Vanilla Bean Key Lime Pie

Some desserts just feel like summer. This pie is one of them. It’s cool and creamy, with just the right amount of tartness from the key limes and a little extra something special from the vanilla bean. It’s simple, but still feels kind of fancy in the best way.

I made this because Hudson loves key lime pie but I wanted to switch it up a little. Adding vanilla bean seemed like a small change, but it made such a difference. The flavor is mellow and sweet, and it balances out the lime so well. The first time I tried it, I knew I’d be coming back to this one all summer long.

The filling is super smooth and creamy. It’s one of those pies you want to keep in the fridge and sneak bites of every time you walk by. And that buttery graham cracker crust? It just makes everything better.

If you can find fresh key limes, use them. They’re tiny and a little annoying to juice, but the flavor is totally worth it. If not, bottled key lime juice works just fine too. No judgment here.

I usually top mine with vanilla bean whipped cream, but it’s honestly just as good straight out of the pie dish with a spoon. You can make this ahead of time and keep it chilled until you’re ready to serve.

You can grab the recipe below. I hope you make it and love it like we do. It’s one of those things that just makes a regular day feel a little more like summer.