Easy No Bake Key Lime Pie Recipe: Simple Step By Step Guide

No bake desserts during the summer are truly the only thing keeping me going. The vegas heat is brutal, now the Oran, Algeria heat and humidity even more so.

So I’ve been mainly sticking to no-bake desserts and drinks because they allow me to keep my cool while enjoying some delicious sweet treats. No need to worry about turning on he oven, just mix everything together and throw it in the refrigerator for the most delicious treat!

This is the best homemade key lime pie

This key lime pie recipe has a filling texture that closely resembles a no-bake cheesecake but instead is flavored with tons of key lime juice for that tang and extra lime zest to truly let the flavors shine. 

It is then decorated with homemade whipped cream. This is going to be your favorite part because you can get super creative with it. Pipe dollops all over, swirl the whipped cream around the pie (like I did in the photos), or even plop the whole thing on top. The world is your oyster.

Why you need to make this recipe!

• This key lime pie is so so easy! Anyone can make it.
• It requires no baking, making it perfect for hot summer days.
• If you love tangy desserts this is it for you.
• You can make it ahead of time and serve chilled or even frozen!
• It uses either key limes or even just regular limes!

Ingredients for this easy key lime pie recipe

Here are the ingredients you will need to make this key lime pie. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full detailed ingredient measurements.

• 10-inch premade graham cracker crust– Since this is a lazy girl recipe, we are using store-bought crust. But feel free to make a homemade pie crust if you’d like with graham cracker crumbs and melted butter.
• Heavy cream– The heavy cream will make our key lime pie even more light and fluffy.
• Sweetened condensed milk– Use regular sweetened condensed milk.
• Key lime juice and zest– This is what will bring this pie together by giving it that extra tang and zestiness.
• Cream cheese– The cream cheese will give our pie creaminess and more stability. Just make sure that it is at room temperature. 
• Powdered sugar– This will sweeten our homemade whipped cream.
• Vanilla extract- This will add some brightness to the dessert.

You could also use some of the key limes as garnish for an even more impressive dessert!

Do I have to use key limes?

Nope! Regular limes work just as well and will save you time when juicing them. The tiny flavor difference is not notin’t use Key limes.

How to make a no-bake key lime pie?

This is how you can make this citrus pie. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full detailed instructions!

1. In a large bowl mix the sweetened condensed milk, key lime juice, key lime zest, and cream cheese until smooth and combined. You can do this by hand, in a large mixing bowl of a stand mixer, with a hand mixer, or even in a food processor (it’s that easy!)
2. Whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form then fold it into the lime and cream cheese mixture. If you used a food processor, transfer the mixture to a bowl to be able to fold in the whipped cream. 
3. Pour into the graham cracker crust and let set and chill in the fridge for 4 hours or overnights.

Make the whipped cream topping

1. Whip the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.
2. Decorate the key lime pie with it, top with lime slices, and serve.

Frequently asked questions – FAQ

Can I make this key lime pie with bottled key lime juice?

I always like to use fresh lime juice when making desserts but I understand that it is more readily available in stores all year round so when in a pinch it’s okay.

How to store key lime pie?

You can store this pie in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 3 days. The longer the pie sits the soggier the crust will become because of the moisture in the pie filling.

Can key lime pie be frozen?

Yes! Key lime pie freezes so well. You can store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before serving.

Why is my key lime pie runny?

There are a few reasons why that could’ve.happened, the first one is that you didn’t let your no bake pie chill in the fridge enough. It is a no bake pie so it needs time to chill and solidify properly. 

The next issue could be that you didn’t whip the heavy cream enough. Make sure that it reaches stiff peaks before folding it into the lime pie filling to make sure it can solidify properly.

Recipe variations

• Homemade pie crust-Graham cracker cookie crust made from scratch might be more fun to make if you have time. Just make sure that you’re using a 10-inch pie plate.
• Change up the whipped cream decorations- I used a star tip and piped the whipped cream all around, you can just plop it on top, or decorate it any way you want to make this pie really your own.

Can this no-bake key lime pie be made without cream cheese?

Cream cheese is what makes this pie super creamy but if you can’t get your hands on that, use mascarpone instead.

It will actually be even better with mascarpone because is richer and creamier.

No bake key lime pie

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