Oh that fresh, tangy zing of key lime pie that makes us all think of summer and the beach. You know what makes it even better? When it’s cute, mini and easy to eat on-the-go! Our mini key lime pie bites take under 30 minutes to make and bake.
Key lime pie is a classic summertime dessert. In my household it’s a year-round treat. My youngest son even asked for Key Lime Pie instead of a cake for his January birthday this year. I of course was more than happy to oblige. I had a little extra graham cracker crust and filling leftover from his pie so I decided to make try making mini key lime pie bites…………they turned out delicious.
The Secret Ingredient in Mini Key Lime Pie Bites?
Lemon juice……..but you say, this is key lime pie! The lemon juice cuts the bitterness of the limes and evens out the taste. It’s optional but I think you’ll like it.
Traditional key lime pie doesn’t have vanilla in it, but I like how it adds a depth of flavor to the pie that seems lacking without it. Again, this is an optional ingredient, but this too I think you’ll like!
How To Make The Graham Cracker Crust
If you have a spare 5 minutes you can make graham cracker crust at home.
To make homemade graham cracker pie crust only takes a couple of minutes and ingredients.
Melt 6 Tablespoons of unsalted butter and let cool slightly. Buy a box of graham cracker crumbs or make your own. If you make your own crumbs it will take an additional 5-10 minutes.
To make your own graham cracker crumbs either drop the graham crackers in a food processor and pulse a few times. Or place the crackers in a gallon size freezer bag and lightly pound with a rolling pin. Then to finish off into fine pieces roll the bag with the rolling pin.
In a bowl mix the finely crushed graham crackers with the melted butter, granulated sugar and kosher salt. Mix well.
Place paper or foil muffin cups in muffin tins. You can make 24 mini key lime pie bites or 12 regular muffin size bites.
Press about a teaspoon graham cracker mix into the bottom of the mini-muffin cups or a Tablespoon into the large muffin cups. Press to firm or use the back of a ¼ teaspoon measuring spoon to press.
Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 5 minutes for the mini or 8 minutes for the large muffins. Remove and cool.
How To Make Mini Key Lime Pie Bites
While the crust is cooking and then cooling, make the mini key lime pie bites filling.
In a bowl add the key lime juice, sweetened condensed milk, egg yoks, vanilla and lemon juice. Whisk until fully incorporated.
Pour the filling into the muffin cups to ¾ full. Pop in oven for 12 minutes for the mini key lime pie bites and 16 minutes for the larger size.
The bites will not brown. You are looking for a slight jiggle in the middle of the pies, like cheesecake.
How To Zest A Lime
Citrus zest adds a nice extra flavor, but it also is visually appealing. Add zest to the batter, optional. But I really would suggest adding the lime zest to the baked mini key lime pie bites, it looks so pretty.
A microplane grater is the best way to zest any kind of citrus. I also use the microplanne grater to shred Parmesan cheese and fresh ginger.
When zesting, only zest the colored part, not the white pith underneath.
How To Store Mini Key Lime Pie Bites
Store key lime pie bites covered in the refrigerator for up to a week.
How To Freeze Mini Key Lime Pie Bites
Remove the paper or foil liners before freezing or the liners will stick to the key lime pie bites. Flash freeze by placing the bites on a baking tray in the freezer for about an hour or two. Then place in a resealable plastic baggie or freezer safe container.
The bites will freeze well for 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight to serve. Or quite frankly, on a hot day I like to grab them right out of the freezer and eat the mini bites frozen.
How To Take Mini Key Lime Pie Bites On-The-Go
You can put the mini bites in a lunch box or bento box for a few hours without worrying about the refrigeration. Don’t add any whipped cream because it will melt and be a mess.
Mini Key Lime Pie Bites
These cute little treats are cooling in the summer and just as good in the winter. Freeze the mini key lime pie bites so that you have them ready any time.
Ingredients
Crust (or buy pre-made mini graham cracker crusts in little tins)
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs buy a box of crumbs or make your own
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Filling
- 1/2 cup key lime juice bottled or squeeze fresh limes
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 3 large egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla, optional
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice, optional
Topping
- 1 cup whipped cream, optional
- 1 large lime zested
Instructions
Crust
-
Mix 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs with 1/3 cup sugar, 6 Tablespoons cooled melted butter and ¼ teaspoon kosher salt.
-
Line muffin tin with paper or foil muffin cups. Press graham cracker mix into the bottom of the cups. Press with fingers or use the back of a ¼ teaspoon for the mini bites or a thin drinking glass for the regular size muffin tin.
-
Bake crust for 5 minutes mini or 8 minutes regular size. Remove from oven and let cool.
Filling
-
While the crust is cooking, in large bowl mix ½ cup key lime juice, 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk, 3 egg yolks, 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional) and 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice (optional). Whisk well, digging to the bottom of the bowl to make sure the custard is fully mixed and smooth.
Baking and Assembly
-
Fill each muffin cup ¾ full. You’ll get 24 mini muffins and 12 regular size. You may have some crust and filling left over.
-
Pop in preheated 350 degree oven for 12 minutes for mini and 16 minutes for regular size. The key lime pie bites should jiggle a little in the middle but be solid. Similar to pudding or cheesecake. It will not brown.
Recipe Notes
Optional: The fresh lemon juice and vanilla are optional but they are secret ingredients that will elevate your key lime pie bites over all of the others out there.
Key Lime Juice: I think the brand Nellie and Joe’s makes a really good key lime juice. It’s a big brand so you can probably find it at your grocery store. Typically it’s in the juice aisle on a top shelf, sometimes in the baking aisle.
Graham cracker crumbs: If you want to crush your own crumbs use the food processor or fill a resealable gallon size freezer bag with the crackers. Lightly pound the crackers into crumbs with a rolling pin. Then finally roll the bag until you get fine crumbs.
Freeze: Flash freeze the bites on a baking sheet for an hour or two. When frozen place them in a freezer safe container or resealable freezer baggie for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Or be like me and eat directly from the freezer like ice cream.
Store: Store covered in the refrigerator up to a week.
On-The-Go: The bites will be fine at room temperature for a few hours, so they are perfect for lunch boxes or work.
WE LOVE FEEDBACK FROM OUR LOYAL READERS!
Did you like learning how to wrap a sandwich like the deli guy? Did you make any changes? Please leave a comment and star rating letting us know how you liked it and/or any comments to help improve the post for other readers. Please be kind….we try our best!
Keep up to date on our new recipes and “how to techniques” by signing up for our weekly newsletter and by following us on Pinterest, Instagram or Facebook. Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks for visiting us!
Made these yesterday, super easy.
They are so good too. Try freezing then if you can’t finish in a couple of days.
So easy to make! And delicious!!
Just in time for a cool summer treat. Glad you liked them!
So so good! My favorite key lime recipe.
So glad you like it Sara! The mini guys are my favorite, just the right amount for a sweet treat.
These were super tasty. Just the right amount of tang.
Question though, my wrappers got stuck to the pies, any ideas why?
Not sure why the wrappers stuck to the pies…………that hasn’t happened to me. I’ll search and see if I can get an answer for you.
Can I use regular limes?
Yes, key limes can be hard to find. Regular limes are a perfectly good substitute.