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My healthy key lime pie recipe features a sweet cookie crust topped with a tart and creamy key lime filling. It’s made with healthy swaps and no added sugar!
Need more healthy pie recipes? Try my healthy apple pie, lemon meringue pie, and healthy pumpkin pie next.
I still remember my first bite of key lime pie. It was during my first trip to America, and ever since then, I’ve been dying to re-create it.
Traditional key lime pie is made with sweetened condensed milk, which, while delicious, isn’t exactly ‘healthy.’ So, I swapped a few ingredients to keep the light, delicate custard texture, and buttery cookie crust, just with a fraction of the fat and calories.
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- It doesn’t taste ‘healthy.’ I kept the key flavors (sorry, pun intended!) of the dessert and swapped a few others with equally flavorful dupes.
- Deceptively easy. Even if you’ve never made–or tasted–a key lime before, I guarantee you’ll have no trouble with my recipe.
- Perfect to make ahead. I’ve never made a key lime pie the day of. I always make it at least 1-2 days before I need it, and the flavor is always terrific.
Ingredients needed
Crust:
- Cookie crumbs. Use any low-calorie sugar cookie (I like Annie’s or Back to Nature), or if you can find some, use low-calorie graham crackers.
- Sweetener. Any calorie-free sweetener is great.
- Light butter. I like Smart Balance light butter.
Filling:
- Greek yogurt. To substitute some of the cream cheese. I used non-fat, unsweetened Greek yogurt.
- Cream cheese. Use any low-fat or non-fat cream cheese. I prefer the kind from a block instead of a tub, as the latter contains added water.
- Eggs. Room temperature eggs are best.
- Lime juice. Gives a subtle but delicious lime flavor. Traditional key lime pie is made with key limes sourced from the Florida Keys, but regular limes work just as well.
- Sweetener. I used allulose, but monk fruit sweetener would work. Of course, sugar (white or brown) is also fine.
- All purpose flour. Holds the filling together.
- Salt. Balances the sweet ingredients.
- Lime extract. Gives a more pronounced lime flavor.
Topping:
- Coconut milk. Use full-fat coconut milk from a can, not a carton. You’ll only use the top cream portion, so save the liquid for coconut smoothies!
- Powdered sweetener. I used homemade powdered sweetener, but you can use a store-bought version.
- Lime extract. Optional, but recommended.
How to make healthy key lime pie
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Prep work. Preheat the oven to 170C/325F and lightly grease an 8-inch springform pan.
Step 2- Make the pie crust. In a bowl, combine the crust ingredients. Transfer to the pie dish and press into place.
Step 3- Make the filling. Add the filling ingredients to a high speed blender and blend until smooth. Pour the pie filling into the crust and bake for 45-55 minutes or until the middle is set.
Step 4- Chill. Let the pie cool completely, then refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
Step 5- Add the whipped topping. Scoop out the coconut cream portion of the canned coconut milk and add it to a mixing bowl. Add the sweetener and extract, and beat until soft peaks form. Spread over the pie, slice, and serve.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Not concerned about a few extra calories? Feel free to use full-fat dairy and regular sugar instead of the sugar substitutes.
- The lime extract is optional. I like to add it because it enhances the lime flavor of the pie, but you can swap it for equal portions of vanilla extract instead.
- Add lime zest. For a fresher, brighter flavor, I like to add the zest of 1-2 limes. It also makes a nice garnish.
- Make healthy key lime pie bars. This recipe will also fit a 6-inch square baking dish, so if you’d rather make bars, give that a go!
Storage instructions
To store: Store leftover pie in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
To freeze: Place pie slices in a freezer-safe container and freeze for three months.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, to make a gluten-free pie, use gluten-free cookies and swap the AP flour for a gluten-free flour blend.
Technically, yes, but I find the flavor of fresh lime juice much better. If you can find bottled key lime juice and want to use it, leave a comment below and let me know how it turned out!
More healthy desserts you’ll enjoy
- Strawberry crisp
- Healthy carrot cake
- Healthy cheesecake
- Healthy peach cobbler
- Or any of these healthy desserts
Healthy Key Lime Pie
Ingredients
For the crust
- 1 recipe shortbread cookies or any low calorie cookies of choice, crushed (1 1/2 cups)
- 1/4 cup allulose
- 5 tablespoon light butter or light margarine
For the filling
- 2 cups Greek yogurt non-fat
- 1 cup cream cheese non-fat or dairy free
- 2 large eggs
- 2/3 cup allulose
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour gluten free, if needed
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon lime extract optional
For the whipped topping
- 1 13.5 oz coconut milk chilled
- 4 tablespoon sugar free powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon lime extract optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 170C/325F. Lightly grease an 8-inch springform pan and set aside.
- In a bowl, add your crushed cookies, sweetener, and melted butter and mix until combined. Transfer into the pan and press into place.
- Add your filling ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Transfer on top of the crust and place in the oven. Bake the pie for 45-55 minutes, or until the middle is set.
- Remove the pie from the oven and let it cool completely. Once cool, refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
- Once the pie is chilled, prepare the whipped topping. Scoop out the cream portion of the coconut milk and add it into a mixing bowl. Add the sweetener and lime extract and beat until soft peaks form. Spread over the top of the pie and slice and serve.
Hello
The recipe states flour “if needed”. How do I know if flour is needed ? Thanks
Lucy
If the filling is too thin 🙂
Can I used regular brown sugar for the filling?
You sure can!
I made this with lime flavored Greek yogurt which added even more lime flavor. This recipe is great and the whole family loved it.
I am curious as to why the non-fat cream cheese and non-fat yogurt versus full fat for keto?
This is not a keto recipe 🙂
I would like to make this without eggs…can I use cornstarch instead?
Haven’t tried!
What could I replace the flour with to make this low carb? Thanks
Try this out- https://thebigmansworld.com/keto-key-lime-pie/
Great!! I can hardly wait to try it.