Key Lime Pie Fudge - an easy recipe packed with flavor (2024)

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Key Lime Pie is high on my list of favorite desserts. That’s one of the reasons I love this Key Lime Pie Fudge. It puts all the flavor and texture of key lime pie into rich and creamy bite-size pieces!

Key Lime Pie Fudge - an easy recipe packed with flavor (1)

Happy Monday, friends. How have you been? I know it has nothing to do with Key Lime Pie Fudge, but I have to tell you that the past few months have been the strangest of my life. (Some of my previous experiences may have been odder, but these last few months stand out because I’m still in the midst of them.)

Key Lime Pie Fudge:

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The best way I can explain this period of my life is to relate it to the weather. I’m on the verge of a beautiful spring after a long and snowy winter.

It’s the weirdest feeling in the world as I’m so filled with hope and excitement for what’s to come, yet it’s also a stressful and emotional process. I don’t even know what or how to feel. (If you have no idea what I’m talking about … I sorta-recently relocated, sold my home of 10 years, and have been house hunting for 5 months.) It’s as if I have all the pieces to a puzzle and just need to figure out how to put them in the right place.

I want to put all of these thoughts into a dedicated post but felt the need to share them today. So there you go. Also, speaking of weather, where the heck is spring!? So far, it’s snowed every day this month here in Pittsburgh.

I say all of this because, as you know, when life is feeling weird, I often turn to food – eating it and creating it. That’s why there has been so much food chat on IBC lately. (Don’t worry my home decorating and design lovers, more of your kind of posts are on the horizon, especially when I find my new home! Thanks for climbing up Recipe Mountain with me for the past year or so.)

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How to Make Key Lime Pie Fudge:

Now back to the recipe. This Key Lime Pie Fudge is the bomb dot com. Not only is it simple to make, but it packs a bright, fresh flavor, making it perfect for spring and summer. If you’re a fan of lemon and lime, you’ll be in taste heaven.

I also think the graham cracker crust is great. Although fudge is awesome on its own, this crust adds a unique crunch that tastes as good as it looks. It works beautifully with all the creamy fudginess.

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Key Lime Pie Fudge - an easy recipe packed with flavor (5)

Tips for making fudge:

When you’re preparing your Key Lime Pie Fudge, I have two quick notes:

First, be sure to use fresh lime juice and lime zest. In fact, let’s just never used bottled citrus juice. Ever.

Second, keep a close eye on the melting chocolate. Set the temperature on medium and constantly stir, and you’ll be fine. (I say this because I was impatient. I turned the heat up, looked away for a second, and burned the bottom of my first batch. No good!)

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With those couple of notes out of the way, you’re ready to make (and eat!) this amazing Key Lime Pie Fudge.

Looking for more citrus-inspired recipes? Try these:

  • Key Lime Cactus Cookies
  • Lemon Yogurt Cake
  • Blackberry Lemon Shortcake Cake
  • Lemon Curd Cheesecake Tarts
  • Ginger and Mint Lime Floats

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As always, thank you bunches for following my journey, sharing in my joys (and disappointments), and joining me as each of us creates our own happy place. Have a great week!

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Key Lime Pie Fudge Recipe:

Key Lime Pie Fudge - an easy recipe packed with flavor (9)

Key Lime Pie

Key Lime Pie is high on my list of favorite desserts. That's one of the reasons I love this Key Lime Pie Fudge. It puts all the flavor and texture of key lime pie into rich and creamy bite-size pieces!

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: fudge, key lime pie

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 32 pieces

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup unsalted butter melted
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 package (11 ounces) white chocolate chips
  • 1 bar (4 ounces) white chocolate, roughly chopped
  • 2 tablespoons freshly grated lime zest
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two of the sides. Spray the sides and bottom with cooking spray.

  • In a bowl, stir together the butter, sugar, and graham cracker crumbs. Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Bake until the edges are just starting to brown, about 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool for at least 30 minutes.

  • Meanwhile, in a large saucepan over medium heat, stir together the condensed milk, white chocolate chips, and chopped white chocolate until the chocolate is melted. Constantly stir the mixture to avoid burning. Remove the pan from the heat and then stir in the lime zest, lime juice, and vanilla extract. Pour the mixture over the cooled graham cracker crust. Chill for 4 hours or overnight.

  • Lift the fudge from the pan using the parchment paper. Then cut the fudge into bite-size pieces. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Key Lime Pie Fudge - an easy recipe packed with flavor (2024)

FAQs

Can I use regular lime juice instead of key lime juice for a Key lime pie? ›

While the flavor will be significantly different, you can also use regular limes or a combination of lime and lemon juice. Key Lime Zest: If you cannot get fresh key limes, you can substitute regular lime zest. Make-Ahea​​​​d: This pie can be made up to 2 days in advance.

What is key lime fudge made of? ›

How do you make Key Lime Fudge? Evaporated milk, sugar and salt are heated together in a saucepan and boiled for 8 minutes. Once that mixture has boiled for several minutes, it'll be piping hot. At that point, you'll pull the pan off the stove and stir in marshmallows, white chocolate, lime zest and lime juice.

Do you cover fudge while it sets? ›

After the chocolate has mostly melted, stir in the vanilla extract. Continue to stir until the chocolate is completely melted and the mixture is smooth and shiny. Pour into a prepared 8 x 8 inch pan. Let the fudge set at room temperature (covered) for at least four hours.

What makes Key lime pie thicken? ›

Here's the science: The acid in the key lime juice reacts with the proteins in the milk to thicken the mixture. That's why you don't need to bake it. To be fair, there are lots of fancier key lime pie recipes out there.

What is the difference between a Key lime pie and a Florida Key lime pie? ›

The main difference is that it requires more aromatic Key lime juice to make the famous pie sing. It is worth the elbow grease to get that authentic floral Key lime flavor—unless you can't find Key limes. Then swap them out for whatever you see at the grocery store and dig in.

Can I substitute lime juice for Key lime juice? ›

(Some residents of the Florida Keys and true Key lime pie aficionados will only use Key limes from the Keys.) If you can't find them anywhere, however, you can substitute a combination of regular fresh lime juice and fresh lemon juice in equal proportions.

Why is Publix Key lime pie so good? ›

Rather, the key to perfecting the Publix key lime pie is a simple ingredient added to the graham cracker crust. It's not the graham crackers themselves that make the crust special, but rather the unique addition of crushed toasted almonds.

Is Key lime pie a Southern thing? ›

key lime pie, an American dessert that consists of a graham-cracker or pastry crust, a yellow custard (primarily egg yolks, sweetened condensed milk, and key lime juice), and a topping of either whipped cream or meringue. The sweet and tart pie reportedly originated in Key West, Florida, in the late 19th century.

What is so special about Key lime pie? ›

The most pivotal part of the pie is the filling. The “sweet spot” between the tart key lime, and the creamy condensed milk is crucial for the pie's quality. Here at Teak we understand that balancing these two ingredients is an art and take this concoction seriously. Our guests love our Killer Key Lime Pie.

What is the secret to good fudge? ›

Tips for Making Fudge
  • Monitor the Temperature with a Candy Thermometer. If you end up with soft fudge that turns into a puddle in your hands or hard fudge that is a bit reminiscent of a crunchy candy, improper temperature is likely to blame. ...
  • Avoid Stirring Once the Mixture Comes to a Simmer. ...
  • Beat Thoroughly.
Mar 8, 2023

Is evaporated milk or condensed milk better for fudge? ›

Use Evaporated Milk- Make sure to use evaporated milk and not sweetened condensed milk. If you accidentally use sweetened condensed milk your fudge will be incredibly over the top sweet. Cut up the Butter– Before adding the butter in make sure to cut it into smaller pieces for faster melting.

What is the secret to smooth fudge that is not gritty? ›

Once a seed crystal forms, it grows bigger and bigger as the fudge cools. A lot of big crystals in fudge makes it grainy. By letting the fudge cool without stirring, you avoid creating seed crystals.

Why is my Key lime pie weeping? ›

As it turns out, undercooking and overcooking can both cause weeping meringue and unwanted moisture on top of your pie (aka beading). Overcooking meringue causes those little sugary drops of moisture on top of baked meringues.

Why isn t my Key lime pie green? ›

People expected their authentic Key lime pies to be green, matching the bright green lime color of the Persian limes they saw in their grocery stores. Key lime pie filling, however, takes its yellow color from the egg yolks used in its production.

Can you use regular lime juice for Key lime? ›

Unless you live in the Florida Keys, key limes are near impossible to find. Furthermore, they're so tiny that you'd need to juice at least twenty of them for this recipe. No thank you! Ordinary limes make an exceptional Key lime pie, and they are a much better alternative to bracingly tart bottled Key lime juice.

Can I substitute bottled lime juice for fresh lime juice? ›

Bottled lime juice: Pasteurized and lacking in oomph, bottled juice is usually best avoided. In a pinch, however, a good choice would be Santa Cruz Organic Pure Lime Juice, which is 100 percent, undiluted lime juice.

Is lime juice the same as Key lime juice? ›

In terms of taste, key limes have a higher acidity, making them a little more tart than what we consider "regular limes." This makes them ideal for pairing with sweeter ingredients, hence the ever-popular Key lime pie.

Is there a big difference between lime juice and Key lime juice? ›

Key limes have a flavor that is different from regular limes. They are more acidic and have a more intense, tangy taste – more “lime-y,” if you will. Some people describe the flavor of key limes as slightly sweet with a hint of bitterness. They also have a floral aroma that is more noticeable than regular limes.

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