Key lime cheesecake pie is the perfect blend of tangy, creamy, and sweet, all wrapped up in a no-bake treat. It’s a refreshing dessert that’s as easy to make as it is to enjoy.
So, if you’re looking for the perfect dessert for those warmer months of the year, look no further!
Why you’ll love this Key lime cheesecake recipe
- The combination of the delicious velvety filling and the zesty lime is a marriage made in heaven.
- It wonderfully fresh yet very decadent, making it perfect for birthdays and other big celebrations.
- It’s an easy, straightforward recipe that never fails to impress.
Special equipment needed to make this recipe
Every cheesecake maker needs a few key kitchen items to hand:
- Food processor – blitzing up your buttery biscuit base is made easy by a good quality food processor. Alternatively, you can place the digestive biscuits or graham crackers in a food bag and bash them up with a rolling pin, but using a food processor is much quicker and easier.
- 9-inch springform cheesecake pan – the best pan for making cheesecake, a springform pan makes it very easy to remove your cheesecake once it’s set.
- Weighing scales – whether you’re Key lime cheesecake pie, getting your measurements right is crucial. So, invest in some good quality weighing scales.
- Mixing bowls – this easy Key lime cheesecake requires a quality set of mixing bowls to mix up the creamy filling.
- Stand mixer – the best way to whisk your cream cheese mixture is to use a quality electric mixer.
- Spatula – a baker’s best friend! A rubber or silicone spatula is great for stirring up your mixture as it brings that extra flexibility needed to mix and also scrape down the sides, getting every last bit of the cream cheese mixture.
What to serve with Key lime cheesecake pie
On the side
This Key lime cheesecake is delicious with a little helping of whipped cream on the side. You can also serve sweetened whipped cream or stir some vanilla extract for extra flavor.
Wine
The best wine to serve with a slice of Key lime cheesecake is a crisp, dry white like a Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chablis, or Pinot Grigio.
Tea or coffee
A nice cuppa is the perfect accompaniment for this cheesecake pie.
Would you like to save this?
Of course, it will also go wonderfully well with your favorite type of coffee.
Popular variations to this recipe
Here are a few ideas when it comes to adding ingredients to this Key lime cheesecake:
- For an extra luscious filling, add a can of sweetened condensed milk.
- Use heavy whipping cream in place of double cream
- You can use this cheesecake to make key lime pie ice cream.
How To Make This Recipe
Crumble the biscuits and stir in melted butter. Press it against the pie tin's sides.
Mix all the ingredients of the luscious filling — place in biscuit casing and chill.
Decorate with lime zest and slices.
Top Tips
- Make sure you use full-fat cream cheese for your creamy cheesecake filling. The reduced-fat kind of cream cheese is not the best kind to use, as the filling won’t set properly.
- When filling the springform pan with your biscuit crumbs, make sure you flatten the biscuit base down properly. You can use the bottom of a large glass or a tamper
- Removing air from the cheesecake filling is key. Get rid of those bubbles by dropping the tin onto your kitchen countertop at least five times 5–10 times from a height of a few inches
What are Key limes?
Sometimes known as Mexican limes or West Indies limes, key limes are smaller than regular limes and are slightly yellow. While the two have a tiny flavor difference, they're pretty much interchangeable. So, of course, you can use regular limes for this recipe.
Can bottled Key lime juice be substituted for fresh lime juice?
For best results, use fresh Key limes. However, these fruits aren't readily available worldwide, so you can also use standard fresh limes. Bottled Key lime juice can be used.
What cream cheese should I use?
Any kind, as long as it’s full-fat cream cheese. A spreadable cream cheese, something like Philadelphia cream cheese, is fine. Don’t use a low-fat version, as your cream cheese mixture will end up too thin, and your cheesecake won’t set properly.
Why does my cheesecake base fall apart?
It's most likely because you didn’t pack the biscuit crumbs down firmly enough; getting a properly condensed base is essential. Otherwise, the biscuit crumbs won’t hold together.
It could also be that you didn’t use enough melted butter in the mixture or used the wrong-sized cheesecake tin. Just follow the measurements and instructions, and you’ll be fine!
How can I decorate this key lime cheesecake?
I like to decorate this cheesecake with lime slices and a sprinkling of lime zest. However, feel free to get creative! Try crushed pecans, hazelnuts, walnuts, pistachios, or pipe some whipped cream on top.
How many people does this key lime cheesecake serve?
This key lime cheesecake is large enough to serve around 8-12 people.
How do you store this key lime cheesecake?
Place your cheesecake in an airtight container – either sliced into individual portions and placed into a small container or left whole and placed in a cheesecake storage container. Then, store it in the fridge.
How long will it last in the fridge?
This key lime pie cheesecake will last 2-3 days in the fridge. Just make sure you store it in an airtight container.
Can you leave it at room temperature?
No, you’ll need to keep it in the refrigerator. Dairy shouldn’t be kept at room temperature, so don’t leave your crucial lime cheesecake out of the fridge for more than two hours.
Can I freeze this recipe?
Yes, you can freeze key lime cheesecake. You can freeze the whole key lime cheesecake or slice it into individual portions first, then place a parchment paper between each slice.
Make sure you store it in a freezable, airtight container.
How do I thaw this No Bake Key Lime Cheesecake?
Defrost in the fridge overnight when you’re ready to eat it. This way, you’ll lessen the impact on the texture and taste.
Can this recipe be scaled?
The problem is that the recipe is made to fit the tin size. So, it can’t be scaled, although you could double the ingredients and make two cheesecakes.
Can this recipe be made in advance?
Yes! Make this no-bake cheesecake recipe up to two days in advance. Any longer than two days, you risk the biscuit base becoming soggy and losing that all-important crunch.
More cheesecake recipes
- No bake salted caramel cheesecake
- No bake dulce de leche cheesecake
- Strawberry cheesecake
- No bake lemon cheesecake
- No bake cherry cheesecake
📖 Recipe
Key Lime Cheesecake Pie
- Total Time: 4 hours 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 slices 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Key Lime Cheesecake is a zesty and refreshing dessert perfect for summer and is made with fresh Key limes. Click here for the recipe!
Ingredients
Pie Crust
- 200g digestive biscuits or graham crackers
- 100g unsalted butter
- 125g sugar
Cheesecake filling
- 400g cream cheese, at room temperature
- 50g powdered sugar (icing sugar)
- 60ml lime juice, roughly 2 limes
- 2 limes, zested
- 5g vanilla paste
- 160ml heavy cream (double cream)
Decoration
- 1 lime
- 12g caster sugar
- 1 lime, zest only
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/350°F/gas mark 4. Prepare your 9-inch/23cm pie dish; I used a loose bottom tin to show it off a little, but feel free to use any 9in/23cm pie dish you want.
- For the Pie Crust: Crush your biscuits. I used my food processor, but you can use a rolling pin, and then mix through the butter and the sugar.
- Tip the biscuits into your pie dish. Use the base of a glass to compact and push the biscuit crumbs evenly on the base and up the sides. Once evenly compacted, line the base with parchment paper that has been crumpled up and straighten out again, allowing you to get it into all the corners. Fill with baking beans or rice, then transfer to the oven and bake for 10 minutes.
- Once cooked, remove from the oven, set aside, and allow to cool.
- For the Cheesecake filling: Whisk the cream cheese in a mixing bowl until smooth. I used a KitchenAid.
- Sieve in your powdered sugar and whisk together until smooth.
- Add the lime juice, zest, and vanilla paste and continue to whisk.
- Once all is combined, pour the heavy cream and whisk on high until the mixture thickens.
- Tip the mixture onto the pie base and even out with the back of a spoon. I lifted the spoon up and down on the surface of the cheesecake to create a textured look, but if you’d like a smoother look, feel free just to smoothen it out.
- Transfer to the fridge for 4 hours or even longer.
- To decorate: Preheat your oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/400°F/gas mark 6.
- Cut a lime into 7 slices and discard the outside slices. Place the slices on a baking tray, sprinkle over the sugar, and then place in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until browned on top. This may take longer, depending on your oven. Alternatively, you can use a blowtorch to speed up the process. Let the lime slices cool down completely.
- Remove the cheesecake from the fridge and decorate with the lime slices and a sprinkling of lime zest.
- Serve immediately. Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Chill Time: 4 hours
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Chill
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 345
- Sugar: 19.9 g
- Sodium: 324.5 mg
- Fat: 24.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 14.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 29.5 g
- Fiber: 0.7 g
- Protein: 3.5 g
- Cholesterol: 59.2 mg
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