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Easy Key Lime Pie with Homemade Whipped Cream

June 16, 2020 by Emily Hill 15 Comments

This easy key lime pie calls for a homemade graham cracker crust and the easiest pie filling ever. Top it with homemade whipped cream and it’s always a hit!

Easy Key Lime Pie with Homemade Whipped Cream - This easy key lime pie calls for a homemade graham cracker crust and the easiest pie filling ever. Top it with homemade whipped cream and it's always a hit! #keylime #keylimepie #whippedcream #dessert #baking #pie #lime #halfscratched

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I’ll be honest. I used to do a lot more from-scratch baking, especially for special occasions. But now I’m more than happy to outsource cakes (@mothermillscakes in Utah is my latest fave) and cheesecakes (trying @pies_the_limiut this week). But when someone asks for my famous easy key lime pie, I’ve gotta make that myself!

Easy Key Lime Pie with Homemade Whipped Cream - This easy key lime pie calls for a homemade graham cracker crust and the easiest pie filling ever. Top it with homemade whipped cream and it's always a hit! #keylime #keylimepie #whippedcream #dessert #baking #pie #lime #halfscratched

Granted, I’m happy to make chocolate brownie trifle or peach cobbler dump cake (SO good with ice cream) if they ask, but key lime pie with homemade whipped cream is probably my favorite because it receives such rave reviews.

Easy Key Lime Pie with Homemade Whipped Cream - This easy key lime pie calls for a homemade graham cracker crust and the easiest pie filling ever. Top it with homemade whipped cream and it's always a hit! #keylime #keylimepie #whippedcream #dessert #baking #pie #lime #halfscratched

You can totally make this recipe even easier if you buy a graham cracker crust from the store, but there’s something about smashing up those graham crackers that’s good for the soul (especially if it’s been a frustrating day).

If you prefer a little less work and finer crumbs, use a food processor or blender to grind the graham crackers. I like my crust a little more coarse, so I use my wooden rolling pin. While my old middle school woodshop class rolling pin works well, I’m dying to try this French rolling pin!

Easy Key Lime Pie with Homemade Whipped Cream - This easy key lime pie calls for a homemade graham cracker crust and the easiest pie filling ever. Top it with homemade whipped cream and it's always a hit! #keylime #keylimepie #whippedcream #dessert #baking #pie #lime #halfscratched

Plus, homemade graham cracker crust tastes way better than storebought any day.

Easy Key Lime Pie with Homemade Whipped Cream - This easy key lime pie calls for a homemade graham cracker crust and the easiest pie filling ever. Top it with homemade whipped cream and it's always a hit! #keylime #keylimepie #whippedcream #dessert #baking #pie #lime #halfscratched

And guess what? If you can’t find key lime juice, you can use regular lime juice. Last time I made this recipe, I doubled it so Nathan could have his very own birthday pie but discovered partway through, I didn’t have enough key lime juice.

I substituted regular ol’ lime juice and the pies still tasted fantastic. Whew!

Easy Key Lime Pie with Homemade Whipped Cream - This easy key lime pie calls for a homemade graham cracker crust and the easiest pie filling ever. Top it with homemade whipped cream and it's always a hit! #keylime #keylimepie #whippedcream #dessert #baking #pie #lime #halfscratched

Of course, nothing beats the homemade whipped cream on top, not even the extra creamy canned stuff. Don’t get me wrong, the canned stuff is good to have on hand when you need a quick shot of somethign sweet.

But making it yourself means you can make it as sweet as you’d like! With key lime pie, I do a little extra sugar since the pie is on the tart side. But if I’m using it to top something like brookies or applesauce crunch cake, I’ll cut back a bit on the sugar.

Easy Key Lime Pie with Homemade Whipped Cream - This easy key lime pie calls for a homemade graham cracker crust and the easiest pie filling ever. Top it with homemade whipped cream and it's always a hit! #keylime #keylimepie #whippedcream #dessert #baking #pie #lime #halfscratched

Ready to make some key lime pie? Here’s how easy it is!

How to Make Key Lime Pie

Step 1: Combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar in a bowl; press into pie plate. Bake.
Step 2: Combine sweetened condensed milk, sour cream, key lime juice, and lime zest and pour into pie pan. Bake.
Step 3: Beat heavy cream until it begins to thicken; add powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat until soft peaks form. Dollop on pie slices and serve.

Easy pie-easy!

Easy Key Lime Pie with Homemade Whipped Cream - This easy key lime pie calls for a homemade graham cracker crust and the easiest pie filling ever. Top it with homemade whipped cream and it's always a hit! #keylime #keylimepie #whippedcream #dessert #baking #pie #lime #halfscratched

If you have any key lime pie fans in the family, you’ve gotta try this recipe. It’s super easy and super scrumptious!

Printable recipe for easy key lime pie with homemade whipped cream below. Enjoy!

Easy Key Lime Pie with Homemade Whipped Cream - This easy key lime pie calls for a homemade graham cracker crust and the easiest pie filling ever. Top it with homemade whipped cream and it's always a hit! #keylime #keylimepie #whippedcream #dessert #baking #pie #lime #halfscratched

Easy Key Lime Pie

Yield: 12 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Inactive Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

This easy key lime pie calls for a homemade graham cracker crust and the easiest pie filling ever. Top it with homemade whipped cream and it's always a hit!

Ingredients

Graham cracker crust

  • 1 1/2 cups finely ground graham cracker crumbs
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 6 tablespoons butter, melted

Pie filling

  • 3 cups sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 3/4 cup key lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon grated lime zest

Whipped cream

  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 3 tablespoons powdered sugar (or to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

    Crust

    1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter in a medium bowl until well blended.
    2. Press mixture into an 8- or 9-inch pie plate. Bake for 7 minutes. Cool.

    Pie filling

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine condensed milk, sour cream, lime juice, and lime zest in a large bowl. Mix well and pour into graham cracker crust.
    2. Bake for 5 to 8 minutes until tiny pinhole bubbles burst of the surface of pie. DO NOT brown!
    3. Chill pie thoroughly before serving. Garnish with whipped cream and lime slices.

    Whipped cream

    1. Using chilled beaters and a chilled small mixing bowl, beat heavy whipping cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners’ sugar and vanilla; beat until soft peaks form.
    2. Store in refrigerator.

    Notes

    FOLLOW HALF-SCRATCHED ON INSTAGRAM (@half_scratched) and share the recipes you're whipping up in the kitchen. Don't forget the #halfscratched hashtag so we can see what you've made!

    Nutrition Information:
    Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 461Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 69mgSodium: 200mgCarbohydrates: 59gFiber: 0gSugar: 53gProtein: 8g
    © Emily Hill
    Cuisine: American / Category: desserts

    Filed Under: blogcritics, food & recipes Tagged With: dessert, food, graham cracker crust, key lime pie, pie, recipe, whipped cream

    Previous Post: « No Bake Peanut Butter S’mores Bars
    Next Post: Frosted Zucchini Brownies »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kristina P.

      May 25, 2011 at 9:17 am

      I have to admit, I’m not a huge citrus pie fan. No lemon merengue. I am OK with key lime if the lime is really subtle.

      Reply
      • Emily

        May 25, 2011 at 3:39 pm

        I’m not either but I did enjoy this pie…or at least what I licked off my fingers while cutting it!

        Reply
    2. Quinn

      May 29, 2011 at 12:23 am

      I’m amazed at how few ingredients are needed to make this! Looks divine! Throw anything in a homemade Graham cracker pie crust and I’m IN. ;)

      Reply
      • Emily

        May 29, 2011 at 5:54 pm

        It really is scrumptious even with so few ingredients. Kind of crazy!

        Reply
    3. Pam

      June 22, 2020 at 11:46 am

      Pinned this so I don’t lose track of the recipe. Buying the ingredients to make this week!

      Reply
      • Emily Hill

        June 22, 2020 at 12:40 pm

        Yay! Hope you like it!

        Reply
    4. Cookilicious

      June 22, 2020 at 11:51 am

      Thank you so much for this recipe..we loved it.

      Reply
      • Emily Hill

        June 22, 2020 at 12:40 pm

        Yay! That makes me so happy!

        Reply
    5. Amy

      June 22, 2020 at 12:05 pm

      What a fantastic dessert, this looks delicious

      Reply
      • Emily Hill

        June 22, 2020 at 12:39 pm

        It’s super delicious and super simple!

        Reply
    6. Colleen

      June 22, 2020 at 12:09 pm

      I fell in love with key lime pie on a trip to Florida, but I’ve never made it myself. This recipe looks so easy and tasty, and I am definitely going to make it.

      Reply
      • Emily Hill

        June 22, 2020 at 12:39 pm

        I honestly love how easy it is!

        Reply
    7. Sara Welch

      July 13, 2020 at 12:46 pm

      Love a good key lime recipe and this is no exception! Looking forward to enjoying this for dessert again tonight!

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Pi Day: Dutch apple or key lime? - is this REALLY my life? | is this REALLY my life? says:
      March 14, 2013 at 12:30 am

      […] Key lime pie is Nathan’s favorite and he never gets what he wants, so why start now? […]

      Reply
    2. Pieography, brownie pie & a GIVEAWAY - is this REALLY my life? | is this REALLY my life? says:
      April 4, 2013 at 8:30 am

      […] Feeling fairly confident after success with Dutch apple pie and key lime pie (Nathan’s most favorite), I decided to try my hand at the Always Changing Brownie Pretzel Pie […]

      Reply

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