• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
I'm Hungry For That
  • Home
  • Breakfast Recipes
  • Dinner Recipes
  • Dessert Recipes
  • All Recipes
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Breakfast Recipes
  • Dinner Recipes
  • Dessert Recipes
  • All Recipes
    • Instagram
  • ×

    Vegan Key Lime Pie | One Of The Best Vegan Pie Recipes You Can Make

    by Brendan Cunningham 4 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    This vegan key lime pie is sweet and creamy with the perfect amount of tang. It has a toasted graham cracker crust with a smooth key lime filling. Plus, the whole pie is entirely dairy free and egg free, and the substitutes we'll be using gives the traditional key lime pie an upgraded flavor.

    A piece of key lime pie on a white plate, with a fork in front of the piece laying flat on the plate. Part of the pie is behind the plate and everything is on a white counter.
    Table of Contents
    • THE BEST VEGAN KEY LIME PIE
      • INGREDIENTS FOR VEGAN KEY LIME PIE
        • Graham Cracker Crust Options
        • Vegan Dairy Substitutes For The Filling
      • HOW TO MAKE VEGAN KEY LIME PIE
        • Step 1: Making The Crust
        • Step 2: Making The Filling
        • Step 3: Completing The Pie
      • HOW TO STORE VEGAN KEY LIME PIE
        • Freezing The Pie
      • Wrapping It All Up

     

    THE BEST VEGAN KEY LIME PIE

    There aren't many vegan desserts better than a pie on a graham cracker crust. Atleast I don't think there are.

    And this recipe has everything you could want in a pie and MORE!

    It has the perfect balance of flavors and textures – the graham cracker vegan pie crust is crisp and buttery, and the filling tastes rich and refreshing with a perfect key lime flavor.

    And what I think sets this vegan key lime pie apart from the non-vegan versions – in the best way possible – is the subtle coconut flavor found in it. It perfectly complements the tanginess of the key lime while amping up the dreamy creaminess of the filling.

    Honestly, this pie is so good, it's quickly become one of my favorite vegan dessert recipes.

    And, it might just be one of the best pie recipes - vegan or non-vegan - out there. Especially if you're someone who likes desserts with a lime flavor. 

    Also, this recipe doesn't take a lot of time or effort to make. Overall, you're looking at about 15 minutes of active cooking time, and the rest is just letting the pie set while you go about your business.

    Not too bad for a pie recipe, right?!

    A whole vegan key lime pie on a white marble board. A pie server is behind the pie and a few slices of limes are behind it and in front of the pie. Everything is on a white counter.

    INGREDIENTS FOR VEGAN KEY LIME PIE

    So, we'll be making this egg free & dairy free vegan key lime pie recipe by using common plant-based pantry ingredient.

    And, there's a good chance you have most - if not all - of these ingredients at home already.

    For the crust, you'll need:

    • 1 ½ Cups Vegan Graham Cracker Crumbs
    • 6 Tbsp. Vegan Butter, melted

    And, for the filling you'll need:

    • 1 Cup canned Coconut Milk
    • 1 Can Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk
    • 4 Tbsp Arrowroot Starch (or tapioca or cornstarch)
    • ½ Cup Coconut Cream (you get this from the top of a chilled coconut milk can)
    • 1 Cup Lime Juice
    • Zest From 2 Limes (Around 1 Tbsp.)
    • 3 Tbsp Coconut Oil

    Ok, so those are our ingredients that we will be using to make this delicious recipe.

    But, I just want to mention a few things about the ingredients.

    So, let's go over them.

    A piece of vegan key lime pie with the tip sliced off and a metal fork in front of it, all on a white plate. The plate is on a white counter.

    Graham Cracker Crust Options

    Graham cracker crumbs are obviously a big part of making this pie. But, if you can't find vegan graham cracker crumbs, you can make your own by crushing vegan graham crackers in a ziplock bag, food processor, or blender.

    Just make sure you don't have any big pieces of vegan graham cracker left after you blend them.

    Also, be sure to double-check the ingredients list of your vegan graham crackers.

    Many brands flavor theirs with honey, so instead, look for plain graham crackers or ones sweetened with maple syrup or classic brown sugar.

    An overhead view of a piece of vegan key lime pie on a whit plate. A lime slice and metal fork are on the plate at the sides of the pie. Part of the vegan key lime pie is set behind the plate, showing where the piece was sliced out of. One lime slice is between the pie and plate and everything is on a white counter.

    Vegan Dairy Substitutes For The Filling

    So for this recipe, I decided to go with sweetened condensed coconut milk and coconut cream for the filling to substitute the usual eggs and cream used in key lime pie. 

    And coconut milk has a ton of healthy fats so it's the perfect candidate for making the pie as rich and creamy as possible.

    And, as a bonus, the coconut flavor pairs amazingly well with the tartness of the limes.

    I also used sweetened condensed coconut milk, which is the best vegan substitute for regular condensed milk. Besides being a tremendous vegan sweetener, it also has a deep and mellow flavor that rounds out the taste of the filling.

    Now, let's talk about the coconut cream.

    You can get the coconut cream from the top of a chilled coconut milk can. To do this, refrigerate the coconut milk can overnight - this will make the coconut fat separate and solidify at the top. 

    Then, use a spoon to skim the solidified coconut cream off the top of the can and put it in a bowl.

    After the coconut cream is in a bowl, continuously whisk it in a circular motion until it develops a cream-like consistency. 

    By the way, you can save the rest of the coconut milk, which is now essentially coconut water, and freeze it to make ice cubes to use for smoothies. 

    A piece of vegan key lime pie on a white plate with a fork laying on the plate in front of the piece of pie. The whole vegan key lime pie minus the slice on the plate is directly behind the plate. There are a few sliced limes around the pie and plate and everything is on a white counter.

    HOW TO MAKE VEGAN KEY LIME PIE

    As I mentioned, the whole vegan pie recipe comes down to three key steps (see what I did there): making the crust, the filling, and letting the pie set.

    It'll take you about 15 minutes total to make both the crust and the filling. 

    The long part of the recipe is that it takes a minimum of 5 hours to set in the fridge.

    Although it will be tempting to eat right away, it is totally worth the wait.

    Now, let's make an entire pie from scratch!

    An overhead view of a whole vegan key lime pie. The pie is on a circular white marble board with limes at the right edge of it. The marble board is on a white counter.

    Step 1: Making The Crust

    First, you'll want to preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

    Then, in a medium-sized bowl, mix the vegan graham cracker crumbs with the melted vegan butter until well-combined. 

    Now you're all set to press the mixture evenly in an 8" or 9" pie pan. And you can do this with your fingers, the bottom of a measuring cup, or a large spoon.

    Then, when your crust is pressed out, you'll want to bake it in the oven for about 7 minutes and let it cool at room temperature for 30 minutes.

    Step 2: Making The Filling

    Now, to make the filling, you'll want to combine all of the filling ingredients - the sweetened condensed milk, coconut milk, arrowroot starch, coconut cream, lime juice & zest, and coconut oil - in a medium saucepan and bring them to a boil over medium-high heat. Also, you'll want to continually stir this mixture to prevent anything from sticking to the bottom of the pot.

    Now, after about a few minutes of cooking the filling should start to thicken up. And, when it does, you can pour it into your cooled graham cracker crust.

    Also, if the filling is not looking super thick at this stage, don't worry, the filling will thicken a lot more as it cools.

    Having said that, once you've added the filling to the crust you'll want to let it cool down to room temperature, and then refrigerate it until it sets.

    Step 3: Completing The Pie

    So, as I just mentioned, you'll want to refrigerate the pie until the filling sets. And it will definitely take several hours for that to happen.

    That said, I think for the best vegan key lime pie results, you'll want to refrigerate the pie overnight. At the very least though, refrigerate it at least 5 hours. 

    Then, when it's set completely, top it with your choice of vegan whipped cream, and serve!

    A white plate with a piece of vegan key lime pie on it. The tip of the piece of pie is sliced off and there is a fork laying in front of it. The vegan key lime pie is in the background and everything is on a white counter.

    HOW TO STORE VEGAN KEY LIME PIE

    If you plan to enjoy your vegan key lime pie throughout the week, you can keep it in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-5 days.

    However, if the pie is too big for an airtight container, you can also cover it with aluminum foil or plastic wrap if the pie is too big for an airtight container. Just take note that it will only keep for about 2-3 days this way.

    Freezing The Pie

    That said, if you want to store your vegan key lime pie in the freezer, you'll definitely want to place it in an airtight container or a heavy-duty freezer bag before freezing.

    Also, if you freeze the pie, you should eat it within 1-2 months for that same freshly made taste. But, if for some reason you don't eat it in that two-month time frame, the pie will still be safe to eat, just expect a slight change in the texture and quality. 

    Oh, and by the way, make sure to thaw it in the fridge for a few hours before eating.

    Wrapping It All Up

    I'm confident saying that if you serve this key lime pie to your friends or family, they won't believe that you didn't buy it from a bakery.

    Seriously, it's that good!

    Like, you'll want to eat the whole thing, good.  

    Anyway, I hope you like this vegan key lime pie recipe as much as I do! 

    As always, if you make it, let me know how it turned out in the comments below.

    I'd love to hear about it!

    Print

    Vegan Key Lime Pie | The Best Key Lime Pie Recipe

    An overhead view of a whole vegan key lime pie. The pie is on a circular white marble board with limes at the right edge of it. The marble board is on a white counter.
    Print Recipe

    ★★★★★

    5 from 4 reviews

    This vegan key lime pie is sweet and creamy with the perfect amount of tang. It has a toasted graham cracker crust with a smooth key lime filling. Plus, the whole pie is entirely dairy free and egg free, and the substitutes we'll be using gives the traditional key lime pie an upgraded flavor.

    • Author: I'm Hungry
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 15 minutes
    • Total Time: 5 hours 30 minutes
    • Yield: 8 slices 1x
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Stovetop/Oven
    • Cuisine: Vegan

    Ingredients

    Scale

    Crust:

    1 ½ Cups Vegan Graham Cracker Crumbs

    6 Tbsp. Vegan Butter, melted

    Filling:

    1 Cup canned Coconut Milk

    1 Can Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk

    4 Tbsp Arrowroot Starch (or tapioca or cornstarch)

    ½ Cup Coconut Cream (you get this from the top of a chilled coconut milk can)

    1 Cup Lime Juice

    Zest From 2 Limes (Around 1 Tbsp.)

    3 Tbsp Coconut Oil

    Instructions

    To Make The Crust:

    1. Preheat the oven to 375F.
    2. Mix and combine the graham cracker crumbs & the butter.
    3. Press the mixture into an 8" - 9" pie pan.
    4. Then, use the bottom of a measuring cup to get it even.
    5. Bake for 7 minutes. Cool for 30 minutes.

    To Make The Filling:

    1. Add all of the filling ingredients into a medium saucepan.
    2. Then, bring everything to a boil over medium-high heat, and stir it constantly so nothing sticks to the bottom of the pot.
    3. Cook for 2ish minutes - or until it starts to thicken.
    4. Now, once the mixture has thickened, pour it into your pre-baked crust - and the filling will thicken more once cooled so don't be worried if it's thin at this point.
    5. Then, when that's taken care of, refrigerate the pie for at least 5 hours (preferably overnight).
    6. Serve with vegan whipped cream.

    Notes

    The scale up function does not change the gram measurements.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 slice
    • Calories: 360
    • Fat: 23.5
    • Carbohydrates: 35
    • Fiber: 3
    • Protein: 1

    Keywords: Vegan key lime pie, key lime pie, vegan key lime pie recipe, how to make vegan key lime pie, key lime pie vegan, dairy-free pie recipes, how to make pies vegan, key lime pie recipe, dairy-free key lime pie, how to make key lime pie, graham cracker crust recipe, how to make graham cracker crust, vegan pie crust, key lime pie vegan, how to make vegan pie crust, vegan pie recipes, pie recipes, vegan desserts, vegan dessert recipes, desserts vegan, dairy-free desserts,

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag us @ImHungryForThat — we can't wait to see what you've made!

    « Olive Garden Chicken Parmigiana Recipe
    Queer Eye Cauliflower Steaks »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Gina

      October 09, 2021 at 9:40 pm

      Absolutely incredible!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Julia

      November 16, 2021 at 8:27 pm

      This was my favorite pie that I have made yet!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    3. Kelly G..

      November 21, 2021 at 9:31 am

      A delicious key lime pie. The crust was everything that I was hoping for it to be.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. AJ

      May 03, 2022 at 2:58 pm

      Amazing vegan pie!!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    Primary Sidebar

    Hey there! We're Brendan & Joe, and we love to create recipes that make you say "I'm hungry for that!" We've both... Read More…

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    A tin filled with french fries. There is text above the french fries that reads "click here to join our weekly newsletter".

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About Us

    • About

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    YouTube

    • Subscribe

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

    Privacy Policy Copyright © 2021 Terms & Conditions