If you go to Key West without eating your weight in key lime pie, did you really even go? Maybe, but you didn’t get the full experience! I’m a huge fan of dessert in general, but one of my all-time favorites has always been key lime pie! It’s sweet, it’s refreshing, it’s soft (I’m not a fan of anything crunchy), and it’s a truly iconic thing for any and everyone to eat in Florida! On my first-ever trip to the Florida Keys, you know trying all the best key lime pies had to be on the top of my list!
What’s in Key Lime Pie?
There is some debate about what makes an “authentic” key lime pie. Graham cracker or pastry crust? Meringue or whipped cream? Cooked or uncooked? Is fresh best, or is store-bought just as good? But generally, here are the commonly accepted ingredients in the iconic, summery pie:
- Graham Crackers
- Butter
- Eggs
- Sweetened Condensed Milk
- Key Limes (of course!)
Sounds good, right? Here are the best, most unique, and most beautiful, most delicious key lime pies in all of Key West!
Keep eating: What to Eat in Key West
Kermit’s Key Lime Pie Shop
One key lime pie was on every list and recommended by almost everyone we talked to: Kermit’s! He does several renditions of Florida’s signature pie, from Belgian chocolate-dipped to strawberry-flavored to frozen and beyond, but the classic is perfectly tart and topped with three dollops of real whipped cream. It was the first one we ate and the best way to start our key lime journey!
Kermit also has a cafe serving breakfast and lunch, as well as a shop with everything from key lime soap to key lime cookies, and from key lime seasonings to jellies, salsas, dressings, and dips!
Key Lime Pie with Whipped Cream
Still hungry? Iconic Eats Across the USA
Key West Key Lime Pie Bakery
Perhaps the most “touristy” key lime stop we made, we weren’t disappointed! Their shop boasts multiple versions of key lime pie, including classic as well as chocolate-dipped. You’ll also find souvenirs of every sort, as well as key lime-inspired treats to take home with you! Here you can get your key lime cake, key lime wedding cookies, key lime dip mixes, key lime candies, the list goes on and on. Don’t forget your chocolate-covered, frozen key lime pie on a stick!
Chocolate-dipped Key Lime Pie
Want more? The World’s Best Desserts
Blue Heaven
Do you prefer whipped cream or meringue? I have to be honest with you… I LOVE meringue! I don’t even need it on top of anything; I’ll simply eat it with a spoon! So when I found out that Blue Heaven served their key lime pie with an actual mountain of my favorite fluffy treat, it went to the tippy-top of my “must eat” list. This was also the second-most recommended key lime pie in Key West, right behind Kermit’s. I loved it!
Key Lime Pie with Mile-high Meringue
What’s the perfect companion to key lime pie?
Your Ultimate Guide to Coffees of the World
Banana Cafe
Okay, so this one is not a “real” key lime pie! But it deserves a mention here because it was delicious! There are several French and French-inspired restaurants in Key West, so you know we had to try one. This incredible key lime crepe was filled with key lime sauce, dusted with powdered sugar, and topped with whipped cream to make it look like a slice of pie. I wasn’t fooled, but I also wasn’t disappointed! I would definitely go back for this!
Key Lime Crepe
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Moondog Cafe
Out final breakfast in Key West included: key lime pie! When I saw another slice piled high with meringue, I knew I had to have it. This one was also topped with key lime zest, which added that hit of flavor that others didn’t include. It was truly special, and I think it was actually my favorite!
Key Lime Pie with Meringue and Lime Zest
Want more? Check out What to Eat in the USA for more iconic American eats, and find all our foodie experiences on our World Foods Page!
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The chocolate key lime pie on a stick had my undivided attention.
As it should! Definitely a winner.