No Bake Key Lime Pie

No bake key lime pie has all the smooth, creamy texture and sweet, tart taste of key lime pie without turning on the oven. Make it days ahead of time, and then slice and serve whenever you're ready!

What makes this no bake key lime pie recipe special

This pie is light, bright, and creamy, and uses all real food ingredients. The no bake pies of my youth were made with Cool Whip, and as much as I love that stuff, it has an unmistakable aftertaste.

We have a classic recipe for a baked gluten free key lime pie, but this no-bake key lime pie recipe is even easier, and there's no need to turn on the oven.

Smooth as silk, and light and bright with juiced key limes, or the perfect combination of freshly squeezed lemon and lime juices, this no bake pie is just the thing to serve during the dog days of summer.

Now wouldn’t this be fantastic with a margarita (just be sure to use gluten free tequila!) Or how about a mojito (personal fave)… Whatever you’re drinking, at least dessert is settled.

No bake key lime pie ingredients

• Powdered gelatin – I buy unflavored powdered gelatin by the canister, and measure it exclusively by weight. But if you buy Knox gelatin by the packet, the contents of 1 packet weigh 8 grams, which is the amount you need for this recipe. This is what sets this no bake pie so it can be sliced after it's chilled for 4 hours.
• Sweetened condensed milk – Sweetened condensed milk has a beautiful, rich flavor that comes from reduced cow's milk and caramelized sugar. You can buy it by the can, which usually contains 14 ounces (the amount you'll need here), or use your own homemade sweetened condensed milk (which even has a dairy free option).
• Freshly squeezed lemon-lime juice OR key lime juice – This recipe uses less lime juice than our baked custard key lime pie, and can be made with either a combination of half lemon juice, half lime juice or the juice of those beautiful little key limes we talked about above.
• Freshly grated lime zest – Be sure to remove only the part of the citrus that has color, stopping short of scraping off the bitter white pith. Even if you're using key limes for the juice, you might want to use a regular lime for the zest, since zesting a key lime is so difficult due to a combination of the thin skin of the fruit and the small surface area.
• Salt – To balance the sweetness of the sweetened condensed milk and brighten the citrus flavors, don't forget the salt!
• Heavy whipping cream – Be sure your whipping cream is very cold before you whip it into soft peaks with a handheld mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. And be sure to whip just until the cream holds soft peaks, no more. If you over whip the cream, just whip in a drop more of the liquid, and it will smooth right out.
• Gluten free crunchy cookie crumbs – I like to use our crispy gluten free graham crackers to make into crumbs here, but you can use store-bought gf crispy cookies. Schar makes a pretty good gf graham cracker. For a tightly packed crust, I crush the crackers in a blender; for a looser crust, use a food processor and make a coarser grind.
• Unsalted butter – Melted butter mixed with the cookie crumbs moistens the crumbs to hold them together, and gives the pie shape and stability when the crust is cooled. The butter also gives the crust a beautifully smooth mouth feel.

What's the difference between limes and key limes?

Key limes, also called Mexican limes, are grown in tropical and subtropical climates. They have a thinner skin than regular limes, so they are more perishable—but they make up for it by having a stronger, brighter aroma. (Source.)

Key limes are also much smaller and have more pits, so they are not easy to juice, or to zest. Have you ever juiced a key lime? It’s not something you’d soon forget. You have to juice about 2 pounds of them to get enough juice for a pie.

Key limes do have a lovely bright taste that's like a mix between lemons and limes. So… if you juice the right ratio of lemons and limes, guess what? They mostly taste like key limes. Quick & easy bonus!

How many lemons and limes do you need to make the juice for this pie?

To make the 5/8 cup, or 10 tablespoons, of lemon-lime juice that's needed for this pie, you should only need 2 large (or 3 medium) limes and 2 large (or 3 medium) lemons. Be sure to strain out all of the pits before measuring the final volume.

Tips for making no bake key lime pie

Don't skip the lime zest

It may seem like a minor addition, but blending lime zest into the juice and gelatin mixture but adds tons of flavor since there are so many essential oils in citrus skin. Try zesting your lime first, before squeezing out the juice.

Use a cold, wet knife for mess-free slicing

Thanks to the gelatin in the filling, this pie slices quite cleanly as long as it's fully set. But since it's creamy, the filling still may stick to your knife. Ensure clean slices by moistening a sharp knife with cool water before each cut.

How to store your no bake key lime pie

The pie takes about 4 hours to set completely, but you can store it for days in the refrigerator before serving it. Just be sure to cover the pie tightly when storing in the fridge, so it doesn't absorb any other odors.

Can you freeze key lime pie?

Yes, unlike a baked custard pie which doesn't freeze particularly well, you can freeze this no bake gf key lime pie. The gelatin, sugar, and cream in the filling will keep it from freezing solid. You can even enjoy the pie frozen, or let it defrost in the refrigerator before serving.

No bake key lime pie: substitutions and variations

Dairy free key lime pie

If you need to make this pie diary free, you'll need to replace the sweetened condensed milk and heavy whipping cream, plus the butter with dairy-free alternatives. In place of butter in the crust, try using Melt or Miyoko's Kitchen brand vegan butter.

Packaged sweetened condensed coconut milk should work well in place of sweetened condensed milk (the brands I've seen in my grocery store are Let's Do Organic and Nature's Charm). You can also make your own using the dairy free version of our homemade recipe.

In place of the heavy whipping cream, use the cream from a can of coconut milk. Keep it cold, and whip it just like you would heavy cream. For reference, see our dairy free no churn ice cream recipe.

Egg free key lime pie

There are no eggs in this key lime pie filling, but our recipe for gluten free graham crackers contains 1 egg. You should be able to replace that egg with 1 “chia egg” as discussed in that recipe post, or you can just use another crispy gf cookie recipe that's already egg-free.

Using bottled key lime or lime/lemon juice

If you'd like to use bottled lime, key lime, or lemon-lime juice in this recipe, I would avoid the regular lemon and lime juices, which tend to be very bitter and sour, at the same time. Instead, Nellie & Joe Key Lime Juice is quite good. The bottle is big, though, so you might want to freeze what remains for later use, or make a few no bake key lime pies!

Gluten free pie crust options

You can make this this pie with almost any gf pie crust you like. Here are a few suggestions:

• The no bake gf graham cracker crust recipe below;
• Our baked gf graham cracker crust option (just click thru for the recipe);
• A blind-baked extra flaky gluten free pie crust (this isn't my absolute favorite since we're serving the pie chilled);
• A store-bought gluten free pie crust (Mi-Del makes a premade gf graham cracker crust);
• No crust at all! This filling can stand on its own, but you might want to line the pie plate with unbleached parchment paper first.

Alternative Key lime pie topping ideas

• Pile on fresh whipped cream
• Add a dollop of marshmallow fluff
• Fresh lime slices or extra finely ground lemon or lime zest

FAQs

What does gf no bake key lime pie taste like?

The pie filling tastes tart and sweet, with a smooth and creamy texture, and the crust is crunchy and sweet. There's enough gelatin to help the pie set up and slice cleanly, but the filling still melts in your mouth.

Can I use this no bake key lime pie recipe to make key lime bars?

Sure! This filling will set up in any shape, so you can press the pie crust into a square baking pan, and pour the filling on top, then slice it into bars when set. Or try pouring it into the lined wells of a muffin tin for individual no bake pies.

Can I make this no bake pie with different flavors?

Yes, you can try any other citrus flavor you like, including lemon (with lemon juice alone, and lemon zest) or even orange. For other juice options, see our post about making homemade Jello style gelatin.

Why didn't my no bake pie set up properly?

You may not have used enough gelatin for the pie to set up properly. Did you measure your powdered gelatin by weight, and let it hydrate in the juice before you blended it together with the zest?

Did you leave the pie in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours? It takes time for gelatin to fully set the liquid it's mixed with.