This No Bake Key Lime Pie is creamy, tart, and full of fresh key lime flavor. A homemade graham cracker crust is filled with the sweet and delicious filling, then topped with whipped cream. It’s always a hit!

For more delicious pie recipes be sure to check out my Blueberry Sour Cream Pie, The Best Chocolate Pecan Pie, and Fresh Strawberry Pie.

a spatula removing a piece of pie from a plate with limes on top.

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a slice of pie on a white plate topped with whipped cream and limes.

Today’s recipe is a special one and very sentimental to me. It’s brought to you in memory of my dad.

My dad passed away last month, just days after celebrating his 80th birthday. Losing him has been hard in so many ways, and I’m learning that processing the grief comes in waves.

This weekend will be my first Father’s Day without him, and I knew I wanted to share a recipe that he loved to honor him.

a slice of pie on a white plate topped with whipped cream and limes.

Key Lime Pie was his all time favorite dessert, and I actually made a few over the years for him on Father’s Day or his birthday.

Most of those were made during my teen years before I knew my way around the kitchen. God bless my dad, because he ate them up and always told me they were the best, even though I know for a fact at least one of them tasted absolutely terrible! I remember it vividly.

a key lime pie topped with whipped cream and limes.

One of the special things about this version of No Bake Key Lime Pie is that the homemade graham cracker crust contains macadamia nuts. When we were stationed in Hawaii, I used to send chocolate covered macadamia nuts back home to him and my mom and it was one of his favorite treats.

While the macadamia nuts are totally optional in the crust, and you can leave them out if you prefer, they add a sweet and salty texture and hint of tropical flavor to the crust that is really delicious.

I hope you enjoy this easy No Bake Key Lime Pie. I’m sure my dad is eating plenty of it (and carrot cake, his other favorite) in Heaven right about now!

Ingredients for No Bake Key Lime Pie

  • graham crackers
  • brown sugar
  • macadamia nuts
  • salt
  • unsalted butter
  • cream cheese
  • sweetened condensed milk
  • sour cream
  • key lime juice
  • heavy whipping cream
  • lime zest
  • powdered sugar

How to Make No Bake Key Lime Pie – Step by Step

Step 1: Make the crust

In a 9.25 inch deep dish pie plate, combine the graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, ground macadamia nuts, salt, and melted butter. Stir with a fork until evenly mixed. Firmly press the crumbs into the pie plate and up the sides using a measuring cup. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to set. 

a graham cracker crust in a pie plate.

Step 2: Make the filling

In a large bowl, blend the sweetened condensed milk, softened cream cheese, and sour cream with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Mix in the key lime juice. Place the bowl in the refrigerator while you make the whipped cream filling. 

beaters in a glass bowl of sugar and cream.

Step 3: Make the whipped cream

In a medium sized bowl, combine the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and lime zest and whip on high speed until stiff peaks form. Remove the filling mixture from the refrigerator and fold in the whipped cream using a spatula.

whipped cream in a glass bowl.

Step 4: Chill

Pour the filling into the set pie crust and place back in refrigerator for at least 6 hours. Decorate as desired with additional whipped topping, lime slices, and lime zest.

a pie in a crush next to a bowl of limes.

No Bake Key Lime Pie – Tips and Notes

  • Use a food processor. If you have a food processor, you can use it to make your crust by first finely chopping up the nuts, then adding the other ingredients. Process until coarse crumbs are formed.
  • Crust shortcut: you can make this recipe even easier by using a pre-made graham cracker crust if you’re in a time crunch. Homemade crust is always best, though, and the macadamia nuts give this crust so much flavor, so I only recommend store bought if you’re in a pinch!
  • For a lighter pie, feel free to use light cream cheese and sour cream in the filling.
  • To decorate, add a few dollops of whipped cream (homemade or store bought is fine), some lime slices, and sprinkle a bit of lime zest over the top of the pie right before serving.
a slice of pie on a white plate topped with whipped cream and limes.

How to Store

Any leftover No Bake Key Lime Pie can be covered and stored in the refrigerator for up to four days.

a key lime pie topped with whipped cream and limes.

FAQs

Can you freeze Key Lime Pie?

Yes, this pie is freezer friendly. Prepare as instructed, then cover tightly with both plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw the pie in the refrigerator before serving. 

Can I leave out the nuts?

Most definitely. Simply omit them and make the crust as directed.

Can this be made gluten-free?

To make a gluten free version of no bake key lime pie, simply look for gluten free graham crackers at your local grocery store.

Where can I find Key Lime Juice?

I used Nellie & Joe’s Famous Key West Lime Juice for this recipe and I purchased it from my local grocery store. I’ve seen it at HEB, Walmart, and Kroger, and you can also purchase it online from Amazon here.

a spatula removing a piece of pie from a plate with limes on top.

If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and rating below. I love to hear from you and always appreciate your feedback!

a spatula removing a piece of pie from a plate with limes on top.
5 from 6 ratings

Recipe: No Bake Key Lime Pie

Yield: 8
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 6 hours 20 minutes
This No Bake Key Lime Pie is creamy, tart, and full of fresh key lime flavor. A homemade graham cracker crust is filled with the sweet and delicious filling, then topped with whipped cream. It's always a hit!

Ingredients

For the crust

  • 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup macadamia nuts, finely chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, (1 stick) melted

For the filling

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup key lime juice
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon lime zest, optional

Instructions
 

  • In a 9.25 inch deep dish pie plate, combine the graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, ground macadamia nuts, salt, and melted butter. Stir with a fork until evenly mixed. Firmly press the crumbs into the pie plate and up the sides using a measuring cup. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to set. 
  • In a large bowl, blend the sweetened condensed milk, softened cream cheese, and sour cream with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Mix in the key lime juice. Place the bowl in the refrigerator while you make the whipped cream filling. 
  • In a medium sized bowl, combine the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and lime zest and whip on high speed until stiff peaks form. Remove the filling mixture from the refrigerator and fold in the whipped cream using a spatula. 
  • Pour the filling into the set pie crust and place back in refrigerator for at least 6 hours. Decorate as desired with additional whipped topping, lime slices, and lime zest.

Notes

  • I used Nellie & Joe’s Famous Key West Lime Juice for this recipe. If you can’t find it at your local grocery store, you can order it online here.
  • Use a food processor. If you have a food processor, you can use it to make your crust by first finely chopping up the nuts, then adding the other ingredients. Process until coarse crumbs are formed.
  • Crust shortcut: you can make this recipe even easier by using a pre-made graham cracker crust if you’re in a time crunch. Homemade crust is always best, though, and the macadamia nuts give this crust so much flavor, so I only recommend store bought if you’re in a pinch!
  • For a lighter pie, feel free to use light cream cheese and sour cream in the filling.
  • To decorate, add a few dollops of whipped cream (homemade or store bought is fine), some lime slices, and sprinkle a bit of lime zest over the top of the pie right before serving.
  • Storing: Any leftover No Bake Key Lime Pie can be covered and stored in the refrigerator for up to four days.
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert
Calories: 615kcal, Carbohydrates: 54g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 42g, Saturated Fat: 22g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 14g, Trans Fat: 0.5g, Cholesterol: 101mg, Sodium: 375mg, Potassium: 349mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 40g, Vitamin A: 1184IU, Vitamin C: 6mg, Calcium: 226mg, Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Let me know! Mention @TheBelleoftheKitchen on Instagram or tag #BelleoftheKitchen.