Mini Key Lime Pie Bites: A Must-Try Easy Recipe

Mini key lime pie bites are my go-to summer treat for those sunny afternoons when my family gathers to have a backyard picnic.

These zesty mini pies disappear within minutes.

And today I’m excited to share this simple recipe for you to enjoy these mini pies with your family and friends.

Bite-size key lime pies are perfect for any outdoor gathering and are a breeze to whip up using only a handful of ingredients.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Discover why you’ll fall in love with this mini key lime pie bites recipe.

• Bite-sized goodness: Savor the perfect balance of tangy lime and sweet flavors in convenient, poppable bites. It’s the perfect bite-sized dessert.

• Easy to make: With just a few simple ingredients, creating these delectable treats is a breeze for anyone, even beginners. Such an easy recipe with minimal effort.

• Picture-perfect presentation: Impress your guests with these cute and elegant mini pies that look as good as they taste.

• Kid-friendly: These delightful pie bites are sure to be a hit with the little ones, making them a great choice for family gatherings or parties.

• Light and refreshing: With just the right amount of sweetness, these mini pies are a guilt-free indulgence that makes them perfect for any occasion. 

Ingredients Needed For Mini Key Lime Pie Bites

• 14.1 oz package Pillsbury refrigerated mini pie crusts, room temperature 
• 3 oz lime gelatin powder package
• ½ cup water, divided
• 8 oz whipped topping (Cool Whip), thawed but cold
• Fresh key lime zest

Step-by-Step Preparation With Pictures

1. Preheat the oven to 425° F.

Unroll the pie crusts and gently break them apart at the perforations.

2. Set one pie crust into each of the 12-cup muffin pan cavities, and press to the bottom and sides. Poke holes in the bottom with a fork. Discard the remaining two pie crusts.

Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until crusts are golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 1 hour. Remove the shells from the muffin tins and place them on a tray. 

3. While the pie crusts are baking, make the tart filling.  

Boil ¼ cup of water in a saucepan over high heat. Pour the hot water into a medium bowl. Add the gelatin and stir with a whisk until dissolved. Add the remaining ¼ cup of water and stir for 2 minutes.

Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

4. Stir in the whipped topping. Refrigerate for an additional 30 minutes.

5. Zest the lime.

6. Add the gelatin mixture to a piping bag fitted with the 1M frosting tip. Gently squeeze the mixture into pie crusts.

7. Sprinkle with lime zest. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Serve mini key lime pie bites and enjoy!

Tips for Preparation and Baking

Zest the lime first. Before cutting the limes to use as decorations, zest them first.

This way, you’ll have the fresh zest ready to sprinkle on top of the pie bites once they are done.

Adjust the sweetness: If you prefer a sweeter filling, you can add a little brown sugar or sweetened condensed milk to the lime gelatin mixture.

Taste the mixture before pouring it into the crusts, and adjust the sweetness to your liking.

Serve them chilled: Key lime pie bites taste best when they are chilled.

Allow them to cool and firm up in the refrigerator before serving for the perfect creamy and refreshing texture in warm weather.

Anywhere from 1 hour to a couple hours is enough time for them to cool.

Use a piping bag: If you want to add a decorative touch to the key lime pie filling, transfer it into a piping bag and pipe swirls or patterns in the crust. If you do not have a piping bag, you can use an ice cream scoop. Use the scoop to move the creamy filling into the pie crust. Make swirls with a fork. 

Variation Ideas for Key Lime Pie Recipe

I’m all for putting a creative spin on a recipe.

I love that I can make it this time one way and change it up completely the next time.

Or I can just give it a small twist. Here are some simple variations to the classic key lime pie flavor in the mini tart form. 

Tropical Twist: Add a tropical twist by mixing in some shredded coconut to the lime gelatin mixture before filling the pie crusts.

Top the bite-size key lime pies with a sprinkle of coconut and fresh key lime zest for a delightful island-inspired flavor.

Berrylicious Surprise: Before adding the lime gelatin mixture, place a few fresh raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries in the center of each pie crust.

Pour the gelatin over the berries and let it set.

The burst of fruity goodness inside will become a nice surprise.

Graham Cracker Crust: If you want to switch things up, make your own graham cracker crust using crushed graham crackers and melted butter.

Press the graham cracker crumbs mixture into the muffin cups before adding the lime gelatin filling.

Key Lime Cheesecake Swirl: Create a swirled effect by adding a layer of cream cheese mixture on top of the graham cracker crust before pouring the lime gelatin filling.

To make the cream cheese mixture, combine softened cream cheese with a bit of sugar, key lime juice and vanilla extract.

Nutty Crunch: Sprinkle chopped toasted nuts (like almonds, pecans, or macadamia nuts) on top of the whipped topping for a delightful crunchy texture and added flavor.

Raspberry Lime: Mix in some raspberry puree or raspberry jam into the lime gelatin mixture before filling the pie crusts.

The raspberry’s sweetness will complement the tangy lime taste.

Citrus Medley: Enhance the citrus flavors by adding a touch of lemon or orange zest to the lime gelatin mixture.

This will create a refreshing and multi-dimensional taste.

Need substitution ideas?

If you want the same type of crust as the pie dough, but you don’t have it, you can make a phyllo shell. 

Homemade healthy whipped cream can be used in place of Cool Whip. 

Serving Suggestions and Presentation

These little key lime bites are so pretty on their own, but there are so many ways to present them as you serve them.

Here are some of my favorite ideas. If you have more ideas, please share them in the comments. 

Classic Elegance: A simple way to set up the individual key lime pies is to place them on a serving platter or cake stand.

Decorate with lime slices.

This is so simple and lets the mini pies shine on their own. It’s perfect for dessert tables. 

Festive: Add some pretty toppings to the pies.

Add things like whipped cream, chocolate shavings, sprinkles, or berries.

You can even make a toppings bar. 

Tropical Paradise: Create a beach theme with little umbrellas and cocktail sticks.

Add edible flowers and tropical fruit, like pineapple and kiwi, to get that island vacation with your dessert. 

Chocolate Drizzles: Drizzle white and dark chocolate over the pie bites.

Use random lines or create a pattern.

This looks stunning and tastes fantastic. 

One Last Thing

When it comes to having an incredibly simple and delicious dessert, it doesn’t get better than these individual pies.

They are truly one of my favorite summer time treats.

Give this recipe a try!

And, mini key lime pies are going to become your favorite thing to serve at a dinner party, for a crowd, or just because you love that tangy zing of key lime pie.  

Your Turn

If you try this recipe, please take a moment to let me know how you liked it by leaving a rating and a comment below on the recipe card.

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