Key Lime Pie Recipe with Raspberry Swirl

Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) Headshot By Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes)
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The BEST Key Lime Pie Recipe starts with a buttery graham cracker crust that is filled with a creamy citrus filling and unique raspberry swirl design.  This takes the classic pie to a whole new level!  A showstopper!

 

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A close up of Key Lime Pie recipe with raspberry swirl and raspberry and whipped cream garnish ready to serve
I have been making a classic key lime pie recipe for several years now. It’s one of my daddy’s absolute favorite pies so he requests it quite a bit during the year. If I don’t make him the homemade rendition, he is forced to order it at any restaurant we go to (heartbreaking I know). Thus, this how I became motivated to learn how to make key lime pie myself.
 

Table of Contents

What Is Key Lime Pie?

Classic Key Lime Pie’s name came from the Florida Keys where small key limes originated.  The recipe starts with a filling made with condensed sweetened milk, key lime juice and egg yolks.  It becomes quite creamy, sweet and delicious.  It is then poured into a graham cracker crust and baked for a few minutes then completely set in the refrigerator before serving.

Most times it is garnished with whipped cream when served and additional fruit or served plain as is.

What is most important to understand is that the juice of key limes is crucial here.  You can’t replace with regular limes for key lime pie.  The good news here is that there are several key lime juice brands on the market that you can easily find in grocery stores or even online.  I usually use Nellie’s and Joe.

Close up of easy key lime pie recipe garnished with raspberries and whipped cream.

Ingredients for Easy Key Lime Pie Recipe Filling

Making key lime pie could not be easier. The base of my Easy key lime pie recipe is a very simple mixture of the following:
  • Egg yolks
  • Sweetened condensed milk
  • Key lime juice
  • Vanilla extract

Key Point: Make sure you are getting the sweetened condensed milk and NOT Evaporated Milk. 

The sweetened milk provides the sugar for this recipe and creamy consistency.  If you buy evaporated milk, you will have an unsweetened runny mess on your hands.

Graham Cracker Crust

If you want to make this pie baking process even easier, you can also buy a pre-made graham  cracker crust at the grocery store.  However I suggest trying my insanely easy Graham Cracker recipe because it is beyond simple to throw together and tastes even more incredible!
 
However it is so simple to make the crust that it won’t matter whatever you decide. This custard is poured into a graham cracker crust and baked for 15 minutes to set.
Best key lime pie in the form topped with raspberries and whipped cream.

Simple Raspberry Swirl

There are many key lime pie recipes online but the small addition of warmed raspberry preserves swirled through the batter changes the game. It truly does make this the best key lime pie recipe online. The raspberry tartness is wonderful with the sweetness and tart flavor of the lime juice. It also makes such a huge difference in the presentation of the pie. The update is not only super easy but absolutely gorgeous and dramatic.

You can also sub in strawberry preserves if you want to switch up the berry vibes.

Other Key Lime Desserts

If you serve this raspberry key lime pie on any holiday, be ready to receive compliments galore. If you wanted to, you could also make this a multi berry key lime pie and add different flavors to it. That would be fun as well!

Craving more key lime desserts?  Try my Key Lime Pie Cookie Cups!  Or these Key Lime Pie Cookies!  Amazing!

*Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating and leave comments below!*
Raspberry Key Lime Pie | Grandbaby Cakes

Best Key Lime Pie Recipe with Raspberry Swirl

The Best Key Lime Pie Recipe starts with a buttery graham cracker crust that is filled with a creamy citrus filling and unique raspberry swirl design!  
4.30 from 10 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Author: Jocelyn Delk Adams
Course: Dessert
Servings: 8 slices

Ingredients

For the Crust:

  • 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 1/3 cup melted butter
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar

For the Filling:

  • 3 large egg yolks
  • ½ cup key lime juice
  • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk 1 can
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons seedless raspberry jam just melted in microwave until liquid
  • Optional: Whipped Cream and Raspberries for garnish
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

For the Crust:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Mix together graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and sugar in a bowl.
  • Pour the mixture into a 9 inch pie plate and press down into the plate and around the sides. Bake for 10 minutes to set.

For the Filling:

  • Whisk together egg yolks, key lime juice, condensed milk, and vanilla extract.
  • Pour filling into baked pie crust.
  • Next carefully spoon drops of melted raspberry preserves (make sure they are just melted) over filling. Using a butter knife or skewer, drag the knife through the drops creating a swirl pattern in the filling.
  • Bake for 15 minutes until set then let rest until it cools to room temperature.
  • Refrigerate for 2-3 hours, garnish with whipped cream and berries if desired and serve.

Video

Notes

Make sure you do not use regular lime juice for this recipe.  Buy key limes and squeeze juice or use store bought key lime juice.

Nutrition

Calories: 357kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 106mg | Sodium: 239mg | Potassium: 236mg | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 470IU | Vitamin C: 6.3mg | Calcium: 166mg | Iron: 0.9mg
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Filed Under:  Dessert and Baking, Oven, Pies, Spring Recipes

Comments

  3. Some tips: up the filling by half. I did as directed, and the pie could have used more filling. Additionally, I dropped the melted preserves onto the top of the pie and when I went to swirl them, they had already hardened. I would suggest dropping a spoonful, swirling, and then repeating until your preserves are gone. It looks beautiful in the pic, but there’s a little trial and error involved.

    Reply

  4. Jocelyn, I just saw you prepare this recipe on a food segment of You & Me This Morning (WCIU – Chicago). Truly glad I caught this episode. I had to view your website to see other enticing recipes. I look forward to your upcoming cookbook(s).

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much for stopping by after viewing me this morning!!! I love this recipe because it is so easy! You will love it too.

4.30 from 10 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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