Classic Key Lime Pie with Macadamia Nut Crust
Cool, creamy, classic key lime pie with a buttery graham cracker macadamia nut crust. Summer’s not complete without one, and this recipe is no-fail!
Or check out these refreshing key lime pie popsicles – naturally-sweetened!
Hello friends! If you’ve been reading for a bit, you might know that key lime pie is kind of a thing in my house, mostly because my stepdaughter requests one every year for her birthday “cake.” I just love food-related traditions like that, and have very happily obliged the request for several years running. Even when we haven’t been together for her actual birthday, I’ll make a pie in her honor, and of course make another to enjoy together whenever we’re able. Needless to say, that adds up to a good amount of key lime pie! No one has ever complained. 🙂
I’ve long used a very dependable Cook’s Illustrated recipe for classic key lime pie, and never felt the need to stray or experiment until I spied this beauty – a pie with a graham cracker macadamia nut crust. Whoa. Does that sound delicious or what!?
[clickToTweet tweet=”Cool, creamy key lime pie is always in style! Especially w/ a graham cracker macadamia nut crust!” quote=”Cool, creamy key lime pie is always in style! Especially w/ a graham cracker macadamia nut crust!”]
I almost didn’t write a post on this because I made so few adaptations, essentially just combining this incredible crust concept with elements of my old favorite recipe. But, the more I thought about it, for whatever reason the more I also thought about how summer is passing us by at lightning speed, not to mention my belief that everyone’s summer should include a slice of this before we turn the page to apples and sweet potatoes and pumpkin-spiced everything.
Somehow all this brought me around to feeling that a pie this good deserves to be shared as widely as possible. Even if I take no credit for personally developing it.
This pie is super simple to make, making it even more of a summer hero. Excellent homemade dessert that requires very little time spent in the kitchen? Pretty sure we can all get behind that!
To make the crust, macadamia nuts get pulsed right in with the graham crackers, so it’s really no extra trouble over and above a regular graham cracker crust. If you aren’t feeling the macadamia nuts, or just don’t have them on hand, you can certainly leave them out and add two extra full-sheet graham crackers instead. (Basically follow the crust instructions that go with this lemon cream pie. Mmm, lemon cream pie… )
The most laborious part of the process is squeezing the lime juice out of the limes. I used to do this by hand – ugh! – and then one day I spent the $10 at the grocery store to buy a small manual juicer. Amazing. This little thing has literally put hours back into my life.
Obviously you could also use a fancier juicer, if you have one, or if not, buy a bottle of lime juice from the store. If you do buy pre-squeezed juice, I would recommend getting the highest-quality you can. It still might not have quite the same taste as fresh, but I’m guessing your pie will disappear pretty darn quickly all the same. 🙂
Confession: I have never once made this pie with actual key limes!! I feel like such an imposter! But I have never ever found key limes at my grocery stores. Perhaps I’m just not looking in the right place at the right time? That said, I’ve made it at least a dozen times with regular old limes, and been very satisfied. One day I’ll find key limes, buy them all, and rush home to put them to good use!
Go forth and make pie! Enjoy!
If you’ve tried this pie or any other recipe on the blog, please remember to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. I love hearing from you, and other readers will benefit from your experience!
Classic Key Lime Pie
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 9 full-sheet graham crackers (135 grams)
- 1/2 cup (62 grams) salted macadamia nuts
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 5 tablespoons (72 grams) unsalted butter melted
For the Filling:
- 2 (14 ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup (240 ml) key lime or lime juice
- 4 teaspoons lime zest
- 4 large egg yolks
To Garnish:
- Lime zest, lime slices, macadamia nuts, and/or whipped cream as desired
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 C).
- Using a food processor, pulse the graham crackers and macadamia nuts together into fine crumbs. Pour into a medium bowl, add sugar and melted butter, and stir well to combine. Press firmly across the bottom and sides of a 9-inch pie plate. (Using the bottom of a juice glass or flat measuring cup really helps pack the crumbs into a solid crust.)
- Bake the crust for 8-10 minutes, until lightly browned and fragrant. Leave the oven on.
- To make the pie filling, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, lime juice and zest, and egg yolks. Pour mixture into warm crust.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the center is mostly set but wiggles slightly when you jostle the pie. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack. Once the pie is room temperature, cover it and chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
- Garnish as desired, and store in the fridge.
Nutrition Estimate
Adapted from Cook’s Illustrated and Sally’s Baking Addiction
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13 Comments on “Classic Key Lime Pie with Macadamia Nut Crust”
Love this! I’ve never made key lime pie before but I had limes to use so I tried this recipe. I did a pre made Graham cracker crust but followed the recipe for the filling and it was not only simple but DELICIOUS! Tart and bright, full of flavor. I was liberal with the zest and the pie did not disappoint.Â
Key lime pie is one of the best pies ever invented!
I’ve heard that the small limes labeled “Mexican Limes” here in California are the same as “Key Limes” in other parts of the states – not sure if you have those in your neck of the woods – either way, with you standard limes, Mexican Limes, or Key Limes, that pie looks refreshing and perfect for these last few days of summer.
Oooh, I did not know that – thank you for sharing! I will keep an eye out for either in the future. 🙂
Awesome photos Monica! Well done on the recipe too!?
Thanks, friend! Next time I’ll make one for my work family! 🙂
I can’t tell you how much I want to dig into this right now. Sometimes internet browsing seems like torture. Shared!
I love the idea of using macadamia nuts in the crust of a Key Lime Pie! This looks so good, and I was happy to see your note about the limes. I’ve never given one of these a try at home because I hardly ever see Key Limes for sale, So it’s good to know they aren’t essential!
I love key lime pie! and I love the addition of macadamia nuts to the crust.
You got me with the crust, anything containing nuts and I’m right in there like Michael Phelps. I hope your step daughter enjoyed the pie, if not there’s plenty of room in my belly to accommodate some pie.
May I please have a big slice of Key Lime Pie for MY birthday cake? Lime juicers are an absolute MUST, aren’t they? I love that you use Graham crackers for the crust. My last attempt at KLP involved a pastry crust and I just wasn’t a fan. Your version sounds delicious!
I’m with you – a pastry crust just doesn’t set off a cream pie as nicely as the buttery crunch of graham cracker, at least in my humble opinion!
I love that kind of tradition and what a great one this is!