Are you looking for a delicious, mouthwatering dessert that will make your family ooh and ah around the dinner table?
Look no further - Key Lime Cheesecake is here! This one is going to be your go-to next favorite summer or spring cheesecake recipes.
Not only does this decadent treat look absolutely amazing, but it also tastes heavenly.
With its hint of citrusy lime contrasting against the creamy cheesecake texture, this cheesecake recipe is certain to be an instant hit among your family.
Plus, with minimal effort needed on your part, you'll have a restaurant-worthy dessert ready in no time!
Get ready for some serious compliments when you serve Key Lime Cheesecake at your next dinner party.
Or you can try my other cheesecake filling recipe. It is always a hit with the family.
Since Florida is the Sunshine State and it is known for its citrus fruit I knew I had to make this Key lime dessert recipe.
This homemade thick and rich cheesecake recipe can be made using type of citrus juice you like.
Flavor Variations
You can change the flavor of this cheesecake recipe simply by changing the citrus fruit juice you use.
- lemon cheesecake
- orange cheesecake
- grapefruit cheesecake
- tangelo cheesecake
- lime cheesecake
- blood orange cheesecake
A blood orange cheesecake would have been an interesting flavor combo to try out. and I would have loved to see what color the baked cheesecake ended up.
This cheesecake is thick and dense like a real New York Cheesecake. It tastes great and will be my go-to cheesecake recipe from now on.
👇See the step by step directions below!
How To Make Key Lime Cheesecake
- Make the crust first: Lightly grease the bottom and sides of a 10-inch spring form pan with butter or cooking spray. Line the bottom only with a circle of parchment paper.
- Mix the graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar and melted butter in a bowl.
- Press the crust ingredients into the bottom and slightly up the sides of the prepared spring form pan.
- Wrap the outside of the springform pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Rolling and tucking the foil along the outer top edge of the pan. Set the pan aside until needed.
- Preheat the oven to 325 °F degrees.
Key Lime Cheesecake Ingredients
Below is a quick look at the ingredients and directions. You can find the entire ingredient amounts and step by step directions in the recipe card below. P. S. You can also save your favorite recipes to your personal recipe box! ⬇️
- cheesecake crust: graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar and melted butter
- Key lime cheesecake filling: softened cream cheese, granulated white sugar, sour cream, large eggs, heavy whipping cream, all-purpose flour, pure vanilla extract, and key lime juice.
Directions
- Step 1: Beat the softened cream cheese and granulated sugar in a stand mixer or a large mixing bowl with a handheld mixer until light and fluffy. Scrape the sides of the bowl and beat for another 2 minutes. Beat in the sour cream until combined.
- Step 2: Add the eggs and egg yolk one at a time, beating well in between each addition and scraping the sides of the bowl after each egg.
- Step 3: Add the heavy whipping cream, all-purpose flour, vanilla extract and lime juice to the bowl. Beat well for 2 minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl and beat again for two minutes more.
- Step 4: Pour the key lime cheesecake filling into the prepared cheesecake crust and smooth the top with the back of the spoon.
- Step 5: Place the filled spring form pan inside a large baking pan or roasting pan.
- Step 6: Fill the outer pan with boiling water until the water bath comes half way up the side of the spring form pan to about the center of the cheesecake.
- Step 7: Bake at 325 °F degrees for 80 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Step 8: Remove the cheesecake pan from the oven and remove the cheesecake from the water bath. Carefully remove and discard the aluminum foil from around the pan.
- Step 9: Place the hot cheesecake on a wire cooling rack until the cheesecake is room temperature.
- Step 10: Loosely cover the top of the pan and refrigerate the cheesecake overnight.
- Step 11: Before serving run a sharp knife along the edges of the cheesecake to loosen it from the pan. Open the latch on the side of the pan and carefully lift the cheesecake and place it on a serving platter.
- Step 12: Garnish with whipped cream and key lime slices before serving.
📌PRO Cheesecake Tips
- softened cream cheese: the cream cheese should be very soft to prevent lumps.
- flavor variations: try other citrus flavors.
- baking the cheesecake in a water bath. This is the best way to bake a thick rich cheesecake if you want to avoid cracks in the top.
More cheesecake recipes
More citrus-inspired dessert recipes
Helpful Products
- spring form pan: you can use a 9-inch or 10-inch pan to make this recipe.
- handheld beater: I've had great luck with this beater.
- wire cooling rack: a must have when baking a cheesecake.
- mixing bowls: a collection of different size mixing bowls always comes in handy.
Make It!
Our delicious key lime cheesecake is perfect for finishing any summer cookout and will tantalize the taste buds of your friends and family.
With the zing of key limes and a wonderfully creamy texture, everyone will be delighted to enjoy a piece of this masterpiece. This recipe is simple to make, but doesn't skimp out on flavor or presentation.
Give it a go and amaze your guests with its homey charm! If you're feeling adventurous in the kitchen, why not try adding some strawberry or blueberry syrup as a drizzle?
Now that you have all the ingredients together, it's time for a unique cooking experience – no sweet tooth left unsatisfied here!
So grab the pan and whipped cream, and let's get cooking! Try this recipe today – your taste buds won't regret it.
⭐Leave A Star Rating
Have you tried the recipe? Leave a star rating in the recipe card below to let me know how the recipe turn out.
Email questions or recipe requests to flouronmyface@gmail.com. Follow me on Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
Key Lime Cheesecake
Ingredients
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 32 ounces full fat cream cheese (softened)
- 1 ⅔ cups granulated sugar
- 5 tablespoons sour cream (could also use creme fraiche)
- 4 large eggs
- 1 large egg yolk
- 5 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup key lime juice
Instructions
Prep
- Lightly grease the bottom and sides of a 10-inch spring form pan with butter or cooking spray. Line the bottom only with a circle of parchment paper.
- Mix the graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar and melted butter in a bowl.
- Press the crust ingredients into the bottom and slightly up the sides of the prepared spring form pan.
- Wrap the outside of the springform pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Rolling and tucking the foil along the outer top edge of the pan. Set the pan aside until needed.
- Preheat the oven to 325 °Fdegrees.
Key Lime Cheesecake Filling
- Beat the softened cream cheese and granulated sugar in a stand mixer or a large mixing bowl with a handheld mixer until light and fluffy. Scrape the sides of the bowl and beat for another 2 minutes. Beat in the sour cream until combined.
- Add the eggs and egg yolk one at a time, beating well in between each addition and scraping the sides of the bowl after each egg.
- Add the heavy whipping cream, all-purpose flour, vanilla extract and lime juice to the bowl. Beat well for 2 minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl and beat again for two minutes more.
- Pour the key lime cheesecake filling into the prepared cheesecake crust and smooth the top with the back of the spoon.
- Place the filled spring form pan inside a large baking pan.
- Fill the outer pan with boiling water until the water bath comes half way up the side of the spring form pan to about the center of the cheesecake.
- Bake at 325 °F degrees for 80 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove the cheesecake pan from the oven and remove the cheesecake from the water bath. Carefully remove and discard the aluminum foil from around the pan.
- Place the hot cheesecake on a wire cooling rack until the cheesecake is room temperature.
- Loosely cover the top of the pan and refrigerate the cheesecake overnight.
- Before serving run a sharp knife along the edges of the cheesecake to loosen it from the pan. Open the latch on the side of the pan and carefully lift the cheesecake and place it on a serving platter.
- Garnish with whipped cream and key lime slices before serving.
- Makes 12 to 16 servings.
Recipe Expert Tips
- Flavor variations: Any citrus juice can be substituted for the key lime juice.
- softened cream cheese: the cream cheese should be very soft to prevent lumps.
- flavor variations: try other citrus flavors for unique cheesecake flavors.
- baking the cheesecake in a water bath. This is the best way to bake a thick rich cheesecake if you want to avoid cracks in the top.
Susan
Can't say no to cheesecake and citrus just belongs in it!
Flour On My Face
Susan
I have to agree!
Laura | Small Wallet, Big Appetite
Oh my goodness as amazing as this keylime cheesecake looks you just inspired me to make a pink grapefruit cheesecake. My birthday is in 11 days, this is so going on my list for my husband to make for me. 🙂
Flour On My Face
Laura
Thank you so much! Happy upcoming birthday! Let me know how it turns out with the pink grapefruit.
Nancy @ gottagetbaked
Damn - that is one perfect looking cheesecake! It's so dense and rich - exactly what a good cheesecake should be. I love that you made a key lime version - citrus always lightens this dessert up. I can't wait for you to make it with blood orange too!
Flour On My Face
Nancy
Thanks so much!
Stacy
What a beautiful cheesecake! I am a fan of key lime pie so I am sure this would be my favorite cheesecake.
Anne @ Webicurean
Oh, yes, I believe it's important this is remade with blood orange. In fact, I'll happily do the work for you!
Flour On My Face
Anne
If you get the chance to try the blood oranges before I do let me know how it turns out!
Kim
ohhhh thank you so much for this recipe..key lime is my absolute favourite 😉 i make a real good v thin pear tart but key lime i have never tried but i will try yours now..
Kim Bee
Absolutely lovely cheesecake recipe. I love key lime, and I love cheesecake so this is right up my alley.
Flour On My Face
Kim
Thank you so much!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust
This is gorgeous!
Flour On My Face
Dorothy
Thank you!
Sarah
I'm hiding this from Mom until her birthday next year! This would upstage anything I can do!
Flour On My Face
Sarah
Your mom is going to love this recipe!
Conni @FoodieArmyWife
I LOVE key lime cheesecake - any cheesecake, really 🙂
Flour On My Face
Conni
Me too there isn't a cheesecake flavor I wouldn't eat.
Diana @GourmetDrizzles
What a lovely recipe to start with, and then I'm all about you trying the blood orange version, too! Let us know, and I'm very much looking forward to trying this!!! 😉
Flour On My Face
Diana
I may have to try it with blood oranges asap!
Amanda @ Marocmama
Great recipe - love that you gave some other ideas for how to change it up.
Flour On My Face
Amanda
Thank you!
Sherron@SimplyGourmet
YUM...sounds perfect! My niece loves key lime pie. I will send her your recipe.
Flour On My Face
Sherron
If your niece loves key lime pie she will love this cheesecake! Thanks for sharing the recipe love!
Kammie @ Sensual Appeal
That's a lovely cheesecake, I really like that it can be easily changed to include a different citrus fruit flavor. I do like key lime although I think I've only had it once in my life, a couple of years ago... I don't exactly remember how it tastes like but I can imagine it and I'm sure yours would taste great.. it's CHEESECAKE after all! 🙂
Flour On My Face
Kammie
The flavor possibilities are endless with this recipe. Thank you!
Renee
Something about citrus lightens up even heavy desserts like cheesecake. This is one that would be very popular with my family. I also would like to see it with blood orange juice. I think the color does not stay red/pink when heated though. The flavor would be incredible.
Flour On My Face
Renee
I may have to try the blood oranges with the recipe. My family loved it and this recipe is a keeper.
Jen @JuanitasCocina
This is my ideal cheesecake! YUM!
Flour On My Face
Jen
Thanks so much. It is one of the best cheesecakes I have ever made!