The Best Tangy Florida Key Lime Pie Recipe Ever

Pie. Is a life without it really a life worth living? Today, I’m going to introduce you to my Florida key lime pie recipe. You can thank me later for this Key West key lime pie! It is both sweet and tangy and will wow any guests!

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Years ago, I tinkered with a lot of lime pie recipes. Some were good. Some were awful – especially one particular key lime pie with cream cheese (basically, a key lime cheesecake). Also, I tried a Cool Whip key lime pie version, an egg yolks version, a no bake key lime pie, and a key lime pie with evaporated milk. Seriously, I tried them all!

Then, I tried an All Recipes key lime pie recipe with sweetened condensed milk. The angels sang. It was the closest thing to a Florida key lime pie that I have had. That was probably 20 years ago, and I have been making this delicious dessert ever since.

Ingredients

• Condensed milk
• Key lime juice – fresh key limes or bottled key lime juice (more on this below)
• Sour cream
• Lime zest
• Unsalted butter
• Graham cracker crumbs
• Granulated sugar
• Heavy cream – for the optional whipped cream garnish
• Vanilla – for the optional whipped cream garnish
• Powdered sugar – for the optional whipped cream garnish

What is a Florida Key Lime Pie?

I’ve spent quite a bit of time in Florida. After all, it is the vacation destination for us Arkansans. One common factor in every Florida vacation I’ve ever taken is a stop for Florida key lime pie.

So what is Florida key lime pie? Basically, it is a Key West key lime pie recipe marked by tangy key limes and sweetened condensed milk. Some people add cream cheese and/or egg yolks to their versions.

My Florida key lime pie with sour cream recipe doesn’t use either one but it does have the key lime juice and the sweetened condensed milk. 

What is the Difference Between Key Limes and Limes?

When it comes to flavor, key limes offer a slightly sweeter flavor than traditional limes. Additionally, some of the difference between key limes and limes is very visual. Key limes are smaller and carry a brighter green – with a bit of yellow tone.

Key limes are quite a bit smaller. A bag of key limes at the store will often have many more pieces of fruit than a bag of limes – due to the small size. Because of the smaller size of the fruit, you need more key limes to get the same amount of juice that you would expect when working with regular limes.

Some believe key lime juice is stronger than the juice of regular limes.

Can I Use Regular Limes for Key Lime Pie?

It can be difficult to find key limes at the grocery store. It is hit or miss for us here in Arkansas. If you cannot find key limes, you can use regular limes from the grocery store, although the final result will not yield the same sweetness as with the key limes. I have made this pie with regular limes before, and it still tasted okay, but the wow factor was missing.

If you use limes, you will need to squeeze enough limes to equal 3/4 cup juice. You will probably want to use 8-10 average-sized regular limes since 2-3 limes yields about 1/4 cup juice.

Hopefully, you can find the key limes because actual key lime juice is really what is intended for this key lime pie recipe!

Can I Use Bottled Key Lime Juice in Key Lime Pie?

Absolutely! While there may be some naysayers out there who balk at using bottled key lime juice in place of fresh key limes, let’s face it. Most of us live busy lives and may not have the time for squeezing 20-30 key limes! (Although, one of my good friends has a “before the party lime squeezing party” to squeeze limes the night before any of her big parties that involves margaritas. Maybe that is something for you to consider if you want to use fresh key limes!)

We love to use bottled key lime juice from Walmart or Amazon in this recipe. The Nellie and Joe’s key lime juice is incredible! I cannot sing its praises enough! Occasionally, our Walmart runs out of it. But, luckily, I have always been able to order it quickly from Amazon. In fact, Amazon offers a double-pack of Nellie and Joe’s key lime and key lemon juice – which I use in my amazing creamy lime pie that is modeled after this Florida key lime pie recipe!

I would say 90% of the time, I use bottled key lime juice for this key lime pie recipe. One bottle has enough juice for two pies – with a little juice left over.

How Long Does Lime Juice Last?

Most would agree that fresh lime juice lasts about 24 hours. After that, the flavor starts to weaken. So you have to consider your time as to whether you will be able to squeeze limes within the 24 hour time frame of making this pie.

This is another reason I prefer to use the bottled key lime juice from Walmart or Amazon in this recipe. I don’t have to worry about that 24 hour mark!

Bottled lime juice stays fresh in the refrigerator for a long length of time with a good shelf life! The expiration date is printed on the bottles so you have a good bit of time to use it up. And with this delicious key lime pie with bottled key lime juice recipe, we always use up our key lime juice in the bottle!

Making the Graham Cracker Crust

For my condensed milk key lime pie, I start by making a homemade graham cracker crust. Sometimes, I go plain Jane. Other times, I make a coconut graham cracker crust. Almost always, I double the ingredients for two pies. These pies are the perfect sharing pies! I haven’t had anyone turn down a slice yet!

For a plain graham cracker crust, I mix the crumbs and sugar in a medium sized bowl before pouring in the melted butter. Once the concoction is thoroughly blended, I pat the crumbs down, as evenly as possible, into a pie plate. The pie plate goes into a 350 degree oven for about 8 minutes. Then, I set it on the stove top to cool and set while I make the filling.

Making the Filling for Key Lime Pie – Key West Version

No doubt, there are plenty of lime pie recipes out there which use egg yolks rather than sour cream.  But I love this creamy key lime pie recipe with sour cream so much. I feel no need to further experiment with any of the egg yolk versions.

You will need to juice 20-30 key limes or use 3/4 cup of the bottled key lime juice mentioned above. Be sure to zest some key limes with a grater. The key lime zest is needed for the pie filling and again for garnish, as you will see in the recipe card below. (If you are using bottled key lime, you can still buy a regular lime and use the zest from that.)

To create the filling, I mix all ingredients in a medium bowl and stir until all the lumps are gone.

Once the filling is ready, I pour it into the pie shells and place in the oven for 5 to 8 minutes or until tiny pinhole bubbles start to rise. Typically, I leave it in between 7-8 minutes with my oven.

When out of the oven, I let the pies cool a good while on the counter before placing them in the fridge to chill. This is nothing to rush. You will be sorry if you rush it and the pie is not firm and chilled when you go to eat. I usually try to give the pie at least three hours in the fridge to chill – preferably, overnight.

Making Whipped Cream 

As it gets close to serving time, I start on the whipped cream which makes a great key lime pie garnish.

First, I beat the cream until peaks are nearly formed. Then,  I add in the sugar and vanilla and continue beating until stiff peaks form. I keep a close eye on the peaks, because if I over beat the mixture, it winds up lumpy.

Finally, I add a dollop of whipped cream with a sprinkle of zest to the individual pie slices just before serving.

Whether you came here searching for classic key lime pie, southern key lime pie or even Mexican key lime pie, you will love this Key West key lime pie receta!  Do you have a go-to key lime juice recipe?

More Homemade Pies and Cakes

For more homemade desserts, check out some of our other favorites here on the blog!

Blueberry Upside Down Cake

Easy Chocolate Cake with Homemade Chocolate Buttercream

Lemon Strawberry Poke Cake

Pumpkin Spice Poke Cake

Butter Pecan Praline Poke Cake (Number ONE recipe on the website!)

Banana Strawberry Cake

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

White Chocolate and Raspberry Cake

Copycat Cracker Barrel Coca Cola Cake

No Bake Coconut Pecan Praline Cookies

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cookies with Oatmeal

White Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Almond Cookies

Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies

Buttery Cross Sugar Cookies

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No Bake Cranberry Pecan Cookies with Pecans

White Chocolate Oreo Bars with Marshmallows

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Edible Sugar Cookie Dough for Valentine’s Day or Any Time

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Tangy Key Lime Pie

Blueberry Mini Pies

Creamy Lemon Pie with Sour Cream

Pumpkin Pie with Condensed Milk

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No Bake Blueberry Cream Pie