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Home By Diet Gluten-Free

Gluten-Free Key Lime Pie Recipe

★★★★★ 12 Reviews Recipe Print
gf nf vg
By: Erin6/22/21

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Healthy Key Lime Pie
Healthy Key Lime Pie

Looking for the perfect summer dessert? This sweet yet tart healthy key lime pie recipe hits all the marks of a summer dessert. To sweeten the deal, it can easily be made gluten and dairy-free!

healthy key lime pie

Eating citrus feels so right in the summer. While we can enjoy this delicious dessert any time of the year, I find myself making key lime pie (along with some strawberry shortcakes) when the shine is shining, and the weather is warm.

Every family out there has their own recipe they’ve been making for decades. Mine is a healthier version of the classic, holding on to the sweet, tart, and creamy signature blend. I avoid over-sweetening it so I can let the lime flavor shine.

I always love recipes whereas many people as possible can enjoy, so I make mine with gluten-free graham crackers and dairy-free whipped topping!

Note: For a more “on the go” version f this recipe, take a peek at my healthy key lime pie bars.

healthy key lime pie

What’s A Key Lime?

A prized American dessert, key lime pie goes way back. Thought to have originated in Key West, Florida, they are perhaps the most famous for this signature pie due to their once plentiful supply of key limes.

The limes themselves are significantly smaller, more yellow in color, and have more seeds. Not to mention how different the flavor profile is! They are more tart and floral tasting than the typical Persian lime seen in most grocery stores.

Because of their size, it takes a lot of squeezing to get enough juice for this recipe. If you can manage it, the distinct key lime taste is worth the effort.

Substitution Tip

If you don’t have key limes handy, you can use regular limes. Just avoid the bottled stuff as the fresh juice takes this pie to a whole other level.

healthy key lime pie

What Makes This Recipe A Healthy Key Lime Pie?

You probably noticed some substitutions here from the “common” key lime pie ingredients. Most notably, no sweetened condensed milk is in this recipe. This pie has a long history, dating back to before refrigerators were common in households. Since milk was hard to keep, sweetened condensed milk was useful for baking.

To get that wanted sweetness in this recipe, I decided to use maple syrup. A common sugar substitute, it is all-natural and just as sweet as refined white sugar. Plus, it has some bonus minerals and antioxidants!

Other substitutes include coconut flour made from dried coconut meat and coconut sugar from the coconut palm tree. Coconut sugar is more nutritious than white sugar and causes a slightly lower rise in blood sugar.

Overall, my goal was to make a gluten-free, dairy-free key lime recipe so that more people could enjoy the tart goodliness of this prized dessert.

making key lime pie
making healthy key lime pie

Ingredients In This Key Lime Pie Recipe

This is not your average key lime pie recipe! While packed full of healthy alternatives, this recipe doesn’t sacrifice taste. Take a look at the ingredients and see for yourself!

Crust

  • Gluten-free graham crackers: The key to making this recipe gluten-free is buying the right graham crackers. You will need 1 8oz box for the base of the crust.
  • Coconut sugar: There is no refined white sugar in this recipe. Coconut sugar combines well with graham crackers for the perfect crust.
  • Ghee or butter: It’s up to you which you want to use! Make sure the ghee or butter is melted.

Filling

  • Eggs: For this recipe, you will need quite a few eggs. The filling calls for 4 eggs and 1 egg yolk.
  • Lime: The key ingredient, you will need ¾ cup of lime juice. Freshly squeezed juice is a must! Trust me, you will notice a big difference between fresh juice compared to bottled juice. Of course, key limes are ideal but regular limes may be easier to source.
  • Maple syrup: Nature’s liquid sugar, maple sugar sweetens the filling up without taking away the tartness of the lime.
  • Lime zest: Not only does a key lime pack the punch in its juice, but the zest is noticeably different too. This recipe calls for 2 tbsp of lime zest.
  • Coconut flour: To keep this pie recipe gluten-free!
  • Whipped topping: The top layer of the filling, whipped topping makes the pie light and creamy. Defrost 1 container.
  • Lime slices: Top your baked pie off with lime slices for extra green decoration.

How To Make Gluten-Free Key Lime Pie

Now that you’ve got all your ingredients, let’s get baking! This is an easy key lime pie recipe that can be made the day before serving.

To begin, preheat your oven to 375°F.

With a food processer, mix together all of the ingredients needed for the crust. Process the mixture until it is very fine and sticks together when pinched. Using a 9.5-inch pie dish, press the graham cracker mixture to form the crust.

Prebake the crust in the oven for 12 minutes. Once done, remove the crust from the oven and let it cool for at least 30 minutes. Go back to the oven and notch it down to 350°F.

Onto the filling!

While your crust is cooling, whisk together the eggs, lime juice, maple syrup, lime zest, and sifted coconut flour in a large bowl. Add filling and bake for 22-25 minutes until the center is no longer jiggly.

Let your pie cool on top of the stove for 30 minutes. Once it has cooled a little, place it in the fridge for 2 hours minimum. Preferably, overnight!

Before serving, add a layer of the defrosted whipped topping. For decoration, add lime slices, zest, and Reddi-wip for topping.

healthy key lime pie

Recipe Tips

  • If you don’t want to use your fingers, an empty measuring cup or the back of a spoon can help.
  • Don’t grease the pie dish! The ghee contains enough fat that the crust won’t stick.
  • Double-check that your crust is cooled after baking before pouring in the filling.
  • When checking the pie to see if it is done, the filling can wiggle a little, but you don’t want it to be wet-looking.

Storing leftovers

To store this gluten-free key lime pie (if you have any leftover), gently wrap the pie in food safe plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store in the fridge up to 3 days.

If you want to freeze the pie, wrap it as mentioned above and store in a freezer safe bag to avoid freezer burn. You can store it in the freezer for up to one month.

If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!

Looking for more easy summer desserts? I’ve got a few more recipes up my sleeve that you may enjoy.

  • Healthy Cherry Pie Oatmeal Bars
  • Gluten-Free Lemon Cookies
  • Healthy Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
  • Delicious Chocolate Zucchini Cake
  • Healthy Cinnamon Rolls

Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa

Pin This Recipe For Later!
healthy key lime pie
★★★★★ 5 from 12 reviews

Gluten-Free Key Lime Pie Recipe

Looking for the perfect summer dessert? This sweet yet tart healthy key lime pie recipe hits all the marks of a summer dessert. To sweeten the deal, it can easily be made gluten and dairy-free!

Prep: 10Cook: 30Total: 40 minutes
Yield 8 slices 1x
Print Pin it Rate

Ingredients

Crust

  • 1 8oz box gluten-free graham crackers
  • 1/4 cup coconut sugar
  • 1/3 cup melted ghee (or butter)

Filling

  • 4 eggs + 1 egg yolk
  • 3/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp lime zest
  • 1 tbsp coconut flour, sifted
  • 1 container whipped topping, defrosted
  • lime slices + reddiwhip for decoration

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375F.
  2. In a food processor, combine graham crackers, coconut sugar, and melted ghee.
  3. Process until very fine and pinch together when sticks.
  4. Press into the bottom of a 9.5 inch pie dish, ungreased.
  5. Bake for 12 minutes, let cool for 30 minutes. Lower the oven heat to 350F.
  6. While crust is cooling, in a large bowl whisk together eggs, lime juice, maple syrup, lime zest, and sifted coconut flour.
  7. Pour into cooled crust and bake for 22-25 minutes or until center is no longer jiggly. It can wiggle a little, just not ‘wet’ looking.
  8. Let cool on stove for 30 minutes, then place in fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight.
  9. Add a layer of defrosted whipped topping and add lime slices, zest, and reddiwhip for topping.
Author: ErinCategory: dessert, snack, dairy-freeMethod: ovenCuisine: AmericanDiet: Gluten Free
healthy key lime pie

Did you make this?

Leave a comment below and tag @erinliveswhole on social media!

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There may be affiliate links in this post! By purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Erin Lives Whole, it helps keep this blog afloat 🙂

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Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

  1. Cass says

    Posted on 8/16 at 8:46 pm

    This was GOOD! The fam ate whole pie in 2 days. I found the filling didn’t seem like enough for a pie pan and wish there had been more in the recipe. We like a lot of crust too so added another 8oz gluten free crispy snickerdoodle cookies.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 8/17 at 3:44 pm

      Hi Cass, so happy the pie was a hit! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  2. Muslimani Mama says

    Posted on 8/3 at 3:01 pm

    My hubby & I absolutely loved this spin on key lime pie! It was perfect for us health conscious peeps as well as my son who can no longer eat refined sugar. He loves being able to enjoy treats again and has no idea he’s missing the stuff he can no longer eat! Thank you for always having so many healthier alternatives! I will say, I thought I curdled the filling. But actually it was just the coconut flour, in case someone else making it runs into the same issue as me. It’s a perfect summer dessert and not that difficult to make.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 8/3 at 3:13 pm

      Hi, so happy you all enjoyed the pie!

      Reply
  3. TVWoman says

    Posted on 4/17 at 1:08 pm

    I made this delicious pie for Easter dessert! You’d never guess it’s GF, NF, VG!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 4/18 at 5:58 pm

      Hi, so glad you loved it!! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Nikki says

    Posted on 10/20 at 1:15 am

    my favorite dessert of all TIME made healthier thanks to Erin! This pie is so darn good and i make on repeat during the summer. also love turning this pie into bars. so so good, people cannot believe this key lime pie is actually healthy when i make it!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 10/20 at 8:19 pm

      Hi Niki, so glad you loved the pie! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Katelyn says

    Posted on 8/12 at 7:45 am

    This was the first pie I ever made from scratch and it was SO GOOD and SO EASY!! I made it to surprise my boyfriend for his birthday and it was a hit. Will definitely be making it again in the future!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 8/13 at 12:20 pm

      Hi Katelyn, so happy you both loved it!! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Mariana says

    Posted on 7/29 at 9:47 am

    Hi! Do you think I can make it with only 4 eggs? It looks amazing I don’t want to go to the supermarket before making it. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 7/29 at 3:43 pm

      Hi Mariana, hmm I am not sure it would work. You could try an egg sub like mashed banana or applesauce, but I am not sure how it’ll turn out. My best rec is to wait until you have all the ingredients especially for the first time you make it. Let me know how it goes!

      Reply
  7. Erin says

    Posted on 7/27 at 12:34 pm

    I have been on a key lime pie kick for the last 2 months and order it whenever i see it on a menu. Decided to make this since the store bought ones weren’t giving me that tang that i have been looking for. I used regular limes and even didn’t mix the eggs enough so it looked a little eggy on top, and it was still phenomenal. Better than anywhere i have tried lately. 10/10 recommend making this asap. Thanks Erin!! 💃💗

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 7/27 at 2:59 pm

      Hi Erin, I am so glad you loved it!!

      Reply
  8. Warner says

    Posted on 7/17 at 10:41 pm

    Made these 2 times in the last 2 weeks and I can’t get enough! They’re so good – perfect combo of tart + lightly sweet. I made them into bars and topped them with cool whip the first time and powdered sugar the second. Both delicious!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 7/20 at 9:31 pm

      Hi Warner, so happy you loved the pie and great idea!! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Marissa says

    Posted on 7/5 at 8:22 am

    Could not stop eating this pie!! Everyone loved it for the Fourth of July! Will be making this again.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 7/6 at 4:29 pm

      Hi Marissa, so glad you loved it!!

      Reply
  10. Alyssa says

    Posted on 7/1 at 7:53 pm

    I am out of words with how AMAZING this tastes! Super easy to modify for dairy free folks with vegan cool whip and almond milk reddiwhip. Absolutely amazing dessert.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 7/2 at 2:13 pm

      Hi Alyssa, so glad you loved it and made it your own!!

      Reply
  11. Casey Colodny says

    Posted on 6/29 at 5:26 pm

    so refreshing and perfectly sweet. the key limes are so yummy and do actually taste different then regular limes! a must have dessert for summer recipes!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/30 at 2:23 pm

      Hi Casey, so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  12. Jes says

    Posted on 6/29 at 2:07 pm

    Hi Erin – What’s a substitute for for coconut flour?

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/29 at 4:52 pm

      Hi Jes, you could try another flour you prefer. Just check the ratio first and let me know how your pie comes out!

      Reply
  13. Ilana S says

    Posted on 6/26 at 5:31 pm

    Hi! I just tried making this and for some reason it seems like the eggs separated while baking and it looks more like a frittata where you can see the white parts of the egg separate from the yolk. It’s not one cohesive color at all. Any idea what may have caused this? It doesn’t look so appetizing so I’d like to try again but not sure how to troubleshoot. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Ilana s says

      Posted on 6/28 at 1:53 pm

      Wanted to just come back to update that I decided to serve it as is and covered in whipped topping and it tasted absolutely delicious. The consistency was great too so still not sure what happened but overall it was a success! Thanks for a great recipe.

      Reply
      • Erin says

        Posted on 6/28 at 4:36 pm

        Hi Ilana, so happy you loved it!! Thanks for sharing and for your support!

    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/28 at 4:40 pm

      Hi Ilana, also wanted to reply to this one. It seems like you did not whisk your eggs enough to break up the yolks and egg whites, next time, whisk it really good! Hope this helps!!

      Reply
  14. Diana says

    Posted on 6/23 at 10:13 am

    I look forward to making this. If I can’t locate Coconut Sugar at the store is it a straightforward conversion to sugar?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/23 at 1:11 pm

      Hi Diana, yes that should be fine! Let me know how your pie comes out!

      Reply
      • Diana says

        Posted on 6/26 at 8:28 pm

        Made today without the coconut sugar; husband response to the pie was “this is amazing, never need to go out for desert again”. Lol
        FYI: made it with real key limes. Took a full bag

      • Erin says

        Posted on 6/27 at 8:19 pm

        Hi Diana, so happy you loved it and made it your own!!

  15. Madison Colder says

    Posted on 6/22 at 5:25 pm

    This looks AMAZING! Do you have any other suggestions to use on top other than whipped topping? Trying to think of something else I could use as I don’t love the taste of whipped topping but not sure I would want something as heavy as whipped cream on top.

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/23 at 1:13 pm

      Hi Madison, thanks and I think whipped cream would be your best bet! Or you could do a vanilla pudding, but that would be heavy too. Let me know what you do and how it comes out!

      Reply
  16. Hania says

    Posted on 6/22 at 2:15 pm

    Do you think it would work to replace eggs with “ flax eggs”

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/22 at 2:18 pm

      Hi Hania, yes that should be fine. I haven’t tried it with that sub so please let me know how your pie comes out!!

      Reply
  17. Ruthie says

    Posted on 6/22 at 12:35 pm

    Can’t wait to make this! My husbands fav dessert is key lime pie 🙂

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/22 at 2:16 pm

      Hi Ruthie, let me know how yours comes out!!

      Reply

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