Tangy Classic Baked Key Lime Pie
Follow this recipe to make an authentic, baked Key Lime Pie featuring a distinctly tart filling and a homemade graham cracker crust.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Total Time: 5 hours 35 min
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for crust)
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 4 large egg yolks
- 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup fresh key lime juice (about 10-12 limes)
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Prepare the crust: Mix graham cracker crumbs and 1/4 cup sugar in a bowl. Pour in melted butter and mix until crumbs are evenly moistened. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate.
- Bake the crust for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly.
- Prepare the filling: In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks until smooth.
- Gradually whisk in the sweetened condensed milk until fully combined.
- Stir in the fresh key lime juice and lime zest. The mixture will thicken slightly.
- Pour the filling into the pre-baked crust.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the edges are set but the center still has a slight jiggle. Do not overbake.
- Cool the pie completely on a wire rack at room temperature for 1 hour.
- Refrigerate the pie for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use only fresh key lime juice for the best tangy flavor; bottled juice will change the taste significantly.
- For a perfectly set pie, avoid baking longer than necessary; the residual heat will finish setting the center as it cools.
- If you cannot find key limes, use regular Persian limes, but you may need to increase the zest slightly to boost the aroma.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 35
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 8
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 6
- Cholesterol: 85