Easy baked key lime pie with orange flavored whipped cream and graham crackers. This is the best key lime pie and will be the yummiest dessert at any party.
This is one of the simplest American desserts with lime and orange citrus flavor. Traditional versions don’t add oranges, but in this case there is orange zest added to make the pie more aromatic. It is creamy, tart and perfectly sweetened!
Key Lime Pie Recipe Facts
Texture: soft, creamy, silky.
Taste: sweet, tart, tangy.
Simplicity: easy to make.
Meal Type: dessert, great for parties.
How to make Key Lime Pie
- Firstly prepare all ingredients: graham crackers, unsalted butter, limes, egg yolks, sweetened condensed milk, orange, whipping cream, powdered sugar.
- Secondly prepare the bottom of the pie by mixing graham crackers with melted butter. Press gently into the pan. Bake for 10 minutes at 325 F.
- In a medium bowl, combine squeezed lime juice, egg yolks and condensed milk. Mix together, pour over the graham crust and bake for 20 minutes.
- Cool off the pie.
- Combine whipping cream, powdered sugar and zest from an orange. Beat with electric mixer until soft peak.
- Spread whipped cream over the key lime pie.
Lime Pie Tips
- For this pie you will need about 6 limes. Scrape the zest from 2 limes before squeezing, therefore you will have some zest for decoration.
- Make sure to have between 3/4 cup to 1 cup of lime juice, but no less than 3/4 cup. You want your dessert to be perfectly tart. Also, don’t add more than 1 cup of lime juice. I found that between 3/4 – 1 cup is the best amount of juice.
- What to do with egg whites? You can bake Triple Berry Pavlovas or Pear and Chocolate Meringue Nests. You will need 4 egg whites to make these desserts.
- Scrape some zest from orange and add it to whipping cream before mixing with electric mixer. It will add additional flavor.
- Make sure to cool off the cake completely before adding the whipped cream.
- Honestly, the pie is best on the next day, when all ingredients will get firm and it becomes easier to cut.
Citrus Pie Faq’s
How many key limes do you need for a pie? For this particular dessert you will need about 6 large limes.
Can I freeze key lime pie? Yes, cover tightly in a plastic or glass container and freeze. It can be kept in the freezer for about 2 – 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.
Can you substitute fresh limes for lime juice? Yes, just use about 3/4 cup of the prepared lime juice that you bought in a store.
Other Desserts:
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Key Lime Pie
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups graham crackers crushed
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted
- 6 limes
- 4 egg yolks
- 2 1/2 cups sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 orange
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 2 Tbsp. powdered sugar
- 5 meringue cookies optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 F.
- In a medium bowl combine crushed graham crackers with butter. Press on the bottom of the 9" or 10" pie pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven.
- Scrape the zest from 2 limes. Set aside.
- Squeeze all the juice from 6 limes. You need minimum of 3/4 cup of lime juice but no more than 1 cup.
- In a medium bowl whisk egg yolks, sweetened condensed milk and lime juice. Whisk it to combine. Pour into the pan over the graham crackers.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven. Cool off completely for about 3 hours.
- Scrape the zest from 1/2 of the orange. Slice this orange and cut into small triangles. Leave triangles for decorations of the pie.
- In a large bowl add whipping cream, powdered sugar and orange zest.
- Beat the whipping cream until soft peak. Spread nicely on the key lime pie. Decorate with orange triangles and zest from limes.
- Store in refrigeration for few hours before cutting.
Notes
- For this pie you will need about 6 limes. Scrape the zest from 2 limes before squeezing, therefore you will have some zest for decoration.
- Prepared lime juice from the store can be used instead of fresh limes.
- What to do with egg whites? You can bake Triple Berry Pavlovas or Pear and Chocolate Meringue Nests. You will need 4 egg whites to make these desserts.
- Make sure to cool off the cake completely before adding the whipped cream.
- The pie is best on the next day, when all ingredients will get firm and it becomes easier to cut.
Nutrition
What a great classic dessert! I also love how you presented it, perfect for company!
Key Lime pie is my favorite pie. I have to say this pie looks perfect. I love the addition of orange in the topping. I cannot wait to taste this.
Key lime pie is one of my favourite desserts and yours looks incredible! I would love a slice.
I love key lime pie and I’ve always wanted to try making one. This one looks easy enough that I could totally pull it off! Thank you!
I love key lime pie but have never made it at home! Thank you for such an easy to follow and delicious recipe!