Desserts

Key Lime Pie — Quick and Easy Recipe

Making a pie from scratch is a lot of fun, but sometimes you want to make something homemade and delicious without all the work. If you're looking for a quick and easy Key Lime Pie recipe, this is the one! What is Key…

One slice of Quick and Easy Key Lime Pie cut from the pie and served on a white dessert plate with a silver fork

Making a pie from scratch is a lot of fun, but sometimes you want to make something homemade and delicious without all the work. If you're looking for a quick and easy Key Lime Pie recipe, this is the one!

What is Key Lime Pie?

Key lime pie is a dessert consisting of Key lime juice, egg yolks, and sweetened condensed milk served in a graham cracker pie crust. It originated in the Key West, Florida area.

Rather than making a custard filling with eggs, this easy Key Lime Pie recipe uses sweetened condensed milk coupled with sour cream as the base. And by leaving out the egg in the pie base you can also serve this key lime pie to those with an egg allergy. Thee addition of both fresh lime juice and lime zest gives this easy Key Lime Pie a traditional taste in less than 30 minutes.

Is There a Difference Between a Lime and a Key Lime?

Key limes, also known as Mexican or West Indian limes, are generally smaller in size, more aromatic, tarter and more floral than regular limes. Outside the U.S. the key lime is much more common.

Although harder to find, key limes are worth hunting down and using in your next key lime pie. You may need more of these little yellower limes than regular limes, but the taste is worth the extra work. Their fresh tart flavor and powerful zest add excellent flavor and texture to this easy Key Lime Pie.

Of course if you can't find key limes in your area, feel free to use regular limes. This pie will still taste deliciously tart and sweet.

More Quick and Easy Homemade Pie Recipes

Love the idea of quick and easy homemade pie? Then check out these other great pie recipes that are so simple to make, but still full of flavor!

How to Make this Key Lime Pie - Quick and Easy Recipe:

In a medium bowl, combine condensed milk and sour cream.

Graham cracker pie crust beside a white bowl with sweetened condensed milk and sour cream. Lime zester and two limes beside the bowl
Zest grater beside a lime with zest removed and a pike of lime zest on a work surface

Use a [easyazon_link identifier="B00004S7V8" locale="US" tag="allshecooksblog-20"]microplane grater[/easyazon_link] to zest your lime.

Add the lime juice and zest to the bowl.

Lime zest and juice being poured into a white bowl with sweetened condensed milk and sour cream

Next, whisk all ingredients together until smooth. Pour filling into graham cracker crust.

Graham cracker crust and filling mixture in a bowl with a whisk used to mix ingredients.

Bake in pre-heated oven for 5 to 8 minutes, until tiny pinhole bubbles burst on the surface of pie. DO NOT BROWN!

Graham cracker crust with pie filling added. Lime, zest grater and kitchen towel beside.

Chill pie thoroughly before serving. Garnish with lime slices and whipped cream, if desired. Enjoy!

One slice of key lime pie served on a white plate.

Recipe

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Recipe

Key Lime Pie — Quick and Easy Recipe

  • Yield Servings 6
  • Prep Prep Time 15 mins
  • Cook Cook Time 8 mins
  • Total Total Time 23 mins

Ingredients

  • 1 9 inch prepared graham cracker crust
  • 3 cups sweetened condensed milk
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • ¾ cup key lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon grated lime zest

Instructions

  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

  2. 2

    In a medium bowl, combine condensed milk, sour cream, lime juice, and lime zest. Mix well and pour into graham cracker crust.

  3. 3

    Bake in pre-heated oven for 5 to 8 minutes, until tiny pinhole bubbles burst on the surface of pie. DO NOT BROWN!

  4. 4

    Chill pie thoroughly before serving. Garnish with lime slices and whipped cream, if desired.