This no churn key lime pie ice cream recipe is a summer go-to for sure! You've got to try this key lime pie ice cream recipe - no eggs and no ice cream maker needed! It's a creamy tart key lime ice cream with condensed milk that I know you'll love just as much as I do!
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And if you love this key lime pie ice cream recipe, you've got to check out my Mango Popsicles, my No-Churn Strawberry Ice Cream, and my Key Lime Cookies!
No Churn Key Lime Pie Ice Cream Recipe
Key lime pie is one of my favorite desserts -- the flavors of citrus with condensed milk, and especially that buttery graham cracker crust -- it's just irresistible! So when I realized I had the ingredients to make a no-churn ice cream version, I had to give it a shot!
So I'm sharing this no-churn key lime pie ice cream recipe with you all so that until you're able to have the real thing, you can enjoy all the key lime goodness this summer!
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Where can I buy key lime pie ice cream?
My favorite key lime pie ice cream is sold at Mitchell's Ice Cream in Cleveland (my hometown)! It's just the best ice cream. I don't know what else to tell you.
If you're lucky enough to find yourself in Cleveland, I highly recommend picking some up, and if you do, my favorite is the key lime pie flavor. It's truly key lime pie in ice cream form, and that's the flavor I set out to recreate with this homemade no-churn key lime pie ice cream!
No-Churn Method
Ever wanted to make delicious homemade ice cream but didn't have an ice cream maker? Never fear! With this key lime ice cream recipe you'll only need an electric mixer!
I've made no-churn ice cream before -- my no-churn blackberry cheesecake ice cream uses a similar method, but because of the cream cheese in the mix it end up even richer! This no-churn key lime pie ice cream recipe is very simple and calls for the standard no-churn ice cream base: one 14-oz. can of sweetened condensed milk, and 2 cups of heavy cream.
This no-churn recipe makes a very creamy ice cream, and it's a deliciously easy treat when you don't have an ice cream machine, and it's a perfect summertime project with the kids!
Ingredients
Because this is such a simple no churn recipe, you won't need any egg yolks to achieve its creamy texture! Here are the ingredients you'll need:
- zest and juice of 3 limes - this is the main source of that tart lime flavor! To be truly traditional, you should use key lime juice and key lime zest, but if you can't find key limes at the grocery store, feel free to use regular limes.
- sweetened condensed milk - this, along with the heavy cream, forms the base of no-churn ice cream. But if you've ever made key lime pie, you know that this is also a crucial element of the flavor and texture of that pie!
- heavy whipping cream - whips up so light and fluffy to give the ice cream its texture and creaminess.
- graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and brown sugar - together, they make our graham cracker crust -- my favorite part of a key lime pie! Here, they're layered between the ice cream base as a graham cracker swirl, giving you a little of that buttery crust in every bite! And if you're a big fan of graham cracker crust like me, check out my Lemon Bars with Graham Cracker Crust!
Step by Step
This is such an easy no churn ice cream recipe! All you need is a stand mixer, a hand mixer, or even a whisk to whip up the cream, and then fold in the rest of your ingredients. Check out the recipe card below for detailed instructions, but here's how you do it:
- Combine crushed graham crackers, melted butter, and brown sugar in a bowl and stir well to get it all well saturated with butter. Yum!
- In another bowl, stir together your lime juice, zest, and sweetened condensed milk until it's all smooth.
- In a third large bowl, or in the bowl of a stand mixer, beat your whipped cream for a few minutes to get those stiff peaks. Fold in the condensed milk mixture gently.
- Layer the ice cream base with the graham cracker crumb mixture in a container or loaf pan, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze!
This is an incredible summer dessert -- the perfect combination of those tart, citrusy flavors balanced by the rich, creamy base and the buttery crust swirl. And it's a great recipe to make with the family! You'll turn to it over and over again on a hot summer day!
Related Recipes
If you like this no-churn key lime pie ice cream recipe, you'll definitely enjoy my Peanut Buster Parfait Ice Cream Pie! It's another summer classic you'll love!
You should also try my strawberry banana sorbet for another easy summertime frozen treat! It takes just a minute or two to mix up and then it solidifies in the freezer. The best part? It's free of refined sugars, paleo-friendly, and packed with healthy fruit.
Or for all the key lime pie lovers like me, you'll love my key lime pound cake, full of the flavors of key lime pie in a pound cake! You can also make my family recipe for lemon icebox pie, which is a lot like a key lime pie, but with all that lemony goodness. You'll love it!
📖 Recipe
Equipment you may need
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust Swirl
- ¾ cup graham cracker crumbs - see note*
- 5 tablespoon salted butter - melted
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar - packed
Ice Cream Base
- zest of 3 limes - about 2 tbsp; see note**
- juice of 3 limes - about ⅓ cup; see note**
- 1 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream - (one pint)
Instructions
- Combine graham cracker crust swirl ingredients and stir to coat the crumbs well with the butter and sugar. Set aside.
- Gently whisk together sweetened condensed milk, lime zest, and lime juice until smooth. Set aside.
- Beat heavy whipping cream with a stand mixer, hand mixer, or whisk until stiff peaks form, about 2-5 minutes.
- Gently fold condensed milk mixture into whipped cream and stir until combined, being careful not to deflate the whipped cream. This is your ice cream base.
- Spoon one-third of ice cream base into the bottom of a 9x5" loaf pan. Sprinkle one-third of graham cracker crumb mixture on top. Repeat two more times until you have three layers of both ice cream base and graham cracker crust swirl.
- Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight. To serve, allow to sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes to soften.
Notes
Nutrition
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Last Updated on March 18, 2025 by Chenée Lewis
Suja md says
Truly amazing in taste and flavors in this recipe. Will definitely make again, very good recipe!
Chenée Lewis says
I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed it!
dana says
Such a fantastic and refreshing ice cream recipe! Thanks for the great idea. This was so tasty.
Chenée Lewis says
Glad you liked it! 🙂
Andrea says
Homemade, easy, delicious, no churn and my favorite flavor, key lime pie. I can't wait to make this.
Beth says
Key lime is one of my favorite flavors in any kind of dessert, and I love no churn ice cream. This couldn't be a better recipe for me!
Tayler says
I made a batch of this ice cream with the kids last night and it was AMAZING! So creamy and we loved that it was no churn!
Kathleen says
Wow! This sounds so refreshing and delicious! I can't wait to dig into a big bowl of this key lime pie ice cream.
Chenée Lewis says
So glad you like it! 🙂
Dana Sandonato says
My little dude is going to go batshit bananas over this! He loves key lime, it's his favorite flavor!! Can't wait to make this. It looks and sounds absolutely perfect!
Wanda says
I love key lime pie and can't wait to try this ice cream! It looks easy and so delicious!
Ned says
I love Key Lime Pie, but in ice cream is a whole new level! INCREDIBLE! Thank you so much!
Chenée Lewis says
Thank YOU so much!
Dannii says
I love that you have put key lime flavours in an ice cream. This looks amazing.
Kris says
This couldn't have been easier or tastier! Will make again!
Chenée Lewis says
So happy you liked it! 🙂
Gina Abernathy says
So delicious! Easy to make and out of this world amazing.
Chenée Lewis says
Thank you so much!
Kathleen says
Love how easy this marvelous ice cream is to make. It's one of my favorite ice cream flavors.
Aimee Mars says
INSANE! This recipe is so incredible delicious. I can't wait to make this again!
KJ says
Can this be churned, sans crumbs?
Chenée Lewis says
Definitely! You can just leave them out. ?
Chenée Lewis says
I haven't tried an ice cream maker version of this recipe so I'm not sure what it would be like churned, but if you use the no churn method you can definitely just leave out the graham cracker crust swirl. Hope you enjoy!
Cheffzilla says
Between 1970 and 1976 I made all the key lime pies for a South Beach restaurant that was—and remains—world famous for its stone crabs and its key lime pies. Key limes are miserable to work with, and grocery-store limes are the wrong flavor profile and tartness for the true key-lime flavor; a local will know the difference.
For the true key lime experience mix fresh store-bought lime juice with an equal amount of fresh store-bought lemon juice and the grated zest of one lime per cup of lemon/lime juice. It will convince even the most discerning local palette.
And see my web site, http://www.jeffskitchen.net for the most authentic key lime pie recipe in existence.—and variations, including gluten-free.
Chenée Lewis says
Thanks for the tips! I agree that grocery store limes don't provide the most traditional key lime pie flavor, as I mentioned above. But lucky for us, they're still delicious and easily accessible everywhere! 🙂