This delicious key lime dessert bursts with vibrant, tart flavors of key lime and is nestled between a buttery graham cracker crust and a homemade whipped cream topping. It’s a delightful and refreshing dessert that everyone will enjoy.
I love key lime pie, but when I need that delicious flavor for a crowd, I skip the pie and go for this key lime dessert. It’s an easy dessert that feeds far more people than one pie, and it’s incredibly easy to make. That’s my favorite kind of recipe! I love to make this dessert in the summer for barbecues, backyard parties, and potlucks. The bright, sweet citrus flavor and the decadent texture make this dessert one that everyone always loves, and it’s absolutely perfect for the hot weather!
Key Lime Dessert
This rich dessert starts with a simple graham cracker crust that I bake until golden. Then, I top it with homemade key lime custard that’s sweet, tart, and rich. I use key limes whenever possible, but it’s still delicious with regular limes, as well. I chill the dessert for a couple of hours and I finish it off by piping homemade whipped cream on top and decorating it with lime slices. It’s an easy dessert that looks so much fancier than it really is!
Why You’ll Love This Key Lime Dessert Recipe
- The homemade tart key lime filling is light and refreshing, with lime zest throughout, which perfectly balances out the sweetness of the whipped cream.
- The buttery graham cracker crust is the perfect base for the smooth and creamy key lime filling.
- It’s an easy homemade dessert that is definitely a crowd-pleaser.
Key Lime Dessert Ingredients
This dessert might look fancy, but the ingredients it uses are simple. You’ll find them all in your kitchen and your local grocery store!
Graham Cracker Crust
- Graham cracker crumbs
- Melted butter
- Granulated sugar
Key Lime Custard
- Whole milk
- Granulated sugar
- Fresh lime juice
- Egg yolks
- Cornstarch
- Salt
- Lime zest
- Lime extract
Whipped Cream
- Heavy whipping cream
- Sugar
- Vanilla extract
How to Make Key Lime Dessert
Making this dessert is easier than you might think. Although the entire dessert is homemade, the crust, filling, and whipped cream are all easy to do and take very few, very simple steps.
Step 1: Prep
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
Step 2: Make the Crust
Combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter in a medium mixing bowl and mix well until you achieve a sand-like texture that clumps together. Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the baking dish with the bottom of a measuring cup.
Step 3: Bake the Crust
Bake the crust for 10 to 15 minutes until golden brown. Then, remove it from the oven and let it cool.
Step 4: Mix the Eggs and Lime Juice
Whisk the egg yolks, lime juice, cornstarch, and salt in a mixing bowl and set aside.
Step 5: Make the Custard
Mix the milk and sugar in a large pot and bring it to a simmer over medium heat. Then, remove it from the heat and slowly pour half of it into the egg mixture, whisking to combine and temper the eggs. Pour the tempered egg mixture back into the pot and stir in the lime zest and lime extract until well combined. Continue stirring until the custard has thickened.
Step 6: Chill
Spoon the mixture over the baked, cooled crust and spread it into an even layer. Then, place a piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper over the custard, ensuring that the covering is in full contact with the entire surface of the custard. Chill for 2 to 3 hours until cold and set.
Step 7: Make the Whipped Cream
Beat the heavy whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form.
Step 8: Decorate
Pipe the whipped cream on top of the custard in dollops using a star tip. Then, top each dollop with a slice of lime. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Add the hot milk mixture slowly to the egg mixture while whisking vigorously. This helps the eggs mix into the milk mixture without scrambling.
- Stir your custard constantly while cooking it for the best texture.
- Be sure your plastic wrap or parchment paper is in full contact with the entire surface of the custard to prevent skin from forming.
Variations
- Key lime is what really makes the magic happen for this dessert, but you can use regular lime if necessary.
- Use lemon in place of lime for a delicious lemon dessert.
- You can use pre-made whipped topping if you prefer.
What to Serve with Key Lime Dessert
This delicious summer dessert is the perfect sweet treat to serve with all your favorite mains and sides at BBQs, cookouts, and potlucks. Its sweet and tangy flavor also makes it great for pairing with fresh berries and dark chocolate.
Recipe FAQ
Key lime dessert is a version of key lime pie made in a baking dish in sheet form rather than pie form.
Key limes are what make key lime pie so special. They’re a bit sweeter and milder than regular limes, giving the pie a sweeter flavor with a less powerful kick of tartness.
You can and should make this in advance! This key lime dessert is better the next day after its had a chance to chill overnight.
This dessert will last for up to 4 days in the refrigerator when stored properly.
You shouldn’t freeze this key lime dessert. Custard desserts like this do not freeze well and will almost always break when they defrost.
How to Store Leftover Key Lime Dessert
Cover this dessert in its original dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for up to 4 days.
Try This Delicious Key Lime Dessert Recipe Today
This key lime desert is rich, creamy, and full of sweet, tangy lime flavor. It’s also incredibly easy to make. That’s the best kind of recipe if you ask me. It’s fancy-looking enough for parties but easy enough for weeknight dessert or potlucks, and you’ll be in and out of the kitchen quickly. Give this recipe a try, and you’ll be looking for reasons to make it again and again. This banana cream dessert and coconut cream dessert are delicious as well.
More Delicious Desserts You’ll Enjoy
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Key Lime Dessert
Ingredients
Key Lime Filling
- 3 cups milk
- 5 egg yolks
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 5 tablespoons cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 teaspoons lime zest
- 2 teaspoons lime extract
Whipped Cream
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a 7×11 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
Graham Cracker Crust
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter. Mix until well combined and mixture is a sand-like texture that clumps together.
- Press the crust mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Bake the crust in the oven for 10-15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.
Key Lime Filling
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together egg yolks, lime juice, cornstarch, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large pot, mix together milk and sugar. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Once mixture comes to a simmer, turn off heat and pour half into the egg yolk mixture and whisk to combine well and then pour into the pot with remaining milk and sugar mixture. Stir in lime zest and lime extract until well combined.
- Stir well until custard thickens.
- Spread custard onto baked crust and spread evenly.
- Place a piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper on top of custard, pressing down lightly to cover the entire pie filling.
- Place in the fridge to cool and set up for 2-3 hours.
Homemade Whipped Cream
- In a large bowl, using an electric hand mixer, beat heavy whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks form.
- Pipe whipped cream on top of chilled custard. Top with lime slices, if desired.
Notes
Tips
- Add the hot milk mixture slowly to the egg mixture while whisking vigorously. This helps the eggs mix into the milk mixture without scrambling.
- Stir your custard constantly while cooking it for the best texture.
- Be sure your plastic wrap or parchment paper is in full contact with the entire surface of the custard to prevent skin from forming.
Nutrition
