When you don’t have the time or energy to bake an entire pie, but are craving something smooth, sweet, and tart, make these key lime pie jars! This quick dessert will take just a few minutes to prepare and only uses a handful of common ingredients.
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Key Lime Pie in a Jar
Key lime pie jars are the perfect individual dessert for parties or date nights. With endless possibilities for customization, this crowd pleaser has something for everyone to enjoy. Can’t finish it in one sitting? No problem! Pop it in the refrigerator and save it for later. These pies even freeze well! Stock your freezer with these individual pies to ensure that you always have a sweet treat on hand for movie nights or surprise guests.
This recipe is super cost-effective; you’ll only need a few ingredients to create a delicious treat for the whole family. No more squabbling over the last slice of key lime pie, with this handheld summer treat, everyone can have their own miniature pie! Plus, because these pies are already conveniently packaged in their own jars, you can easily take them on the go. Pack them in a sack lunch or take them on a picnic. These little jars of key lime pie are the perfect quick treat!
Ingredients
- Graham Crackers—The flavorful base of the crust.
- Butter—Salted, binds the crust together.
- Granulated Sugar—Just a bit will perfectly sweeten the crust.
- Key Lime Juice—Hand-squeezed will be freshest and taste best!
- Sweetened Condensed Milk—Makes the filling sweet, creamy, and delicious.
- Heavy Whipping Cream—Whipped until light and fluffy.
- Powdered Sugar—Sweetens the whipped cream.
- Vanilla Extract—Just a splash will add a sense of homemade goodness to this easy dessert.
Recipe Instructions
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine melted butter, crushed graham crackers, and granulated sugar. Set aside.
- In a smaller bowl, whisk together the key lime juice and sweetened condensed milk.
- In a third bowl whip the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla to stiff peaks.
- Assemble the pie jars by first pressing in the graham cracker crust, then layer in the key lime filling, and finally the whipped cream.
- Place lids on the jars and chill until set. Serve cold and enjoy!
Equipment Needed
For this recipe you’re going to need mason jars with tight fitting lids—this will help to keep the pies fresh for longer. You’re also going to need an electric hand mixer for the whipped cream topping. If you don’t have one you can also chill a metal bowl in the freezer for 30 mins and then whisk vigorously.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! This recipe can easily be made gluten free by swapping out the graham crackers in the crust for your favorite wheat-free version. All of the other ingredients are naturally gluten free!
Yes! If you can’t find key limes at your local grocery store, you can opt to use regular limes instead. Just know that your finished key lime pie jars will be a bit sweeter and less tart.
No, you can serve your pie jars immediately after assembly, but they’ll have more of a pudding-like consistency and hold its form less. For more of a mousse consistency refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.
Because these pies are already housed in their own jars, you can simply pop the lids on and store them in the fridge! The tighter your lids are, the longer these pies will stay fresh. Key lime pie jars will be good for roughly 5-7 days in the fridge and are best served cold. You can also freeze these pie jars for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge for at least 4 hours or for 30 minutes at room temperature before digging in!
Recipe Variations
- You can switch out the graham crackers for Oreos for a fun spin on this classic recipe, this chocolatey crust is great for those with a sweet tooth.
- Replace the key lime juice for some creamy peanut butter to create a delicious peanut butter pie. It’s sure to bring the dogs running and the kids asking for just one more bite.
- Swap out the lime juice for the fruit juice or puré of your choice! Use lemons to create a lemon méringue-esque pie, or your favorite berry blend for a sweet summer pie.
- Drizzle your favorite ice cream syrup to the top of these pies to add an extra punch of flavor. White chocolate drizzle pairs particularly well with these tart pies!
Expert Tips and Tricks
- If you don’t have mason jars, you can use any small glass and cover the top with plastic wrap when storing.
- ¼ cup of lime juice is equal to 2 regular limes or 3 key limes.
- Serve your pie jars with a garnish of fresh lime zest or a dash of graham cracker crumbs.
More Recipes
- Caramel Apple Hand Pies
- Pecan Pie Bars
- Coconut Cream Pie in a Shortbread Crumb Crust
- Brown Sugar Banana Cream Pie
- Frozen Chocolate Oreo Pie
If you’ve tried this Key Lime Pie in a Jar recipe or any other recipe on Barbara Bakes, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some pictures of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories.
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Key Lime Pie in a Jar
Ingredients
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 6 tablespoons salted butter
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup key lime juice
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk 1 can
- 1 ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Melt the butter in the microwave and combine it in a medium sized bowl with the graham cracker crumbs and granulated sugar. Use a fork to mix the ingredients until the mixture resembles wet sand.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the key lime juice and sweetened condensed milk. Set aside.
- In a third mixing bowl, use an electric hand mixer to whisk the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla together until the cream forms stiff peaks.
- Press a few spoonfuls of the graham cracker mixture into 4 separate 8 oz wide mouth mason jars. Top the graham cracker layer with the key lime mixture, leaving about ¼ of the jar empty.
- Spoon the whipped cream over the key lime layer and place the lids on the mason jars. Allow the jars to chill in the fridge for one hour before serving.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- If you do not have 8 oz mason jars, you can use any small glass and just cover them with plastic wrap when storing them. You can also make them smaller if you want. Sometimes I’ll do 8 smaller servings from this recipe.
- These no bake pie jars will last for up to one week in the fridge. Alternatively, you can store these jars in the freezer for up to 3 months. Simply allow the jar to thaw in the fridge before serving it if you choose to store them this way.
- Key limes are a smaller, sweeter version of a lime. While most people opt to use regular limes in their key lime pie, you will have a sweeter, less tart dessert if you use key limes.
- ¼ cup lime juice is the equivalent of 2 regular limes or 3 key limes.
- I like to serve these pie jars with a sprinkle of fresh lime zest or a sprinkle of graham cracker crumbs. • These pie jars are sweet and decadent. The filling is smooth and creamy.
Nutrition
Key Lime Pie in a Jar is the perfect individual dessert for a party or a date night. So many possibilities for customization making this dessert something for everyone to enjoy.
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