No Bake Key Lime Parfaits

Tart and creamy Key lime ‘pie’ layered with buttery graham cracker crumbs, these easy no bake parfaits are the best summer dessert.

no bake key lime parfaits

My easy lime parfaits are a welcome sight when you open the fridge door on a warm night. The tangy lime filling is satisfyingly thick and creamy and melds together with those sweet graham cracker crumbs. Your spoon won’t take a break until the jar is scraped clean, it’s just one of those desserts.

ingredients for key lime parfaits

• limes
  • I had key limes but if you don’t, don’t sweat it, use regular limes…just be sure it’s fresh and not bottled.
• graham cracker crumbs
  • 1 1/2 cups or about 1 1/2 sleeves of crackers
• butter
• cream
• cream cheese
• sweetened condensed milk
  • The sweetened condensed milk is sweet enough that there’s no need to add extra sugar.

how are key limes different from regular limes

The key lime is a hybrid from Southeast Asia. They are much smaller, and seedier than regular limes (called Persian limes, fyi.) The flavor? It’s similar, but even more acidic than grocery store limes, with a more aromatic, floral flavor. Can you substitute regular old limes? Absolutely (you really won’t notice the difference.)

how to layer your key lime parfaits

1. Put down a layer of graham cracker crumbs on the bottom of your cups, I use 2 tablespoons.
2. Add 1/4 cup of lime mixture.
3. Top that with another 2 tablespoons of crumbs.
4. Finish with final 1/4 cup creamy lime.
5. Chill your parfaits until ready to serve.
6. Garnish with whipped cream and lime zest.

parfaits are the perfect make-ahead dessert

The creamy lime filling becomes thick and custardy as it chills so making up to a day ahead is a great idea. Add the whipped cream topping and add lime zest just before serving. (They’re meant to be served chilled, straight from the refrigerator.)

more no bake (and almost no bake) desserts

• Lemon Butter Pie
• Easy TiramisuLemon Butter Pie
• No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Recipe
• (Almost) No-Bake Chocolate Mousse Pie
• Lemon Icebox Pie
• Easy Cold Brew Icebox Pie
• Dreamy Nutella Mousse Pie!
• Easy Tiramisu

No Bake Key Lime Parfaits

5 from 7 votes

No bake key lime parfaits are a refreshingly tart and super easy summer dessert that can be made ahead and served straight from the fridge.

Print Recipe Rate Recipe

Total Time:20 minutes

Servings: 6 servings

1x2x3x

Equipment

• food processor is optional but handy

Ingredients

 

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup cold heavy cream
• 12 ounces cream cheese
• 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed key lime juice (or use regular lime juice)

topping

• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 2 Tbsp confectioner's sugar
• lime zest

Instructions

• Mix the graham cracker crumbs with the butter until thoroughly blended. I like to do this with my fingers. Set aside.
• Whip the heavy cream. I do this right in my food processor. Process until the cream is thick and holds its shape. This won't take long, don't over whip.
• Add the cream cheese, breaking it up into chunks as you add it, and process until smooth. Process in the sweetened condensed milk and lime juice until smooth and creamy.
• Put 2 tablespoons of the crumbs at the bottom of each of 6 parfait jars or glasses. Top with about 1/4 cup of the key lime mixture. Add 2 more tablespoons of crumbs, topped with another 1/4 cup of lime mixture.
• Cover and chill the parfaits until ready to serve. I recommend at least 2 hours.
• Whip the cream with confectioner's sugar to top the parfaits before serving. Garnish with lime zest.

Notes

I like to make this whole recipe using my food processor. I first use it to crush my graham crackers crumbs. Then I whip the cream by processing briefly until it thickens, then add the remaining ingredients per the recipe. It’s quick and mess free, and I can use cold cream cheese straight from the fridge. If you don’t have a food processor you can do this with electric beaters, but it will be more difficult to get the cream cheese to incorporate, you’ll have to make sure it’s softened first.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Author: Sue Moran

Keyword: dessert, lime, no bake, summer

Nutrition

Calories: 769 kcal · Carbohydrates: 53 g · Protein: 11 g · Fat: 59 g · Saturated Fat: 35 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 15 g · Trans Fat: 0.5 g · Cholesterol: 172 mg · Sodium: 399 mg · Potassium: 385 mg · Fiber: 1 g · Sugar: 39 g · Vitamin A: 2132 IU · Vitamin C: 8 mg · Calcium: 262 mg · Iron: 1 mg

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators.  Although The View from Great Island attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

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