7-Ingredient Key Lime Pie

7-Ingredient Key Lime Pie

Pie
50 min

This tangy-sweet key lime pie is deliciously simple with an extra thick and nutty crust. You need just 3 ingredients for the filling, and be sure to refrigerate the pie for at least an hour before slicing and serving.

Ingredients

  • 11(about 160g) full-sheet graham crackers
  • ½ cupsalted macadamia nuts (i use roasted)
  • 2 tablespoonsgranulated sugar
  • 5 tablespoonsunsalted butter, melted
  • 28 ounces(two 14-ounce cans/793g) full-fat sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cupkey lime juice
  • 4 largeegg yolks
  • 1 teaspoonkey lime zest
  • garnish: lime zest, quartered lime slices, macadamia nuts, whipped cream, or meringue topping

Directions

  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).

  2. 2

    Using a food processor, pulse the graham crackers and macadamia nuts together into coarse crumbs. A few larger pieces of nuts is OK. Pour into a medium bowl and stir in the sugar. Add the melted butter and stir until combined. The mixture will be thick, coarse, and sandy. Try to smash/break up any large chunks. Pour the mixture into an ungreased 9-inch pie dish. Use your hand to pat down the crumbs into the bottom and up the sides to make a crust. Use medium pressure—simply pat down until the mixture is no longer crumbly. Tips: You can use a small flat-bottomed measuring cup to help press down the bottom crust and smooth out the surface, but do not pack down too hard. And run a spoon around the bottom “corner” where the edge and bottom meet to help make a rounded crust⁠—this helps prevent the crust from falling apart when you slice into the pie. For more shaping technique tips, see the graham cracker crust recipe page.

  3. 3

    Pre-bake crust for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and leave the oven on.

  4. 4

    Whisk the sweetened condensed milk, lime juice, and egg yolks together (or use an electric mixer). Whisk in the lime zest. Pour into warm crust.

  5. 5

    Bake the pie for 18–20 minutes or until only *slightly* jiggly in the center. You want it mostly set. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely on a wire rack. Once cool, cover and chill for at least 1 hour (and up to 3 days) before serving.

  6. 6

    Garnish as desired.

  7. 7

    Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.