No-Bake Key Lime Cheesecake

Author Profile Image
Atsuko
key lime cheese cake limes water plates
Author Profile Image

Atsuko

Founder of @Umami Sans Frontiรจres

Inspired by the famous Key Lime Pie from the Florida Keys, this No-Bake Key Lime Cheesecake is my own easy twist on the classic dessert. Made with fresh lime juice, cream cheese, and sweetened condensed milk, the filling is rich, smooth, and perfectly balanced with bright citrus flavor. Served chilled with a crisp biscuit crust, it’s an elegant yet effortless dessert that’s perfect for summer gatherings, afternoon tea, or any special occasion.
Expense
๐Ÿ’ต
Preparation
30 mins
Baking time
Rest Time

Ingredients

Cooking time: 30 minutes (plus chilling time)
Ingredients:

Yield: 8 servings (22cm / 9-inch tart pan)

For the Crust

  • 250g digestive biscuits (or graham crackers)
  • 105g unsalted butter, melted

For the Filling

  • 200g Philadelphia cream cheese, softened
  • 330g sweetened condensed milk
  • 110ml fresh lime juice (about 4โ€“5 limes)
  • Zest of 2 limes
  • 5g powdered gelatin
  • 30ml cold water

For the Topping

  • 100ml heavy cream
  • 10g powdered sugar
  • Thin lime slices
  • Fresh lime zest
How to make it:

Preparation:ย Finely zest 2 limes, then juice them to yield 110 ml (about 4 fl oz) of juice. Set both the zest and juice aside.

lime zest

lime juice

1. Prepare the crust:

Melt the butter.

Crush the biscuits into fine crumbs and combine them with the melted butter. Press the mixture firmly into the base and up the sides of a 22cm (9-inch) tart pan.

biscuits

biscuits butter

Refrigerate for about 30 minutes until firm.

tarte biscuit

2. Prepare the gelatin:

Sprinkle the powdered gelatin over the cold water. Let it bloom for 5 minutes.

Microwave for about 10 seconds, or until completely dissolved. Allow it to cool slightly.

gelatin

3. Make the filling:

Beat the softened cream cheese until completely smooth. Add the sweetened condensed milk and mix until well combined.

Stir in the fresh lime juice and lime zest.

Finally, add the dissolved gelatin and mix until smooth.

cream cheese condense milk gelatin lime zest lime juice

4. Chill the cheesecake:

Pour the filling into the prepared crust. Smooth the surface with a spatula or the back of a spoon.

Refrigerate for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight.

cream cheese on the biscuits tarte

5. Decorate:

Whip the heavy cream with the powdered sugar until medium-firm peaks form.

Transfer it to a piping bag fitted with a medium star tip and pipe small rosettes around the edge of the cheesecake.

Garnish the center with a few thin lime slices and finish with a sprinkle of fresh lime zest.

keylimecheesecake

piece of key lime cheese cake

๐ŸŒŸ Tips & Stories ๐ŸŒŸ

โญ๏ธ Use fresh limes whenever possible:

Freshly squeezed lime juice and zest give this cheesecake its bright, refreshing citrus flavor.

โญ๏ธ Bring the cream cheese to room temperature:

Softened cream cheese blends much more smoothly and creates a silky filling without lumps.

โญ๏ธ Chill overnight for the best texture:

An overnight rest allows the filling to set beautifully while giving the lime flavor time to develop.

โญ๏ธ Keep the whipped cream simple:

Pipe small rosettes only around the edge of the cheesecake to create an elegant finish while letting the fresh lime filling remain the star.

โญ๏ธ Perfect for warm-weather entertaining:

Serve well chilled for a light, refreshing dessert that’s ideal for summer parties, afternoon tea, or special occasions.

โญ๏ธ A Little Story from Our Kitchen:

This cheesecake was so delicious that my husband and I kept saying, “Just one more bite,” until there was almost nothing left. It reminded us of the famous Friends episode where Rachel and Chandler secretly eat a cheesecake that was delivered to the wrong apartment. We couldn’t help laughing because we completely understood how they felt!

โญ๏ธ About the Sweetened Condensed Milk:

This recipe came about because I wanted to use up some leftover sweetened condensed milk from another dessert. It turned out to be such a success that it quickly became one of our family favorites.

While making it, I tasted the sweetened condensed milk and was instantly reminded of the sweetened milk we used to drizzle over fresh strawberries when I was growing up in Japan. It brought back such a lovely childhood memory.

a slice of lime key lime cheese cake

Umami Sans Frontiรจres – Copyrights 2026
Author Profile Image

Written byAtsuko

Founder of @Umami Sans Frontiรจres

Join the conversation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

More delicious recipes for you

Since moving to Dubai, I've been seeing more and more pistachio-flavored desserts and jars of pistachio cream in...
After moving to Dubai, I have more opportunities to enjoy Middle Eastern cuisine and rediscovered how delicious hummus...
This cold lemon salmon pasta is inspired by Southern Italian lemon pasta and makes a refreshing dish for...