I’m loving mini desserts lately! Like these mini cheesecakes, these tiny key lime pies are quick to bake with my 3 small helpers and just the right size for one or two a piece. They’re tart yet sweet and perfect with a dollop of homemade whipped cream. (If you’d rather bake a full size pie, there are instructions included below the recipe.)

Mini Key Lime Pies

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 10 full sheet graham crackers)
6 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
1/3 cup sugar

4 oz. full-fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature
4 large egg yolks
14 oz. can full-fat sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup (120ml) key lime juice*
lime slices and whipped cream, for garnish (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a 12-count muffin pan with liners and a second 12-count muffin pan with only 4 (since this recipe makes only around 16). Set pans aside.
2. Make the crust: Before you begin, here are all of my tips for a perfect graham cracker crust. If you’re starting out with full-sheet graham crackers, you can use a food processor or blender to grind them up. Or crush them in a zipped top bag with a rolling pin. Mix the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and granulated sugar together with a rubber spatula in a medium bowl until combined. The mixture will be thick, coarse, and sandy. Press a heaping tablespoon of mixture down into each liner, making sure the crust is tight and compact. You might have a little crust leftover. If so, press a little more into each liner—if desired! Pre-bake the crusts for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven.
3. Make the filling: In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese on high speed until smooth, about 1 minute. On medium-high speed, beat in the egg yolks, scraping down the sides as needed. On high speed, beat in the sweetened condensed milk and lime juice until combined.
4. Pour the filling evenly into each crust. Bake for 15-16 minutes or until the centers of the pies only slightly jiggle (I check this by wiggling the muffin pan—with an oven mitt on– while it’s still in the oven). Allow the pies to cool at room temperature in the pan set on a wire rack. Once completely cool, place the pan in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours and up to 1 day.
5. Once chilled, serve the key lime pies cold with whipped cream and a lime slice if desired. Store leftover pies in the refrigerator (covered) for up to 1 week. If they last that long!

NOTES:

*Key Lime Juice: For the best flavor, make sure you use key lime juice. You can juice your own key limes or buy it from the store. It is usually with the regular lime and lemon juice in the juice aisle. I buy Nellie & Joe’s brand. In a pinch, you can use regular lime juice.

For a Full-Size Key Lime Pie: This is the same exact recipe I use for classic key lime pie (and sometimes I add the zest of 1 lime to the filling, which you can add to these mini pies as well). To make the pie, simply use this crust and filling recipe. Press crust into a 9-inch pie dish. Pre-bake for 12 minutes at 350 F. Pour in filling. Bake for 18 minutes, then allow to cool at room temperature before chilling in the refrigerator for 4 hours – overnight.

Makes ~16 mini key lime pies.

(Adapted from Sally’s Baking Addiction)