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This No Bake Key Lime Pie is a must try no bake dessert recipe! Creamy, smooth, sweet, & full of that tart key lime flavor inside a prepared graham cracker crust. So easy to make with some convenient ingredients like a ready to use crust, a can of sweetened condensed milk, and cream cheese. Top it off with a homemade key lime whipped cream for the best dessert. 

For more key lime recipes be sure and try my Key Lime Cheesecake and these Key Lime Pie Cookies. 

A no bake key lime with a pie tool holding a piece of it.

No Bake Key Lime Pie Recipe

This easy to make key lime pie is a no bake recipe that takes just minutes to prepare! The creamy, smooth, tart & sweet key lime filling is topped off with a key lime whipped cream, all inside a graham cracker crust. 

It’s a light, fluffy, smooth, cool dessert that is perfect for summertime or for any get together. 

A slice of no bake pie topped with whipped cream and a lime slice. A bite taken out of the front.

Ingredients Needed

Here are the simple ingredients that you will need to make this recipe. 

  • Key Lime Pie
    • Ready Crust Graham Cracker Crust – Make it easy and just use the store bought crust. I actually prefer the store bought crusts because they hold together better when cut, and don’t crumble like homemade ones do. 
    • Cream Cheese – For best taste and texture use full-fat cream cheese.
    • Sweetened Condensed Milk
    • Key Lime Juice – This is not the same thing as lime juice. This is a bottle of key lime juice that specifically says ‘key lime juice’ on the front. You can find it in the juice aisle next to the bottled lemon juice and other juices. 
    • Powdered Sugar – Just a little sweetener for the pie so it’s not super tart. 
  • Key Lime Whipped Cream
    • Heavy Whipping Cream
    • Key Lime Juice
    • Powdered Sugar
    • Lime Zest

Ingredients for this no bake pie with each one labeled in black text.

How To Make an Easy No Bake Key Lime Pie

Learn how to make this easy no bake pie recipe with these easy step by step instructions. Read to the bottom of this post where there is a recipe card with the full recipe, including the ingredients, instructions, and all my tips. 

  • Cream Cheese + Sweetened Condensed Milk : Add the softened cream cheese and can of sweetened condensed milk into a mixing bowl. Beat with a hand mixer until combined and smooth. Make sure no lumps of cream cheese are in the batter. 
  • Key Lime : Add the key lime juice and powdered sugar. Beat until combined. 
  • Pie : Pour the mixture into the graham cracker crust. Cover with the enclosed plastic lid (from the crust) and refrigerate for at least 8 hours, or overnight. 
  • Whipped Cream : Prepare the key lime whipped cream by combining all the ingredients into the bowl of a stand mixer, or use a mixing bowl + hand mixer, and beat on low speed (increasing speed as needed) until stiff peaks form. Spread on top of the pie, pipe on top of the pie, or serve a dollop over each slice. 

How to make this recipe for a key lime pie with step by step pictures.

How to make this recipe for a key lime pie with step by step pictures.

How to make this recipe for a key lime pie with step by step pictures.

How to make this recipe for a key lime pie with step by step pictures.

Tips For Success

Here are a few of my helpful tips so that you can have success with this recipe in your own kitchen!

  • Refrigeration : This pie needs at least 8 hours, or even overnight, of fridge time so the pie can set, thicken, and the flavors can develop. Don’t try to shorten the fridge time because it will affect the texture and taste of the pie. 
  • Key Lime Flavor : If you prefer a strong & tart key lime flavor, then omit the powdered sugar from the key lime pie mixture. 
  • Full-Fat Dairy Products : Use the real, full-fat cream cheese and the regular sweetened condensed milk in this recipe. The pie tastes so much better when full fat products are used instead of reduced-fat and lite products. 
  • Key Lime Whipped Cream Topping : Don’t skip this! There are plenty of ways to serve the whipped topping. You can spread it on top of the whole pie. You can use a large piping tip + piping bag to pipe it on the edges of the pie. Or, dollop a spoonful of it over each slice of pie before serving. 

Overhead shot of a key lime pie inside a crust and topped with limes and whipped cream.

No Bake Key Lime Pie FAQ’s

  • How Long Will Leftovers Last?
    • The best thing about this key lime pie is that the leftovers get better and better! Leftovers will last in the fridge for up to 5 days. After that time, the crust will start to soften.
    • I keep the leftovers inside the tin foil pie tin and cover it with the enclosed plastic lid (from the graham cracker crust). 
  • Can I Make It Ahead of Time?
    • Yes you can! This pie needs at least 8 hours of refrigeration before serving. 
    • You can even make it up to 24 hours ahead of time too. 
    • Do not add the key lime whipped topping until right before serving. 
  • Can I Freeze a No Bake Pie?
    • I would recommend not freezing this pie. Once thawed, the pie will separate and look curdled because of the dairy in it. 
  • Variation & Substitution Ideas
    • Graham Cracker Crust : If you prefer homemade, then go ahead and make your own crust. Make sure it’s a 9″ pie size.
    • Garnishes : I like that extra lime zest on top of the pie, but you can omit that if wanted. Sometimes the zest of limes and lemons can be bitter, so it’s not always something that everyone likes. 

Close up of the side of a pie

A pie with one slice cut out of it. Topped with lime zest and whipped cream.

More No Bake Pies You’ll Love

A no bake key lime with a pie tool holding a piece of it.
Together As Family Logo

No Bake Key Lime Pie


Author Jessica - Together as Family
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Fridge Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 10 minutes
Servings 10
This No Bake Key Lime Pie is a must try no bake dessert recipe! Creamy, smooth, sweet, & full of that tart key lime flavor inside a prepared graham cracker crust. So easy to make with some convenient ingredients like a ready to use crust, a can of sweetened condensed milk, and cream cheese. Top it off with a homemade key lime whipped cream for the best dessert. 

Ingredients
  

Key Lime Pie

  • 1 (6 oz) 'ready crust' graham cracker crust
  • 2 bars (8 oz each) cream cheese softened
  • 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/3 cup key lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Key Lime Whipped Cream

  • 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon key lime juice
  • zest of a lime optional

Instructions

  • In a bowl with a hand mixer, or bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the softened cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk until combined and no lumps remain. 
    * To soften cream cheese : leave it on the counter prior to starting recipe. Or you can place the unwrapped cream cheese onto a microwave-safe plate and microwave for 30-45 seconds at the most. You want it soft to prevent lumps in the filling mixture, but not hot at all. So watch carefully. 
  • Add in the key lime juice and powdered sugar and blend until combined. Pour mixture into the prepared graham cracker crust and smooth out the top.
  • Cover with the enclosed plastic lid from the crust and refrigerate for at least 8 hours, or overnight.

Key Lime Whipped Cream

  • When ready to serve combine the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and key lime juice into a bowl. Beat together until thick and stiff peaks form. Start on low speed and increase as needed, this will avoid the cream from splashing everywhere as you beat it.
    Spread on top of the pie or put it inside a piping bag with a large tip, and pipe it on top of the pie. 
    * You can either mix the lime zest into the whipped cream or zest it on top of the pie as shown in the pictures. 

Video

Notes

Cream Cheese : Use full fat cream cheese for best texture and taste. Make sure the cream cheese is well softened before using it to avoid lumps in the batter. I microwave the unwrapped cream cheese for about 20-30 seconds in the microwave, just to slightly soften it without it being melted or hot. You can also leave the bar of cream cheese at room temperature for about 1 hour before starting the recipe. 
Graham Cracker Crust : I prefer the 'ready crust' that you buy at the store. It holds together better than homemade and does not crumble when cut. Make sure to get the smaller 6 oz crust and not the '2 extra servings' size crust. 
Key Lime Juice : You will find key lime juice in the juice aisle of the grocery store. It's usually by the bottled lemon juice. Key lime juice is not the same thing as fresh squeezed lime juice. Key lime juice comes in a bottle and specifically says 'key lime juice' on it. No need to juice key limes either. Just buy the bottled key lime juice. 
Lime Zest : When zesting the lime only zest on the very outer surface of the skin. The more you zest into the skin, the more bitter the lime zest will become. 

Nutrition

Calories: 392kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 59mg | Sodium: 273mg | Potassium: 238mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 720IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 163mg | Iron: 1mg

Did You Make This Recipe?

I'd love to see it! You can share it with me on @togetherasfamilyblog and follow on Pinterest @together-as-family-blog-recipes or Facebook @togetherasfamilyblog for more!

A pie tin with key lime pie inside of it with pie serving spoon

Did you love this recipe?

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4.38 from 50 votes (40 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




19 Comments

  1. RF Serious says:

    5 stars
    Thank yoy. GOD bless

  2. Hi!
    I made this recipe for Father’s Day and my family all loved it!! They’ve all requested I bring it to our other summer family gatherings! Do you have any suggestions for making it in a larger quantity? Perhaps a 9×13 cake pan with homemade crust. Would I double the recipe?
    Thank you so much!

    1. Together As Family says:

      I would just double the recipe and make two pies if you need to serve more people.

  3. 5 stars
    Tried this and it was delicious. I put the filling in little shortbread cups that I bought from Sam’s. Topped with a little cool whip. Very good

  4. 5 stars
    Easy to make and my family loved it!

  5. Delicious! It was so refreshing for my husband after working hard outside. Thank you! The Walmart in my town does not carry key lime juice, so I juiced the key limes. In case anyone else has this problem, it took exactly 8 small key limes to make 1/3 cup of juice and I used the juice of 1 key lime to make the whipped cream. I cut them in half and used the Citrus Press from Pampered Chef to juice them, so easy, but I am sure you can use another juicer. I ran warm water over them and rolled them on the counter to make them easy to juice, for they were pretty dark. I hope this is helpful.

    1. 5 stars
      Sorry, forgot to rate it. 😆

    2. Together as Family says:

      Love your comment! Thank you so much for sharing your experience and what worked for you. So happy to hear you and your husband like it!

  6. Lynette Mangels says:

    5 stars
    Absolutely love this recipe! I made with gluten free graham crackers and 1/2 cup of Key Lime Juice.

    1. Together as Family says:

      Thank you for your comment! Glad you like it 😊

  7. Pamela Turner says:

    5 stars
    yes I did make this pie and it was absolutely the best keylime pie I have ever eaten thank you for an awesome recipe 😋

    1. Together as Family says:

      You are so welcome! Thanks for your comment!

  8. 1 star
    This recipe did not work for us in the flavor department. My husband asked me “what did you do to this pie”? Followed the directions exactly and the Key Lime flavor was just not there. My Juice was fresh so that was not the issue. I did not even keep the recipe. So disappointed.

    1. Together as Family says:

      I’m sorry you were disappointed. What could have cause the lack of flavor is the quality of the key limes; that’s why I prefer the bottled key lime juice.

  9. 5 stars
    Heavenly! Smooth, not too tart, not too sweet…..the first bite as good as the last. I will be serving this for a long time!

    1. Together as Family says:

      Wonderful! I love to hear when a recipe earns ‘repeat’ status!

  10. Diana Moore says:

    5 stars
    ABSOLUTELY divine!!

    1. Together As Family says:

      Thank you! This is actually my personal favorite pie… EVER! I could eat key lime pie for the rest of my life 🙂 So glad you loved it. Thanks for letting me know.

  11. 5 stars
    I made this for Thanksgiving to have a lighter alternative to the traditional pumpkin and pecan pies. My husband and father-in-law both raved about how good this pie is. I managed to get a VERY small piece for myself before it was gobbled up (no pun intended). Hubby said I could ask this anytime and he wouldn’t complain.