These are moist, fluffy Key Lime Cupcakes with a graham cracker crust topped with smooth lime cream cheese frosting.
Key Lime Pie Cupcakes
Most of the time, I gravitate towards lemon over lime, as evidenced by all of the citrus recipes here. Lemon Crinkle Cookies, Classic Lemon Bars, No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake, and Lemon Blueberry Sweet Rolls are just a few of my family’s favorites.
However, I LOVE key lime pie with all its creamy, limey tanginess and sweet graham cracker crust. In my experience, very few people can resist a slice of key lime pie!
One of my favorite things to do in the kitchen is to take traditional deserts and remake the flavors in new ways.
The flavors in classic desserts are pretty much impossible to beat. They’re classics for a reason, right?
So, taking those classics and mixing things up to create new desserts with the flavors we already love is a whole lot of fun. These cupcakes are my take on key lime pie in cupcake form.
Key Lime vs Regular Lime
When researching key lime pies in order to make these cupcakes, I learned that key limes are unique variety of limes that tend to be more yellow when ripe than green.
I’ve made these cupcakes with both key limes and regular limes. Key limes have a milder flavor and the cupcakes will be a smidge sweeter.
My personal preference for this recipe is actually regular limes, as I enjoy a tangier more tart lime flavor for most lime desserts. If you’re aiming for a closer match to key lime pie, you’ll want to stick with key limes though.
The cupcakes begin with a graham cracker crust layer, super easy to throw together, and the rest of the recipe is just as easy.
Key Lime Cupcakes
These cupcakes are a one-bowl recipe adapted this lemon cupcake recipe by Averie Cooks. The cupcakes and crust are delicious and the frosting on top is the shining star.
This recipe brings in all the beautiful flavors of the key lime pie in a fluffy, creamy frosting. And it simply involves cream cheese, butter, sugar and lime. No cooking required.
Lime Cupcake Recipe
- Line muffin tins with 15 paper lines. Combine graham cracker crumbs, 2 T sugar and 3 T melted butter in a small bowl. Spoon a tablespoon of the graham cracker crumb mixture into each muffin paper, pressing it in firmly with a spoon. Set aside.
- To make the cupakes, preheat the oven to 350 F. Whisk together the white sugar, egg, milk, oil, lime juice, lime zest, sour cream and vanilla. Gently stir in flour and baking soda until well combined, but don’t over mix.
- Pour into the muffin tins, filling each liner about 3/4 full. Bake for 18-20 minutes until light and springy. Remove from oven and cool on wire racks.
Lime Frosting Recipe
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter and cream cheese until light, fluffy and smooth. Add lime juice and lime zest.
- Add enough of the powdered sugar until it reaches a spreadable or pipeable consistency. Pipe or spread onto cupcakes.
Key Lime Pie Cupcakes
Ingredients
Crust Ingredients
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
Cupcake Ingredients
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 egg
- 2/3 cup milk or buttermilk
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons lime zest
- 3 tablespoons sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
Frosting Ingredients
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 1 stick butter
- 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 teaspoons lime zest
- 2½-3½ cups powdered sugar
Instructions
Cupcake Directions
- Line muffin tins with 15 paper lines. Combine graham cracker crumbs, 2 T sugar and 3 T melted butter in a small bowl. Spoon a tablespoon of the graham cracker crumb mixture into each muffin paper, pressing it in firmly with a spoon. Set aside.
- To make the cupakes, preheat the oven to 350 F. Whisk together the white sugar, egg, milk, oil, lime juice, lime zest, sour cream and vanilla. Gently stir in flour and baking soda until well combined, but don't over mix.
- Pour into the muffin tins, filling each liner about 3/4 full. Bake for 18-20 minutes until light and springy. Remove from oven and cool on wire racks.
Frosting Directions
- While the cupcakes are cooling set out the butter and cream cheese to soften. When cupcakes are cool, go ahead and make the frosting. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter and cream cheese until light, fluffy and smooth.
- Add lime juice and lime zest. Add enough of the powdered sugar until it reaches a spreadable or pipeable consistency. Pipe or spread onto cupcakes.
Nutrition
{originally published 7/12/14 – recipe notes and photos updated 6/3/21}
If you enjoy cupcakes don’t miss a couple more fun recipes!
TidyMom says
I’ve been craving key lime pie….i think these cupcakes would hit the spot! they look perfect for summer!
Mallory says
Thanks, its definitely a favorite.
Melanie | Melanie Makes says
The perfect Summer cupcake!
Mallory says
Yep, one of my favorites!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
What a great twist to key lime pie! Perfect for summer!
Mallory says
Thanks, Jessica.
Zainab says
I normally go with lemon too over limes but I just love key limes!! These cupcakes look perfect!!
Mallory says
Thanks, Zainab.
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
yum Mallory, these look great! love the key lime pie flavour.. such a great idea. thanks for sharing!
Mallory says
Thanks for stopping by, Thalia!
Coleen @ The Redhead Baker says
My fiance would love these! Key lime pie is his favorite!
Mallory says
I don’t know whether to wish my husband liked key lime or not. Since he doesn’t there’s just more for me.
Linda Warren says
I live in South Florida with my own key lime trees and this recipe sounds delicious. I love to change up Key Lime Pie occasionally with something different and this would be awesome! Can’t wait to try it.
Mallory says
Tha’ts wonderful. I hope you enjoy it.
tanya says
Key lime pie is one of my favorite desserts! How fabulous to have it in cupcake form!
Mallory says
It’s pretty yummy! Thanks for visiting Tanya!
Jennie says
I love key lime, yum!
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Dana says
What does one stick of butter mean? 1 cup>
Mallory says
Hi Dana! I stick of butter means 1/2 cup.
Jennifer Robinson says
I tried these out & plan to make them again this weekend for my son’s BDay party. My husband said they were the best cupcakes he’s ever had! This time I’m going to try just 1 cup of cracker crumbs because 2 seemed to be too much (they were falling apart instead of being a firm crust).