Crumbl Copycat Key Lime Pie Cookies

These Key Lime Pie Cookies are a fabulous graham cracker cookie with a puddle of key lime pie filling and whipped cream placed on top. They’re delicious!

September 26th is National Key Lime Pie Day! You must celebrate by enjoying a key lime pie. Even better, bake some of these key lime pie cookies so you can share them with everyone you know!

Share the key lime pie love on social media today using the hashtags #NationalKeyLimePieDay, #KeyLimePieDay and #RecipesForHolidays.

Be sure to follow my September Food Holidays page so you never miss a food holiday in the month of September.

“You know what they say: ‘Why sit at a table that doesn’t have key lime pie on it if you don’t have to?'”

-Sloane Crosley

The History of Key Lime Pie:

Key lime pie is known as an American dessert pie. It’s usually made with a combination of lime juice, egg yolks and sweetened condensed milk. It’s topped with either a meringue or whipped cream.

There is a story that key lime pie was invented back in the 1890’s by a woman known as “Aunt Sally.” She allegedly created the pie in the kitchens of Key West’s Curry Mansion, where she had access to sweetened condensed milk. There is no written evidence that this story is true.

The pie likely originated from adapting “Magic Lemon Cream Pie,” which was a pie recipe that was published in a brochure by Borden (creator of sweetened condensed milk). This lemon pie was basically the same recipe used for the key lime pie that we know now, but it was made with lemon.

A 1927 Key West Women’s Club cookbook does not mention key lime pie.

A “tropical lime chiffon pie” was published in a 1933 Miami newspaper.

And finally, “key lime pie” was first spotted in print in 1940.

In the 1950’s, key lime pie was promoted as Florida’s most famous treat. And in 1987, it was noted to be the greatest of all regional American desserts.

Ingredients needed:

• butter
• granulated white sugar
• brown sugar
• eggs
• vanilla extract
• all purpose flour
• graham cracker crumbs
• baking soda, baking powder and salt
• cream cheese
• sweetened condensed milk
• lime juice and lime zest
• powdered sugar
• lime wedges and whipped cream, for garnish

How to make Key Lime Pie Cookies:

The complete, printable recipe is at the end of this post.

Bake the cookies first:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F., and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to combine the butter and sugars. Then add the egg and vanilla, and mix until combined.

Add the flour, graham cracker crumbs, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Mix until completely combined.

Use a large scoop to create 15 equally sized cookie dough balls. Roll them into smooth balls, and then roll in the remaining graham cracker crumbs. Place 6 on each baking sheet. Gently flatten into a hockey puck shape. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes. Remove from the oven, and use the center of a measuring cup to gently press the center of each cookie down and create an indent where the filling will go. Allow the cookies to completely cool while making the filling.

Make the filling:

In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to combine the cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, lime juice and zest and powdered sugar. Mix until smooth and completely combined.

Spread the filling into the center of each cookie. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Top with a whipped cream dollop and a lime wedge before serving. Keep cookies stored in the refrigerator.

They turn out so pretty! I love the garnishes. It’s like serving a little handheld key lime pie. Enjoy!

Fun Facts about Key Lime Pie:

• Key limes are more tart and aromatic than classic Persian limes.
• You can use regular limes to make a key lime pie, but you won’t get that same tasty flavor.
• If you order a slice of key lime pie and the filling is green, the restaurant (or home baker) likely added a bit of green food coloring to the filling. The filling of a key lime pie is yellow because of the egg yolks. And key lime juice is a pale yellow color too.
• Key lime pie is the official pie of the state of Florida.
• The annual Key Lime Festival is held every July 4th weekend in Key West, Florida.