Florida Key Lime Pie Recipe (2024)

Last Updated on February 7, 2024

Looking for the perfect Florida pie? You can’t beat this tasty, quintessential dessert: Authentic Florida’s Key Lime Pie.

Although there has been a push to make Strawberry Shortcake the state’s official dessert, our hearts are with the Key Lime Pie.

It’s perfect with Florida seafood or any light dish … and is an ideal way to finish almost any meal.

Authentic Florida’s Key Lime Pie Recipe

We like to make the pie with fresh key limes but realize they are increasingly harder to find.

Generally, we buy key limes from the farmer’s market, or in the absence of key limes, we use local limes.

We also use fresh limes in place of bottled key lime juice. Many use bottled juice and are happy with the results. Whatever your choice is … Enjoy.

What makes a good pie?

You hear a variety of opinions on what makes a key lime pie good. We can tell you one thing for sure.

If the key lime pie is green, it is probably not an authentic Florida key lime pie. The recipe we share below has a perfect balance of flavors.

Key Lime Pie Ingredients

Pie Crust

• ⅓ of a 1-pound box of graham crackers
• 5 Tablespoons of melted unsalted butter
• ⅓ cup of sugar

Pie Filling

• 4 egg yolks
• 2 teaspoons of lime zest – be sure to zest before you squeeze the juice.
• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened, condensed milk
• ⅔ cup of freshly squeezed lime juice (approximately 24-36 limes depending on the freshness of limes), or 6-8 regular fresh limes (again, depending on freshness.

Meringue Topping

• 4 egg whites
• ¼ tsp cream of tartar
• 2 tablespoons of sugar

How To Make Authentic Florida Key Lime Pie

Step One

Preheat the oven to 350°.

Break up the graham crackers and place them in a food processor and process the crumbs.

If you don’t have a food processor, place the crackers in a large plastic bag; seal and crush the crackers with a rolling pin.

Add the melted butter and sugar and pulse or stir until combined.

Step Two

Press the mixture into the bottom and side of a pie pan, forming a neat border around the edge.

Lightly form a border up the sides.

Bake the crust at 350° until set and golden for 8 minutes.

Set aside on a wire rack, let cool. Leave the oven on.

Step Three

For the filling, using a rasp or grater, grate 2 teaspoons of the lime skin.

Then, using a hand press, squeeze ⅔ cup of key lime juice by cutting each lime in half and placing it in a press (they are usually too small for a juicer).

Step Four

Next, separate the egg yolks from the whites.

Set aside the egg whites for the meringue if you want to use them later.

Have your sweetened condensed milk opened, your juice finished and your zest ready for the next step.

Step Five

In an electric mixer with the wire whisk attachment, beat the 4 egg yolks and 2 teaspoons of lime zest at high speed until very fluffy, about 5 minutes.

Gradually add the can of condensed milk and continue to beat until thick, 3 or 4 minutes longer. Lower the mixer speed and slowly add the ⅔ cup of lime juice, mixing just until combined, no longer.

Step Six

Pour the mixture into the crust.

Bake at 350° for 10 minutes, or until the filling has just set.

Cool on a wire rack.

Step Seven

For the topping, with a mixer, beat egg whites with cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the sugar until forming stiff peaks.

Spread over the filling and seal to the edge of the crust.

Bake at 400° for 5-8 minutes or until the meringue is golden brown.

**Note:Watch the ovenand don’t take your eyes off the meringue, it could brown quickly.

Step Eight

Place in the refrigerator and let it chill for 2-3 hours.

NOTE: This Florida Key Lime Pie Recipe first appeared on AuthenticFlorida.com on November 15, 2015.

Looking for more ways to enjoy Key Lime Pie?

The Best Places to Get Key Lime Pie in Miami
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7 Best Places to Get Key Lime Pie in Tampa
The 14 Best Key Lime Pies in the Florida Keys