Naturally-Sweetened Key Lime Pie Popsicles
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All the delicious flavor of key lime pie – even the buttery graham cracker crust – in cool, creamy popsicle form. Made with Greek yogurt and sweetened naturally with honey for a wholesome, sugar-free summer treat.
The story of these key lime pie popsicles actually starts with a different treat. Well, not so different – just a standard-issue key lime pie.
You see, as I’ve mentioned probably too many times already, maybe because I’m ridiculously happy about it, my step-daughter is staying with us for a bit. For several years running her birthday request has been not a cake, but a key lime pie.
The first year, this required some research and experimentation on my part. (I was concerned that the filling was insufficiently vivid and in a scramble actually added green food coloring. It was, to be honest, hideous. Live and learn.)
Fortunately, at this point I’ve nailed down the perfect simple key lime pie recipe. So although her birthday was earlier in the year, I can’t miss this opportunity to make a belated birthday pie. The only problem? Insufficient graham crackers.
Now, living in Belgium, we don’t want for much. Local grocery stores like Carrefour and Delhaize carry everything you need, and the farmers markets are incredible – amazing fruit and veggies, plus bread, eggs, meat, and cheese from relatively small local vendors. The only thing we miss is the occasional “American” goodie – most of them decidedly not great for you, ha! We’re talking Oreos, Triscuits, and …. graham crackers.
Now we can buy all those American treats at a base not too far away where we are lucky to enjoy shopping privileges, but given the distance (and the toddler) we try not to make that trip more often than necessary. Also I have an amazing recipe for DIY graham crackers that could come through in a pinch, but, well, said toddler has been sleeping even less than usual, and I just haven’t had the time or energy to make multi-component desserts, like graham crackers and then the pie.
Thus I found myself with a serious and urgent desire to produce creamy key lime dessert goodness, and about four graham crackers left in the house – well short of what I’d need for a full pie crust.
Fortunately a few weeks earlier I’d spied these absolutely gorgeous popsicles over on Erin’s blog, The Wooden Skillet, and still had them on the brain. The solution was clear.
I made a few changes to the recipe to use ingredients we normally keep on hand – namely plain Greek yogurt – and because my family has no dairy sensitivities.
Key lime pie popsicles aren’t exactly a revolutionary idea, but a lot of the most popular recipes on the interwebs rely on sweetened condensed milk. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a time and place for that particular form of deliciousness (like pie!) but these popsicles are so delicious with much healthier Greek yogurt. Why not make a treat you can feel good about?
Add a few tablespoons of honey – more or less to taste, of course – some like it tart! – lime juice and zest, whisk, and go. The graham cracker “crust” isn’t strictly necessary, but makes a supremely satisfying crunchy treat when you get to the bottom of the popsicle. I had just about 4 graham crackers, remember? That turned out to be the perfect amount for a batch of popsicles. It was fate!
Is it just me, or does anyone else physically shiver every time they see a picture of a popsicle with a clean bite out of it!? Brrrr! I got a chill just thinking about it.
One final recipe note: frozen treat molds are great – I have and love this one – but don’t be deterred if you don’t have one. Wondering how to make popsicles without a mold? Here’s a list of 5 simple ideas.
Enjoy!
If you try these popsicles 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!
Naturally-Sweetened Key Lime Pie Popsicles
Ingredients
- 4 large graham cracker rectangles
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt
- 4 tablespoons honey
- 6 tablespoons key lime or regular lime juice from about 12 key limes or 3 regular
- 3 teaspoons key lime or regular lime zest
Instructions
- Place graham crackers in a food processor or tightly-sealed zip-top bag and crush into fine crumbs. Pour out into a small bowl, add melted butter, and stir with a fork to combine. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine the yogurt, honey, lime juice, and zest. Whisk until smooth and evenly combined.
- Divide the yogurt mixture evenly between popsicle molds, leaving about 3/4 inch at the top of each one. Spoon a small amount of the graham cracker mixture onto the top of each popsicle (which will, of course, become the bottom) and pack it down lightly with your fingers. Cover, insert popsicle sticks, and freeze until solid, at least 3-4 hours.
Notes
- Be sure to zest the limes before juicing them, otherwise zesting will be much more difficult.
- Adapted from The Wooden Skillet
Nutrition Estimate
Hi! I know I’m a little late to the party, but about how much do the crackers make? I’m trying to use boxed graham cracker crumbs and am having trouble finding equivalents. Thank you!
Hi Lisa – not late whatsoever! 🙂 You won’t need a whole lot, really just 1/4 – 1/2 cup of graham cracker crumbs should do the trick. It’s just a thin layer along the top, which becomes the bottom. Enjoy!
I made these! They’re awesome!!
If I could make one small suggestion, it would be less lime zest. I found it made the popsicles too bitter, and less smooth in texture than I’d personally like.
Otherwise these were delicious! Bookmarking it!
Hi Megan, thank you so much for leaving this review, and I’m so glad you liked the popsicles! You’re right that the zest is noticeable in the texture, and for a smoother popsicle leaving it out is just the thing. Thanks for sharing this idea! <3
I made these!
I used Fage Greek yogurt, and roasted the graham cracker crumbs to try and keep them crunchy (didn’t work haha). They are delicious!
The only change I would like to suggest is less lime zest. Three tsps made these popsicles somewhat bitter. Also when I think of key lime pie I think smooth and creamy, and the zest made things kind of grainy. Still an excellent recipe!! Bookmarking it!
I just made these and omg! I had no idea frozen yogurt bars were this easy. I skipped the graham cracker part, but maybe I’ll do that next time. I love these and will def make them again!
Thanks for sharing! Do they keep long?
This looks so good! I love the garnish! Do you use this base for any other Popsicle recipes?
Genius! I just love the idea of key lime pie in a pop! Seriously yum!! We are in New Zealand so like you can’t get graham crackers in our local supermarket but I think these pops are worth a trip across town to an American store that stocks them.
Isn’t it funny the little things you can’t find or never realized were so unique!? I agree, I think these are worth a trip for the graham cracker crust. That said, for another option, a friend here in Brussels also suggested using digestive cookies for a similar kind of cookie base – that might be worth a try, also – if those are more easily found at your local store, of course!
I need at least 10 of these today. SO yummy looking.
Oh man, I couldn’t agree more. The perfect cure for a long, hot day!
Mmm, love key lime! I’ll have to try these asap!
These are beautiful and they look delicious! Perfect for summer!
OMG YUM! The graham crackers are the perfect touch to this! This sounds like a much healthier alternative to some Haagen Daaz! I love key lime pie and this looks so easy to make (and enjoy!)
Pinning this for later enjoyment!
Joy
http://www.basicallyjoy.com/
Thanks so much, Joy, I really appreciate it – and share your love of key lime pie!
These look so great (and your pix are gorgeous!). So, now I may have these on the brain until I make them…and I *think* I have an almost-empty box of graham crackers! 🙂 Yum!
No doubt about it – you are MEANT to whip up a batch of these soon! 🙂 Enjoy! And thank you so much for the kind words, especially about the pictures. It means a lot to me!
Yessss! I love key lime pie! These look so incredibly good, I love the graham cracker treat at the bottom.
Thanks, Lauren! Totally agree – that’s my favorite part of the whole thing. 😉
This reminds me of strawwberry cheesecake popsicle that i made the othger day. I used cereal for the base. Love your idea to use graham crackers! pinned this recipe…love your pictures too.
Strawberry cheesecake popsicles sound tasty! And thank you so much for the kind words!
I adore key lime pie and I also have a teething 11 month old, so I think these could be happening in my house, lol. No dairy sensitivities here either, so I am glad you put the yogurt in!
Ooooh… sounds like these could work for you on multiple levels! Good luck with the teething! My guy just turned two and is the world’s slowest teether, I’m convinced, so I feel for ya!
This looks amazing! I’m making it for my next get together.
Hooray! I’d love to know how they turn out for you!
Key lime pie on a stick….so delicious what a brilliant idea!
I adore key lime pie, and these popsicles look so delicious. YUM
How did you know key lime pie was my favorite! Seriously, these sound amazing. Love your ‘crust on the bottom too 🙂
First, your photos are gorgeous. Second, these sound delicious! I’m a sucker for anything key lime.
I can’t believe how simple yet yummy this dessert looks! I love the idea of a key lime flavor. Summer on a stick!
Thanks, Karen! I totally agree – so nice to have a dessert that’s yummy, pretty good for you, and EASY!
You threw me for a loop with the peanut butter with graham crackers! Not that I don’t love peanut butter… These popsicles look completely yummy. I think you should just keep these in rotation for the rest of the summer…
Hi Lisa! The crust on these is just graham crackers with regular butter. Peanut butter is intriguing, but I agree, that might get a little … sticky! Glad you like them, and yes, there are definitely more batches in our future! Take care. 🙂