No bake key lime pie is the creamy, dreamy version of a classic key lime pie! Tart and sweet, creamy yet light, this easy key lime pie recipe is ready in just 10 minutes of prep time and is ideal for warm summer days when you don’t want to turn on the oven.
Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Definitely a 5+ star rating! It’s so delicious, my husband and I ate half of it in one day! It’s the perfect summer pie. So easy and no-bake, will certainly make this again soon.” – Margaret
As someone who’s developed nearly 70 dessert recipes for this website and has been making desserts for more than 30 years, I’ve experimented with many variations of key lime pie over the years. One of my husband’s all-time favorite desserts is key lime pie, so I’ve had plenty of practice perfecting it! While I love a traditional baked key lime pie, I sometimes find them a bit too acidic. I also prefer making no bake desserts during summer to avoid heating up the kitchen.
This no bake version is my solution to both of those challenges. I’ve tested this recipe multiple times to find the ideal balance between tart and sweet, and the result is almost like a key lime pie met a cheesecake to create something entirely new. The addition of sweetened shredded coconut adds a fun summery twist that complements the lime beautifully. This zesty, light, and creamy pie has become one of my go-to summer desserts for gatherings because it’s so easy to make ahead and always gets rave reviews.
You’ll Love This No Bake Key Lime Pie!
Level of difficulty: Easy! Mix, stir, pour, chill, and slice.
Flavor: Lime, coconut, and graham cracker are the predominant flavors in this easy key lime pie recipe.
Texture: This no bake key lime pie is creamy and has a soft-set filling.
Time: While it will take you less than 10 minutes to prep your ingredients, this pie needs to chill for 3-4 hours in the fridge to set the filling.
No Bake Key Lime Pie Recipe Ingredients
Sweetened Condensed Milk: This adds the perfect amount of sweetness to your pie
Whipped Cream Cheese: While you can use regular cream cheese that is softened at room temperature, whipped cream cheese creates an extra silky and smooth filling.
Key Lime Juice: This is the star of the show! You can use either freshly squeezed key lime juice or bottled key lime juice. I generally use the bottled key lime juice to save time.
Vanilla Extract: Used as a flavor enhancer.
Sweetened Shredded Coconut: lime and coconut is a great flavor combination, and the shredded coconut adds a really fun element to this key lime pie recipe.
Pre-Made Graham Cracker Crust: using a store bought crust saves time and allows this to be a no bake pie recipe!
All ingredient measurements are outlined in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
How to Make This Easy Key Lime Pie
Prepare your filling: In a large bowl, mix together the condensed milk, whipped cream cheese, lime juice, and vanilla until smooth using a hand mixer (this can also be done with a stand mixer). Gently stir in the shredded coconut until it evenly distributed throughout the filling mixture.
Fill the crust: Pour filling mixture into the pre-made graham cracker crust and spread to the edges to create an even layer.
Chill: Cover and chill pie in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours until the filling is set
Top with extra goodness: Option to top with whipped cream, lime zest, and/or lime slices prior to serving
Serve: enjoy every last bite!
Store leftovers: if any pie remains, cover and store in the refrigerator. This pie should stay for 1-2 days just fine (to be honest, we’ve never had it last this long…).
Serving Suggestions for No Bake Key Lime Pie
This easy key lime pie is delicious on its own, but here are some ways to take it to the next level:
- Top with homemade whipped cream. I highly recommend piping or dolloping fresh whipped cream around the edge or across the top. You can control the sweetness when making your own (I prefer a slightly less sweet whipped cream to be honest).
- Add lime zest. A sprinkle of fresh lime zest on top adds beautiful color and an extra burst of citrus.
- Garnish with lime slices. Fresh lime slices make the presentation look bakery-worthy and give guests a hint of what flavor to expect.
- Drizzle with chocolate. A light drizzle of melted white or dark chocolate adds an elegant touch for special occasions.
- Serve with fresh berries. Raspberries or strawberries on the side provide a nice color contrast and complementary fruity flavor.
- Toast the coconut. For extra coconut flavor and texture, lightly toast some shredded coconut and sprinkle it on top just before serving (or have a bowl of it for guests to do this themselves if desired).
How to Store Easy No Bake Key Lime Pie
Cover the pie tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The filling will stay creamy and set, though the graham cracker crust may soften slightly over time.
You can also freeze this no bake key lime pie for up to 2 months. To do so, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then cover it with a layer of aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Label the aluminum foil with the recipe name and date made. When ready to enjoy, thaw the frozen pie in the refrigerator overnight before serving. Note: the texture may be slightly different after freezing, but it will still taste delicious.
Storage tips:
- Wait to add whipped cream topping until just before serving if storing for more than a day, as it can break down over time.
- If the pie has been topped with whipped cream, it’s best enjoyed within 1-2 days.
- Keep the pie covered to prevent it from absorbing other flavors from the refrigerator.
- For best results, let the pie sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before slicing for easier cutting and better flavor.
No Bake Key Lime Pie Recipe FAQs
Should I use fresh key limes or bottled key lime juice in this recipe? Either is a great option for this easy key lime pie recipe! I personally used the bottled key lime juice (because I don’t want to take the time to squeeze all the cute little key limes).
Someone I’m sharing this pie with doesn’t like (or is allergic to) coconut. Can I omit this ingredient from this recipe? Yes! While the coconut is great in this pie recipe, if you are not a fan or cannot have coconut, you can simply leave this ingredient out.
Is there a reason you are using a pre-made graham cracker crust instead of a homemade one? In an effort to keep this a no bake recipe, a pre-made crust is suggested. Using a store bought crust also makes this an easy dessert recipe. However, if you have a favorite graham cracker crust recipe that you love, you can definitely use it for this key lime pie.
What kind of whipped cream should I use to top this pie? I personally like to make homemade whipped cream to pipe onto my pie because I can control the sweetness (I like a slightly less sweet whipped cream). In a pinch, I have also used squirt whipped cream to top this pie and it was great (plus, it’s fun to use!).
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Easy No Bake Key Lime Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1, 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 8 oz whipped cream cheese*
- ⅔ C key lime juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ C sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 graham cracker pie crust
- optional: whipped cream for topping*
- optional: lime zest for topping*
- optional: lime slices for decoration
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together the condensed milk, whipped cream cheese, lime juice, and vanilla until smooth using a hand mixer (this can also be done with a stand mixer)
- Gently stir in the shredded coconut until evenly distributed
- Pour filling into the pre-made graham cracker crust and spread to the edges to create an even layer
- Cover and chill pie in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours until the filling is set
- Option to top with whipped cream, lime zest, and/or lime slices prior to serving
Margaret says
Definitely a 5+ star rating! It’s so delicious, my husband and I ate half of it in one day! It’s the perfect summer pie. So easy and no-bake, will certainly make this again soon.
ourlovelanguageisfood says
Thank you so much Margaret! I’m so glad to hear that you and your husband enjoyed this so much.
Janis says
Where do you buy bottled key lime juice? I’ve never seen it before.
ourlovelanguageisfood says
Hi Janis – I generally find this in the baking isle of my grocery store! You can also check in the juice isle near bottle lemon or lime juices.
M. says
Really easy, and super yummy! I liked how this felt like a blend of key lime pie and cheesecake!
ourlovelanguageisfood says
So glad you loved it! Thanks for making my recipe.