This Key Lime Pie Fudge is the best creamy, tangy, and sweet homemade fudge with the best pop of citrus and a buttery graham cracker crust. It tastes like a slice of Key Lime Pie in fudge form and is the perfect treat that feels like spring! It has a smooth, melt in your mouth texture, but is super easy to make, even without a candy thermometer!
This fudge has a bright and tangy flavor that tastes just like the classic pie. Its a fun dessert that feels a little different from your favorite chocolate fudge, and is such a great way to switch things up for your summer barbecues, or your Christmas cookie trays and parties!
The combination of the white chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, and real key lime juice gives this fudge the best balance of flavors and the best smooth texture! We add the graham cracker crust so it really does taste like a slice of key lime pie in fudge form!
Why you’ll love this fudge
- Quick and Easy: This fudge takes less than 30 minutes to make, and no candy thermometer needed. Just a few steps, and a few ingredients, this fudge is easy enough even for beginners.
- Bright Citrus Flavor: The fudge is loaded with key lime juice, and lime zest to give it the best fresh, tangy twist that balances perfectly with the fudge’s natural sweetness.
- Fun and Unique: This fudge is such a fun way to combine a fresh cream pie with traditional fudge, and will definitely stand out on your dessert trays!
- Great for Gifting: The fudge slices up nicely and packages up beautiful. Perfect for sharing on cookie trays, at parties, or wrapped up in cellophane bags.
Ingredients Needed
This is a quick overview of some the ingredients you’ll need for this Key Lime Pie Fudge Recipe. Specific measurements and full recipe instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
- Graham Crackers: We’ll crumble these up to make a graham cracker crust layer (but you can also just chop them up and add pieces straight into the fudge).
- White Chocolate Chips: Use a high quality chip, I love the Ghiradelli Classic White Vanilla Flavored Chips.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: This is the thick and creamy sweet milk, not evaporated milk
- Key Lime Juice: Fresh or bottled will work. I like Nelli & Joe’s Famous Key West Lime Juice.
- Lime Zest: You’ll need fresh lime zest, you can use the zest from Key Limes, or regular (Persian) limes if that’s all you can find.
How to Make Key Lime Pie Fudge
Step 1: Make the Graham Cracker Crust. Blend up the graham cracker crumbs and mix them together with a little sugar and melted butter. Press the mixture into the bottom of a lined 9inch pan and bake until its golden brown. Remove from the heat and let it cool.
Step 2: Make the Fudge Base. Add the white chocolate chips, condensed milk, and butter to a large microwave safe bowl and microwave in 30 second increments, stir after each until you can stir the mixture smooth. Add in the Lime Juice, and zest, and vanilla extract, and stir until mixed evenly.
Step 3: Pour. Pour the fudge into the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly and smoothly to the sides of the pan. Let the fudge sit at room temperature for a few hours, or place in the fridge to chill until the fudge is set.
Tips and Tricks
- Line your Pan: Line your square pan with parchment paper so you can easily lift the fudge out of the pan when its done, and slice it up easily.
- High Quality Ingredients: Use good, high quality ingredients to improve the taste and texture of your fudge. Especially when it comes to the white chocolate chips. I love the Ghiradelli Classic White Vanilla Flavored Chips.
- Stove Top Method: Instead of making this in the microwave, add the white chocolate, condensed milk, and butter to a small sauce pan and heat it on the stove top over medium heat. Stir until it is well melted and smooth, then stir in the lime juice and zest.
Storage Instructions
This fudge can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 or 3 weeks. You can also freeze the fudge by wrapping individual squares in plastic wrap and storing those in a freezer bag or container. It will stay good in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw it in the fridge overnight before enjoying.
This Key Lime Pie Fudge is such a fun and flavorful new fudge flavor that brings a bright, citrusy flavor to your dessert table in a new way. It is creamy, tangy, and just the right balance of sweet. You’ll love it for a party, holiday sweet, or just to treat yourself!
More Fudge Flavors
- Hot Chocolate Fudge
- White Chocolate Cranberry Fudge
- Mint Chocolate Fudge
- Caramel Apple Fudge // Like Mother Like Daughter
- Orange Creamsicle Fudge // Like Mother Like Daughter
Key Lime Pie Fudge
Ingredients
For the Graham Cracker Crust: (optional)
- 6 Whole Graham Crackers (1/2 cup crumbs)
- 3 TBS Melted Butter
- 1 TBS Granulated Sugar
For the Key Lime Fudge:
- 3 cups White Chocolate Chips (High quality like Ghiradelli)
- 14 oz Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 2 TBS Unsalted Butter
- 2 TBS Key Lime Juice
- 1 1/2 tsp Lime Zest
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
Instructions
For the Graham Cracker Crust: (optional)
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 9×9 in baking pan with parchment paper, and set it aside.
- Blend the Graham Crackers in a blender or food processor until you have a fine crumb. Add them to a medium bowl with the Melted Butter and Granulated Sugar. Stir together until combined. 6 Whole Graham Crackers, 3 TBS Melted Butter, 1 TBS Granulated Sugar
- Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Bake for 7-8 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
For the Key Lime Fudge:
- Add the White Chocolate, Sweetened Condensed Milk, and Butter to a large microwave safe bowl and microwave in 30 second increments until you can stir it all the way smooth. 3 cups White Chocolate Chips, 14 oz Sweetened Condensed Milk, 2 TBS Unsalted Butter
- Add the Key Lime Juice, Lime Zest, and Vanilla Extract to the mixture and stir it until evenly mixed in. 2 TBS Key Lime Juice, 1 1/2 tsp Lime Zest, 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- Pour the fudge into the square pan over the graham cracker crust. Smooth out the fudge to the corners and the top is even.
- Cover the pan and place it in the fridge for at least 3 hours, or let it sit at room temperature for several hours.
- Remove from the fridge once chilled and lift the fudge out of the pan. Cut the fudge into small pieces with a sharp knife, and enjoy.
Notes
- Line your Pan:Â Line your square pan with parchment paper so you can easily lift the fudge out of the pan when its done, and slice it up easily.Â
- High Quality Ingredients:Â Use good, high quality ingredients to improve the taste and texture of your fudge. Especially when it comes to the white chocolate chips. I love the Ghiradelli Classic White Vanilla Flavored Chips.
- Stove Top Method: Instead of making this in the microwave, add the white chocolate, condensed milk, and butter to a small sauce pan and heat it on the stove top over medium heat. Stir until it is well melted and smooth, then stir in the lime juice and zest.
In the photo of ingredients, it looks like you have liquid vanilla in a dish, but I don’t see it in the recipe. What is that liquid? Thanks!
Sorry about that, it is vanilla extract, I added it to the ingredient list and recipe! Just 1/2 tsp add it when you add the lime zest.