Description
Making key lime pie transports taste buds straight to Florida’s sunny shores with tangy citrus magic. Creamy, zesty filling nestled in a buttery graham cracker crust delivers pure tropical comfort that brings sunshine to your plate.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 cups sweetened condensed milk
- ¾ cup key lime juice
- ½ cup sour cream
Crust Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Garnish Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon key lime zest
- Whipped cream for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grab a 9-inch pie pan. Mix 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs, ⅓ cup sugar, and 6 tablespoons melted butter in a medium bowl.
- Press the crumb mixture firmly across the bottom and up the sides of the pie pan, creating an even layer.
- Slide the crust into the preheated 350°F oven and bake for exactly 10 minutes until lightly golden brown.
- Remove the crust and let it cool completely at room temperature.
- Whisk 3 cups sweetened condensed milk, ½ cup sour cream, ¾ cup key lime juice, and 1 tablespoon lime zest in a separate bowl until perfectly smooth.
- Pour the creamy lime filling into the cooled graham cracker crust.
- Return the pie to the 350°F oven and bake for 5-7 minutes until tiny bubbles appear across the surface.
- Pull the pie from the oven and allow it to cool completely at room temperature.
- Refrigerate the pie for a minimum of 3 hours to ensure it sets properly.
- Before serving, add a dollop of whipped cream on top if you prefer a classic finish.
Notes
- Freshly squeezed key lime juice delivers the brightest, most authentic flavor compared to bottled versions.
- Zesting the lime before juicing helps capture maximum citrus essence and adds extra brightness to the pie.
- Graham cracker crust gets extra crispy if pressed firmly and evenly into the pan with the bottom of a measuring cup.
- Refrigerating the pie overnight allows the filling to set perfectly and develops a richer, more balanced taste profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Category: Pies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 412 kcal
- Sugar: 46 g
- Sodium: 115 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 56 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg