Key Lime Pie Ice Cream

Aug 13, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Ice cream frozen desserts Vanilla: Beans Medium

Two generous scoops of key lime pie ice cream in a shallow ceramic bowl, softly melting at the edges

Tangy key lime pie ice cream with a creamy custard base, real key lime juice and zest, and buttery graham cracker crumble swirled throughout for a perfect balance of tartness and sweetness.

Prep 20 min

Cook 10 min

Cooling 2 hr 45 min

Total 3 hr 15 min

Servings 8

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

2.0 cups (480.0 ml)heavy cream
1.0 cup (240.0 ml)whole milk
¾ cup (150.0 g)granulated sugar
⅛ tsp (0.3 g)fine sea salt
1.0vanilla bean, split and scraped
5.0 large (85.0 g)egg yolks
½ cup (120.0 ml)fresh key lime juice
2.0 tsp (2.0 g)finely grated key lime zest
½ cup (60.0 g)graham cracker crumbs
2.0 tbsp (28.0 g)unsalted butter, melted
2.0 tbsp (25.0 g)light brown sugar

Make it at home

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Instructions

In a medium saucepan, combine the heavy cream, whole milk, granulated sugar, fine sea salt, and the seeds and pod of the split vanilla bean. Heat over medium heat until the mixture is hot and sugar is dissolved, but not boiling, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and let vanilla infuse for 15 minutes, then remove the vanilla pod.
In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks until smooth. Slowly pour about 1 cup (240 ml) of the warm cream mixture into the yolks, whisking constantly to temper the eggs.
Return the yolk and cream mixture to the saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or spatula, until the custard thickens slightly and reaches 170-175°F (77-79°C), about 5 minutes. Do not boil.
Strain the custard through a fine mesh sieve into a clean bowl to remove any coagulated bits. Stir in the fresh key lime juice and grated key lime zest. Let cool to room temperature.
Cover the custard and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours until thoroughly chilled.
Meanwhile, prepare the graham cracker crumble by mixing the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and light brown sugar in a small bowl until evenly combined.
Churn the chilled custard in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions until soft-serve consistency, about 20-25 minutes.
During the last 5 minutes of churning, add half of the graham cracker crumble to the ice cream. Transfer the ice cream to a container, swirl in the remaining crumble, and freeze until firm, at least 45 minutes.
Serve scoops of key lime pie ice cream garnished with extra graham cracker crumbs or thin lime slices if desired.

Tips

Use fresh key limes for authentic tartness and vibrant zest flavor in the ice cream.
Infuse vanilla by simmering the seeds and pod to impart a rich, natural vanilla aroma.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make key lime pie ice cream?

Plan on 20 minutes of prep and 10 minutes of cooking, plus 2 hours 45 minutes to chill and freeze. The recipe makes about 1 quart (8 servings).

How should I store key lime pie ice cream?

Store ice cream tightly covered in the freezer for up to 2 weeks. Let soften at room temperature for 5 minutes before scooping.

Can I make key lime pie ice cream ahead?

The custard base and graham cracker crumble can be prepared a day ahead and chilled separately before churning.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped. Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Tangy key lime pie ice cream with a creamy custard base, real key lime juice and zest, and buttery graham cracker crumble swirled throughout for a perfect balance of tartness and sweetness.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 8 servings this recipe makes.

401 Calories / serving

28.9g Fat

32.5g Carbs

4.8g Protein

27.7g Sugar

Whole recipe (8 servings): ~3208 cal · 231g fat · 260g carbs · 38g protein · 222g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 401 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 76 min·4.4 mi·~8900 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 54 min·2.7 mi·~5400 steps
Moderate cycling 41 min·8.2 mi
Swimming laps 56 min
Jogging 39 min·3.3 mi·~6250 steps
Stair climbing 37 min·~3350 steps
Dancing 65 min
Bodyweight circuit training 41 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 93 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.