Gluten-Free Key Lime Pie

5 from 2 votes

on Jun 30, 2021

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This gluten-free key lime pie tastes like sunshine! The key lime filling is full of fresh lime juice and it has two options for an easy-to-make gluten-free crust. I love making key lime pie in the summer, and especially for my Fourth of July barbecue! It’s the perfect sweet and tart end to any meal!

slice of gluten-free key lime pie topped with whipped cream on a plate with the pie in the background

Gluten-Free Key Lime Pie Recipe

Traditionally, key lime pie is made with a graham cracker crust. Sometimes gluten-free graham crackers can be hard to find, so I made my pie with a Gluten-Free Cinnamon Chex crust just like my easy Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie recipe. I found that the Gluten-Free Cinnamon Chex crust tastes a lot like a graham cracker crust in flavor and texture.

If you want to make this pie with the traditional crust, I have a super easy recipe for Gluten-Free Graham Cracker Crust as well. I also have an easy recipe for homemade Gluten-Free Graham Crackers also.

Ingredients

Gluten-Free Cinnamon Chex Cereal: Forms the base of the crust. We like cinnamon, but free to use your favorite flavor of gluten-free Chex.
Gluten-Free Bisquick: Gives the crust additional structure.
Unsalted Butter: Binds the crust together.
Ice Water: Keeps the butter from melting into the crust as you work it with your hands.
Egg Yolks: Give the filling structure and richness.
Pure Vanilla Extract: Enhances the sweetness of the filling.
Sweetened Condensed Milk: Adds concentrated sweet and creamy flavor and helps thicken up the filling.
Key Lime Juice: Gives this pie its signature mouth-puckering flavor. We used Nellie & Joe’s Key Lime Juice, but regular lime juice will also work in a pinch.

How To Make Gluten-Free Key Lime Pie

Chex Crust

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Crush the Gluten-Free Cinnamon Chex cereal in a food processor until you have 1 ½ cups. It takes 3 cups of cereal to make 1 ½ cups. (photo 1)
Add the Gluten-free Bisquick and chopped, unsalted butter to the food processor. (photo 2)
Process until the consistency of thick sand. (photo 3)
Pour the Chex mixture into a medium-sized bowl. Add the ice water and mix with your hands until the dough starts to stick together. (photo 4)

gluten-free key lime pie recipe steps photo collage for the pie crust steps 1-4

Spray a 9-inch pie dish with gluten-free cooking spray. I like gluten-free coconut oil spray.
Press the Chex crust mixture into the bottom of a greased 9-inch pie pan and slightly up the sides. (photo 5)
Press down in the pan to make sure it is tight and compact. I use the bottom of a flat measuring cup to help press the mixture down. (photo 6 & 7)
Bake the pie crust on the middle rack for 8 minutes. Allow the crust to cool. (photo 8)

gluten-free key lime pie recipe steps photo collage for pie crust steps 5-8

Key Lime Filling

In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks together until fully combined. (photo 9)
Add the pure vanilla extract and the two cans of sweetened condensed milk to the whisked egg yolks. Mix until fully combined and creamy.
Stir in the key lime juice and mix until fully combined and creamy. (photo 10)
Pour the key lime filling into the cooled crust. Smooth the top of the pie with a spatula. (photo 11)
Using the middle rack, bake for 20 minutes. (photo 12)
Let the pie cool at room temperature for 30 minutes and place in the refrigerator to chill thoroughly – about 3 hours.
Serve topped with whipped cream. Enjoy!
Cover the leftover pie with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

gluten-free key lime pie recipe steps photo collage for the pie filling steps 9-12

Tips and Notes

If you can’t find key lime juice, you can use regular lime juice.
I used bottled key lime juice to make the pie.
If you don’t want to make a homemade gluten-free crust, you can easily use the Mi-Del Gluten-Free Graham Style Pie Crust. I have found them at Walmart.
You can use any flavor of gluten-free Chex cereal. I like the cinnamon flavor because it tastes more like graham crackers.
Use the back of a flat measuring cup to press the crumbs into the greased pie pan.
I like baking in a glass pie pan for custard and cream pies.
I make stabilized whipped cream by adding cornstarch during the whipping process.
I like to line a piping bag in a tall glass and then add the whipped cream. It makes it easier and less messy to fill.
My favorite decorating tip is the Wilton 1M.
You can easily use canned whipped cream or Cool Whip in place of homemade whipped cream.

gluten-free key lime pie topped with whipped cream and lime slices

Can I Use Regular Lime Juice?

Yes, you can substitute regular lime juice for key lime juice. Key limes are a little sweeter and less tart than lime juice made with the Persian limes you typically find at grocery stores. Key limes can be hard to find and are hard to juice because of their size. I ordered Nellie & Joe’s Key Lime Juice from Amazon.

Storage Instructions

Store gluten-free key lime pie covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or wrapped in plastic wrap in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before enjoying.

close up photo of a slice of gluten-free key lime pie slice topped with whipped cream and a lime slice on a white plate

More Gluten-Free Pie Recipes To Try!

5 from 2 votes

Gluten-Free Key Lime Pie Recipe

By: Audrey Roberts

Servings:

Prep: 20

Cook: 28

chilling time: 3

Total: 48

gluten-free key lime pie slice topped with whipped cream on a white plate with the pie in the background

This gluten-free key lime pie tastes like sunshine! Fresh lime filling and two options for an easy-to-make gluten-free crust.