
• Fourth of July
• Labor Day

Great Recipe Collections

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