Key Lime Pie Recipe

This tangy-sweet key lime pie is deliciously simple with an extra thick and nutty crust. You need just 3 ingredients for the filling, and be sure to refrigerate the pie for at least an hour before slicing and serving.

Ingredients

Graham Cracker Macadamia Crust

• 11 (about 160g) full-sheet graham crackers
• 1/2 cup (62g) salted macadamia nuts (I use roasted)
• 2 Tablespoons (25g) granulated sugar
• 5 Tablespoons (71g) unsalted butter, melted

Filling + Topping

• 28 ounces (two 14-ounce cans/793g) full-fat sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup (240ml) key lime juice
• 4 large egg yolks*
• 1 teaspoon key lime zest
• garnish: lime zest, quartered lime slices, macadamia nuts, whipped cream, or meringue topping

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).
2. Make the crust: Using a food processor, pulse the graham crackers and macadamia nuts together into coarse crumbs. A few larger pieces of nuts is OK. Pour into a medium bowl and stir in the sugar. Add the melted butter and stir until combined. The mixture will be thick, coarse, and sandy. Try to smash/break up any large chunks. Pour the mixture into an ungreased 9-inch pie dish. Use your hand to pat down the crumbs into the bottom and up the sides to make a crust. Use medium pressure—simply pat down until the mixture is no longer crumbly. Tips: You can use a small flat-bottomed measuring cup to help press down the bottom crust and smooth out the surface, but do not pack down too hard. And run a spoon around the bottom “corner” where the edge and bottom meet to help make a rounded crust⁠—this helps prevent the crust from falling apart when you slice into the pie. For more shaping technique tips, see the graham cracker crust recipe page.
3. Pre-bake crust for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and leave the oven on.
4. Make the filling: Whisk the sweetened condensed milk, lime juice, and egg yolks together (or use an electric mixer). Whisk in the lime zest. Pour into warm crust.
5. Bake the pie for 18–20 minutes or until only *slightly* jiggly in the center. You want it mostly set. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely on a wire rack. Once cool, cover and chill for at least 1 hour (and up to 3 days) before serving.
6. Garnish as desired.
7. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.