Vegan Key Lime Pie
Make this creamy Vegan Key Lime Pie with a buttery graham cracker crust and you’ll enjoy the delights of your efforts. A dairy-free key lime pie recipe is not only a possibility, it’s easy because this no-bake pie takes only minutes to prepare.
Love vegan pies? Be sure to try this Vegan Lemon Meringue Pie, Vegan Strawberry Pie, or this Dark Chocolate Pie. They’re all fantastic and perfect for easy summer desserts.
I love summertime pies. For example, this vegan berry pie is a go-to favorite! Of course, I wanted to make a key lime pie vegan. After a few attempts, I created a winner!
When you’re looking for a no-bake pie, this is the best vegan key lime pie recipe around! It’s such a treat and I love the happy faces when it’s served. It’s a moment I get to enjoy as well because not only is it easy to make (with only 6 ingredients), but it’s the perfect balance between sweet and tart. I love it!
Key Ingredients for Key Lime Pie
Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe, including substitution ideas:
- Graham cracker crust — Use a store-bought graham cracker crust (which are Accidentally Vegan) or make a homemade Vegan Graham Cracker Crust. Of course, I prefer homemade.
- Key limes — You can find bags of little key limes in the produce section of most grocery stores in the spring and summer. You’ll need both the zest and the juice. See more on substitutions below.
- Sweetened condensed milk — You can buy coconut cream sweetened condensed milk. Or you can make homemade vegan sweetened condensed milk.
- Vegan cream cheese — I use either Tofutti’s or Daiya vegan cream cheese.
- Silken tofu — Here’s more on buying tofu at the grocery store. You can usually find silken tofu in the produce section or at healthy food stores.
- Coconut oil — I use refined coconut oil to create a firmer custard. Refined coconut has a more neutral flavor, but if you like coconut combined with lime, then use unrefined coconut oil.
Ingredient Spotlight
What are Key Limes?
Key limes are a hybrid fruit and they’re smaller than the average lime and more aromatic. You find them in the summer in the produce section of most grocery stores. If you can’t find key limes, use lime juice combined with a bit of lemon juice. That creates a distinctive key lime flavor.
What Makes This Recipe Shine?
- BEST CRUST — A buttery graham cracker crust is the perfect foundation for this easy pie
- TANGY — The zest of key limes makes for a tantalizingly tangy custard
- COLORFUL — Adding a few spinach leaves or food coloring adds a burst of green color!
How to Juice Key Limes
Key limes are not your typical citrus fruit. They’re much smaller than standard limes and even lemons. Here are some favorite tips for zesting and juicing key limes.
To finely grate or zest key limes:
- Wash the limes.
- Only zest the outside part of the lime, the white skin underneath is bitter and not suited for pies.
- Microplane: It takes about 4 minutes to zest 6 key limes. Hold a microplane in one hand and the lime in the other and gently press the lime across the microplane, turning the lime as you go.
- Grater: Use a grater with fine holes and press the lime against it, turning the lime to zest only the outer layer.
- Knife: You can use a knife but it takes a bit longer. Hold the lime down on a cutting board and cut off thin strips of the peel. Dice the lime strips into fine pieces.
To juice key limes:
- It takes around 18 key limes to create 1/2 cup of juice. You can supplement with some lime juice.
- Microwave the key limes for 20 seconds to soften them.
- Cut a key lime in half (cutting through the rounder side rather than stem to stem).
- Remove any obvious seeds.
- Press it onto a juicer to soften it (or use a fork).
- Then press the lime between your fingers to get all the juice.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this tasty summer pie as is, or add any of these as toppings:
- Coconut Whipped Cream
- Fresh Raspberries
- Strawberry Puree
- Vegan Chocolate Syrup
- Blueberry Sauce
Storage Tips
Store the entire pie or individual slices in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 or 5 days. The pie can also be frozen for up to 2 months. Serve the pie frozen by allowing it to thaw for a few minutes.
Marly’s Tips
Use these tips and tricks for making this healthy key lime pie recipe perfect every time:
- Transform this into a coconut key lime pie by using a can of coconut cream instead of the cream cheese.
- Make a vegan gluten-free key lime pie by using gluten-free graham crackers for the crust.
- Make a sugar-free key lime pie by substituting zero-calorie sweeteners.
- Create a raw key lime pie by using the raw crust in this Raw Vegan Cheesecake.
Vegan Summer Desserts
There are so many delicious no-bake recipes ready for your summer dessert table. One favorite is this plant-based creme brulee recipe. It’s so easy, creamy, and delicious!
If you love this dairy-free key lime pie, here are even more easy vegan summer dessert recipes to try:
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Dairy-Free Key Lime Pie
Ingredients
Key Lime Pie Filling
- 2 tablespoons key lime zest
- ⅓ cup key lime juice
- 11 oz can vegan sweetened condensed milk See notes for substitution
- 8 oz container vegan cream cheese
- 10 oz container silken tofu
- ½ cup refined coconut oil
- optional color: Add 1 to 2 drops organic green food coloring or add several fresh spinach leaves and process (use a high speed blender in order to blend the spinach leaves adequately).
Toppings
- Topping: Dairy-free Whipped Topping and Raspberries
Instructions
- Prepare the pie crust and bake at 350°F/175°C for 8 to 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
For the Key Lime Pie Filling:
- Combine the pie filling ingredients in a food processor or high-speed blender. Pulse until combined.
- Pour the pie filling into the cooled pie crust. Refrigerate for 2 hours, up to overnight. It will firm up as it chills.
- Serve with dairy-free cream whipped topping and fresh raspberries.
Serving the Pie:
- Top the pie with dollops of coconut whipped cream and key lime slices.
Recommended Equipment
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Notes
The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
This post was originally published in 2019 and was updated to include new photos, new text, and an updated recipe in 2021.
This was a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. See our full disclosure for more information.
Will this pie freeze well?
Hi Lizzie. I have frozen this pie and it was delicious! Thanks for your note, I’ll add something about this to the post.
Wayyy too tart. I could hardly eat it. I’d use less limes and more sugar.
Hi Meghan. Thanks for your comment. Sweetness is such a personal thing. We really love the tart, lightly sweet flavor of this pie. If you want more sweetness, you could drizzle a little bit of agave nectar over the top of each slice. Hope that helps!
I substituted corn starch for the agar agar (since I couldn’t find it) it’s also vegan- I think my limes weren’t quite ripe enough as it came it a tad too tart, but otherwise, the texture was wonderfl.
I must have done something wrong. Mine came out so bitter I couldn’t eat it. : (
Did you use key limes?
Do youwant the jello to be runny? In the directions it just says cooled, so not solid? And I plan to use gelatin which i know isn’t vegan but as a substitue it says online that it is a 1:1 ratio.
Hi Mariah! Thanks for your visit. I refrigerate the vegetarian jello in this recipe, which means it firms up. This is a good question and I will add it to the recipe notes. I can’t speak to gelatin because I never use it, since it’s not vegetarian. I really love working with agar agar and you can find it at health food stores and Asian markets as well.
Where I live the only healthfood store got closed down a few years ago, and next is in seattle 4hr away.
Oh, that is a long drive. I feel your pain. We didn’t use to have many health food stores and the ones we had were not very good. Kinda nut and twiggy! But now we have several. I will keep my fingers crossed for you that some return to your town. In the meantime, you can buy agar agar online. That’s the brand I use. It is pricey, but it lasts a long time. I know this won’t arrive in time for tomorrow’s dinner, but thought I’d give you that resource for next time. Hugs!!
I can’t wait. I’m going to make this tomorrow. I found key limes today for the first time in years!
Key limes are a great find!
What is the fat content ? Since you are using coconut oil , what is the cholesterol level in the pie?
Hi Mian. This recipe does not have any animal products in it which means it is cholesterol-free. Here’s a video by Dr. Gregor talking about cholesterol and plant-based diets: https://nutritionfacts.org/video/optimal-cholesterol-level/
I bet basil leaves instead of spinach leaves would be even better
Hi Wendy! Well, the thing I like about spinach leaves is it adds a little color without impacting the flavor of the pie. The basil would definitely add some flavor. I can’t decide if I would like that or not, but it would definitely be fun to try it! Let me know how it goes!
I love key lime pie,but where do l get the agar flakes and vegan produce?
You can buy agar agar flakes at most health food stores. I bought mine at Natural Grocers and it can be found in the Asian section. The other products, like the vegan cream cheese and vegan yogurt, can be purchased at health food stores, but I also find it in the health food section of our grocery store.
I Ike your recipes gives me some new ideas.Thanks.
Ideas = awesome! <3
Is there a substitute for tofu, it’s not that I don’t like it, but recently found out I am allergic to soy, as well as dairy and wheat. I use a lot of vegan substitutes like Daiya cream cheese and So Delicious dairy free coconut milk yogurt. I would buy more Silk if it wasn’t mostly soy products.
Hi Arianne. Sorry to hear about your soy allergy. This recipe might be difficult to make soy-free. If I were going to try it, I would probably add a cup of soaked and drained cashews and coconut milk yogurt. Blend that with everything else until it’s very smooth. I can’t guarantee that will set as firmly as the one above, but it should taste pretty good. Let me know how it goes!
I love Key Lime Pie and what a dream to be able to make it Vegan!
I’m with you! Hope you love it like we do!