Authentic Florida Vegan Key Lime Pie is just 5 ingredients
So to mimic the authenticity of the original I had to do some science-y stuff!
In my search for the Best Vegan Key Lime Pie recipe
I discovered that most recipes included things like vegan cream cheese or tofu
And I just didn’t want to introduce those foreign ingredients into one of the simplest recipes out there!
So my version is just four basic ingredients that should be fairly easy to find!
NO TOFU! NO NUTS! NO CREAM CHEESE!
And don’t worry I have an alternative recipe below for Non ~ Condensed milk version
Now Let’s Talk About the Texture!
Vegan custard can be difficult to master since the texture will border on “rubbery”
*see notes below about measuring cornstarch
No affiliation with any product or company linked below, solely for visual reference
Notes for Success
I am using 4.75″ tart molds with removable bottoms
However you can easily make this entire recipe to fit an 8″ pie instead
Be sure to have your crusts prepared ahead of time though because this is one fast recipe!
Cornstarch is a very difficult ingredient to measure consistently with a volume spoons measure
So while I list both measures below I cannot stress enough how the grams measure with a scale is going to give you the best results.
Many times people have complained that their custard is like rubber and they don’t know why!
Canned ~vegan~ Sweetened Condensed Milk is the absolute key to success in this recipe
Although I know this may be a difficult ingredient to get
So if that is true for you it is quite simple to make your own!
By simmering 28fl oz coconut or soy milk with 2/3 cup sugar until it is thick like the canned version
I do prefer the sweetened condensed milk version much much more resulting in a thick, gooey custard filling
I am using Nellie & Joe’s Key Lime Juice *not sponsored but fresh squeezed key lime juice works great too!
For the vegan whipped cream use whatever brand you love the most
OR I have several homemade vegan whipped cream options for you here on my website
Alternatively you can add a ripe avocado to about 1/3 of a can of coconut milk (liquid included) + ½ cup confectioners sugar
And then just whiz it all up in a high speed blender or magic bullet
For instant avocado whipped cream that is the perfect compliment to this Key Lime Pie
Next Level Key Lime Pie
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 1½ cups Graham Crackers 175g
- 4 Tbs Vegan Butter 56g
For the Custard:
- 11 ounces Vegan Sweetened Condensed Milk *see notes 330g
- 6 Tbs Plant Milk 90ml
- ½ cup Key Lime Juice 118ml
- 4 Tbs Water 60ml
- 1 Tbs Vegan Butter 14g
- 3 Tbs Cornstarch *see notes 24g
For the Whipped Topping:
- 1 Recipe Recipe Vegan Whipped Cream
- OR 1 Pint SILK brand heavy whipping cream
- *I use ¼ cup sugar per 1 pint SILK
Instructions
- If you are using my homemade recipe for vegan whipped cream, read the entire recipe post and prepare that recipe the day before for best results
- Prepare the crust by crushing the cookies in a food processor or by hand to fine crumbs
- Add the melted vegan butter and combine until it resembles wet sand
- Press the crust mixture into the bottom & sides of your tart molds or pie shell
- Freeze while you prepare the custard
- For the custard combine the water with the cornstarch & whisk smooth
- Next combine all the ingredients including the cornstarch slurry, (but not the vegan butter) together in a medium sauce pot and bring to a boil while whisking constantly be careful that the bottom does not scorch by adjusting the heat throughout
- Once the custard boils and is visibly getting thicker, add the vegan butter and whisk smooth
- Remove from the heat and pour the custard into your prepared crusts
- Refrigerate until set then top with vegan whipped cream
Notes
No Condensed Milk Version Recipe
No Condensed Milk Version~ Key Lime Pie
Follow the recipes in the first recipe above for the crust & the whipped cream
Ingredients
For the No Condensed Milk Key Lime Custard:
- Full Fat Canned Coconut Milk 1 Cups (237ml)
- Key Lime Juice ½ cup (118ml)
- Granulated Sugar ½ cup (100g)
- Cornstarch 3½ Tablespoons (24g)
- Vegan Butter 2 Tablespoon (24g)
Instructions
- Combine the cornstarch with the sugar & whisk to incorporate through
- Next combine all the ingredients except the vegan butter together in a medium sauce pot and bring to a boil while whisking constantly
- Once the custard boils and is visibly getting thicker, add the vegan butter and whisk smooth
- Remove from the heat and pour the custard into your prepared crust(s)
Notes
Key lime pie must be kept refrigerated at all times and will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 1 week Freeze without the whipped cream wrapped well for up to 1 month
Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe
Ingredients
- 2- 14ounce cans full fat coconut milk
- OR Soy Milk works great 28fl oz.
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar (135g)
Instructions
- Combine the plant milk with the sugar in a heavy bottom sauce pan and bring to a boil over high heat stirring often
- Once it boils reduce heat to low, and simmer for 45-60 minutes stirring occasionally and watch it closely so it doesn't burn or boil over
- By the time 45 minutes approaches it should have reduced down to close to 2 or 2¼ cup total volume and starting to get very thick
- It will thicken more as it cools.
- Cool completely then use it in your recipes
Notes
Homemade sweetened condensed milk must be kept refrigerated & will stay fresh for up to 2 weeks in a clean airtight container.
Freeze for up to 4 months
This. Was. Amazing.
I made 6 individual tarts for a dinner with friends. They all loved it, and the whole “vegan thing” was very well received! (They’re good people, and always love what I make).
Two things to note:
1. I misread the “two cups” as “two cans” of condensed coconut milk. And my two cans were 11 ounces each. My bad, but it was still good!
2. This tarts pack a seriously citrus/tart wallop UNLESS you also make the whipped topping. You know how sometimes you can forgo the topping to a custardy tart? You…shouldn’t do that with this one. BUT – the combo of the two things is phen-om-in-al!!!!
Highly recommend this dessert. Oh, and Silk Heavy Whipping Cream Alternative for the win!
awesome! thank you for the feedback! I am so glad it still worked out with the 2 cans!
Fantastic! I’m doing that thing I hate in comments – I haven’t made the recipe yet ???? but am commenting! I have always had success with every one of your recipes I have made so I know this will be great. I have a couple of key lime trees in my yard and I can get the condensed milk at Walmart-I’m ready to go ! BTW, totally agree about weighing ingredients. Thanks for all your great recipes and wonderful videos. ????
LOL! Thanks for the comment, let me know how it goes!
Made this the other night and OMG!!! So good!!!! I did add a tiny bit more lime for an extra bite. Pairs well with vegan whipped cream!!! OMG!! I also used Bischoff cookies for the base. Can’t wait to make it again!!
Forgot to give it 5 stars
THANK YOU!
Hoping to make this for a mixed group of vegans and non in a bar format. Would this recipe work in a 9×13 or would you scale up?
I would probably 3X the recipe! 9″ x 13″ is quite a large pan!
Be sure to have the parchment paper flapping over in excess so you can get the entire bar out easily for cutting into portions (unless you plan to serve them direct from the pan?)
Thank you – I’ll give it a shot and let you know how it goes! Happy to have discovered your site as vegan baking is new to me, and there are lots of things here that look great for sharing.
Hi Gretchen! So just to confirm, the crust doesn’t require any baking, you just freeze it?
Super excited to try this! Thank you!
That’s correct! Some people like to bake the crust for like 10 minutes, it will help with it’s integrity upon storage (meaning it will be less likely to crumble and break apart after a day or too like the un-baked one has a tendency to do!) But in the interest of making this a NO BAKE dessert, I don’t often bake the crust
I made the condensed milk last night and used unsweetened silk soymilk. It never got super thick – more like eggnog consistency, and I am wondering if it’s because I used the unsweetened milk? I had it on the stove for an hour and 15. I am trying with a preservative free canned coconut milk today so hopefully that works better.
for anyone curious, do not use preservative free coconut milk