No-Bake Vegan Key Lime Pie (Gluten-Free, Allergy-Free)

This 5 ingredient No-Bake Vegan Key Lime Pie is so easy to make, gluten-free, and allergy-free! A creamy, zesty, and slightly sweet key lime filling made with coconut milk then chilled in a gluten-free graham cracker crust! Top it with dairy-free whipped cream and fresh lime zest before serving up this healthier and refreshing tropical dessert recipe!

A classic summer dessert with tropical vibes and no oven required! It's easy to see why it's a favorite during the hot months and in those humid climates (I'm looking at you, Florida!). Key lime pie is a sweet and tangy treat that is beyond easy to make on a lazy summer day! Just a little mixing together a filling on the stove, pouring it into a crust, and letting it chill to perfection in the fridge! The hardest part is waiting!

What Is Key Lime Pie?

Starting with the basics, key lime pie is traditionally made with key lime juice, eggs, and sweetened condensed milk. This filling is poured into a pie crust, most of the time a graham cracker crust, chilled and topped with meringue or whipped cream. The key (pun intended) here is the condensed milk. Many people believe this pie originated in Key West where all the key limes are, but later facts show the Borden Milk Company, maker of condensed milk, swapped key lime juice in their recipe for their already famous lemon cream pie, to further inflate those condensed milk sales!

Who exactly gets to claim fame for the key lime pie? We may never know. More Florida residents, cookbook authors, and billionaires have tried to claim the crown since the Borden Milk company revelation, but the clearest path forward from all this is a settled truce that key lime pie is truly American and enjoyed by everyone!

What's The Difference Between Key Limes and Limes?

Key limes are a special breed of limes naturalized in the Florida Keys. They differ from regular old grocery store limes in a few key factors. They're smaller and more yellow than regular limes and have a thinner rind (skin) and more seeds inside. They typically weigh 1 oz compared to a regular lime of 3 oz, thus they produce less juice and you'll need more key limes to produce the same amount of liquid as a regular lime.

What makes key lime perfect for pies though, is the juice they do produce! It's sweeter, less acidic than regular limes or lemons, and their juice is highly aromatic and powerful in packing big bold flavor! Perfect for pies, cocktails, tarts, and all of your baking needs!

Why This Recipe Is The Best

If you want to keep this recipe as easy as possible, it's only 5 ingredients! If you want to make it a little more from scratch, you'll need an extra 2 or 3, but overall you are going to be blown away but how simple, delicious, healthier, and of course allergy-friendly it is! No cashews or tofu in this vegan pie either!

• Gluten-Free
• Vegan
• Allergy-free (Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free, Peanut-Free, Wheat-Free, Sesame-Free, Corn-Free)
• Healthy, Sugar-Free (or Low-Sugar), & Oil-Free
• Kid-Friendly
• Easy & Quick to Make-Ahead
• Homemade or Semi-Homemade (You Pick!)
• Great For Summer Parties or Special Year-Round Tropical Treat

Ingredients For Vegan Key Lime Pie

• Gluten-Free Graham Cracker Crust: My semi-homemade bakers, you can use the delightful allergy-free Mi-Del Graham Style Pie Crust that is already ready to go or you can bake up a batch of homemade gluten-free graham crackers and crush them up with some vegan butter as shown in this no-bake s'mores pie recipe!
• Full-Fat Unsweetened Coconut Milk: You want a can of full-fat coconut milk for the filling. This helps the filling remain thick and creamy without the need for eggs or dairy.
• Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk: You can use a store-bought can of condensed coconut milk or make a sugar-free version yourself with a can of unsweetened coconut cream and granulated erythritol (Swerve), cooked down on the stove until thick.
• Key Lime Juice: If you have access to real, fresh key limes, by all means, use them! If not, the next best option is the OG authentic Nellie & Joe's Key Lime Juice you can buy by the bottle at most grocery stores! And if that's not feasible, you can use normal limes, but may need to add extra sweetener. I did use normal limes for the zest you'll see on top of the finished pie!
• Starch: Since this is an eggless key lime pie, the starch helps thicken and hold the creamy lime filling together! Either use arrowroot (for grain-free) or cornstarch to thicken the filling to a perfect pudding pie texture.

Pie Topping Suggestions:

You can leave the pie plain or fancy it up with some dairy-free whipped cream options and of course a few slices of lime and beautiful green zest to make your pie stand out!

• Coconut Whipped Cream
• Vegan Marshmallow Fluff
• Fresh Lime Slices
• Fresh Lime Zest (gently grate the lime rind using a Microplane!)

How To Make A No Bake Key Lime Pie

1. Add your coconut milk, condensed coconut milk, and key lime juice to a pot. Sift in the starch slowly, adding more if needed.
2. Whisk it vigorously to your pudding filling isn't lumpy from the starch. It will thicken up in 5 to 10 minutes (even more as it cools!)
3. Pour the filling into your prepared gluten-free crust and smooth out the filling.
4. Chill the pie in the fridge for at least 5-6 hours, overnight is best!
5. Add your fresh lime zest and slices to the pie.
6. Finish with whipped cream if your pie-loving heart desires!

Storing Your Plant-Based Key Lime Pie

Part of the "no-bake" process of this pie is the required chilling in the fridge. Simply place an elevated lid or loosely wrap the pie in foil to prevent it from absorbing any smells and flavors from the fridge.

You can store any leftovers of the pie for 5-7 days in the fridge. If you add whipped cream to the entire pie before storing leftovers, it may melt off during this time and lead to a soggy pie. Due to the starch content in this pie, you can freeze it for 2-3 months, but the quality of the filling may diminish when thawed. You can serve it frozen though, for a super chilled treat!

Additional Tips and Tricks

• Key lime pie isn't meant to be overly sweet. The sweetness in this pie comes from the sweetened condensed coconut milk. Additional sweetness can be found in any dairy-free whipped cream you use or the type of pie crust you pick! If you do want to make it super sweet, you can add some extra granulated sweetener to the filling when you are preparing it on the stove.
• Don't skip the lime zest! It adds so much extra fresh citrus taste to your slice of pie!
• I recommend using fresh key limes or bottled key lime juice. If you must use regular fresh limes or bottled regular lime juice, I'd suggest adding extra sweetener to reduce any bitterness.
• If you're not feeling the gluten-free graham cracker crust, you can prebake a standard gluten-free pie crust as well!
• Depending on the brand of coconut milk and sweetened condensed coconut milk you use, you may need an extra tablespoon of starch. But, remember, that the filling will thicken further once it's chilled.

More Gluten-Free Pie Recipes:

• Gluten-Free Vegan Pumpkin Pie
• Crustless Apple Pie
• Crustless Pecan Pie
• Crustless Pumpkin Pie
• Crustless Sweet Potato Pie
• No-Bake Vegan S'mores Pie

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Is it really summer if you haven't had your slice of key lime pie? Don't wait any longer! Whip up this easy peasy no-bake recipe NOW!

So tell me:

+ Are you a fan of fruity pies or are you more of a rich/chocolate kind of person?

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