No-bake vegan key lime pie made paleo with the help of maple syrup, cashews and coconut cream. Unbelievably creamy, decadent and every bit as delicious as the original! Thanks to Pure Canada Maple for making today’s post possible!
It took me almost 5 years of blogging to post a recipe for healthy key lime pie because the other healthy recipes I tried were just too healthy tasting.
I posted these gluten-free key lime pie bars last month and they call for two cans of sweetened condensed milk. They’re really delicious but I’ll never make them again because these were honestly just as satisfying and are SO much better for you.
This vegan key lime pie recipe is loaded with healthy fats like cashews, coconut cream, and unrefined coconut oil. Those are some strongly flavored ingredients but these pies really taste perfectly key limey and not coconutty or like cashews. And they only have 7 1/2 tablespoons of sweetener (in the form of all-natural maple syrup) in them! That’s less than 2 teaspoons of sweetener per pie.
Want a lemon version? Try my no-bake paleo lemon bars! It’s basically this paleo key lime pie recipe but with lemon and in bar form.
Maple syrup is wonderfully versatile when it comes to baking (as well as cooking). While I love using the darker, more intense Grade A Dark Amber maple syrup for autumnal and wintry treats, I use the lighter and more delicately flavored Grade A Medium Amber (Light Amber would also work, but is more difficult to find than Medium Amber) in more light tasting treats like these paleo key lime pies or this paleo lemon fudge.
When I make something citrusy, I want the lemon or lime to shine through and using one of the lighter varieties allows just that.
It’s also easy to sub maple syrup for other sweeteners! In place of 1 cup (200 grams) of brown or granulated sugar, use 2/3 cup (158 milliliters) of pure maple syrup and reduce the liquid ingredients in the recipe (like water, milk, or juice) by about 1/4 cup (60 milliliters). You’ll also need to lower the baking temperature by 25° F.
I’ve tried subbing maple syrup for granulated sugar in cookie recipes which didn’t have any liquid to reduce. That resulted in cakey, rather than chewy, cookies. So be sure to use a recipe that actually has added liquid in it!
These vegan paleo lemon cookies already use maple syrup so if you’re not comfortable making subs yet, give those a try!
If the recipe calls for liquid sweeteners, it’s a 1-to-1 sub. But use your judgment when doing that. I wouldn’t, for example, sub a cup of 100% maple syrup for a cup of corn syrup in a brittle recipe. Candy recipes can be finicky so I recommend finding cooked candy recipes that already call for maple syrup, like my peanut butter fudge.
The honey in this paleo lemon curd might also be difficult to sub. I haven’t tried it, but I’m not positive it’d work out.
I really hope you’ll give this vegan key lime pie a chance! They’re so, so creamy and just the perfect sweet treat for hot summer days. :)
Thanks again to Pure Canada Maple for sponsoring today’s post! Be sure to check out their recipe section for even more delicious maple recipes.
No-bake Vegan Key Lime Pies (paleo, grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free)
- Prep Time:
- Cook Time:
- Ready in:
- Yield: 12 mini pies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (43 grams) unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup (145 grams) roasted salted cashews
- 1 1/2 tablespoons pure Canadian maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- 1 cup (145 grams) roasted salted cashews, soaked for 1 hour1 (there's no sub for the cashews)
- 3/4 cup (168 grams) unrefined coconut oil, very soft or melted (do not use cold coconut oil!)
- 1/4 cup (60 grams) coconut cream (the top, solid part from a can of full-fat coconut milk that's been refrigerated overnight)
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) freshly squeezed lime juice or Key lime juice
- 6 tablespoons (89 milliliters) pure Canadian maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons (8 grams) lime zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt, or more to taste
For the crust:
For the filling:
Directions
- Line a muffin pan with 12 muffin liners. Prepare the crust. Heat a pan over medium-high heat and add the coconut. Stir frequently until nicely toasted. Do not walk away from the pan as the coconut starts to burn very quickly! Pour the coconut into a small bowl and let cool for about 5 minutes. You can skip the toasting step but I think it adds so much flavor to the crust!
- Place all the crust ingredients in a high-powered blender and process at low speed until the mixture starts to clump together. Don't process so long that it becomes pasty. When you pinch some of the mixture between your fingers, it should easily clump together. If it doesn't, add a tiny bit of water and process again until it does.
- Divide the mixture between the liners (17 grams per liner) and use the bottom of a shot glass or your fingers to press the mixture firmly over the bottom of the liners.
- Place the pan in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.
- Wipe out the blender jar using a paper towel and place all the filling ingredients in there. Blend for about 30-60 seconds at high speed until totally smooth.
- Pour about 1/4 cup (50 grams) of filling over each crust.
- Refrigerate for about 4 hours or until firm. If you're in a hurry, place the pan in the freezer.
- Refrigerate the pies in an airtight container for up to 3 days. If you freeze them for a while, they'll need about 70-80 minutes at room temperature to defrost or about 1 1/2 - 2 hours in the refrigerator. Once properly defrosted, they should be totally creamy.
Notes
- Place the cashews in a small pot, pan or mug and cover with boiling water. Let sit for 1 hour. Drain the water.
- While I'm sure the crust can be made in a food processor, I'm not sure about the filling. It definitely wouldn't be as smooth (using a high-power blender, it's totally smooth) and it may not work at all. If you try it anyway, let us know how it goes!
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116 comments on “No-bake Vegan Key Lime Pie (paleo)” — Add one!
2 comments are awaiting moderation!
So excited to try this! Do I only soak the cashews for the filling?
Correct! I’d love to hear how they come out. :)
Greetings from Spain!
These key lime pies are absolutely delicious.
Pretty little things, bursting with flavour. A perfect balance of lime and coconut, just a hint of tartness complemented by smooth and silky.
Yes, time-consuming to make, but well worth it. ‘A real hit!’ commented my dessert-loving partner. I couldn’t have put it better myself.
Thank you so much for the recipe.
And greetings from Germany! You’re welcome for the recipe. :) I’m so glad that you and your partner enjoyed the pies! Thanks a bunch for your nice feedback. I really appreciate it!
Yum! I was challenged to make a sugar free, dairy free gluten free dessert for a birthday, and I was getting so intimidated by all of the recipes with unusual sugar substitutes. This recipe was really good, and even people without any restrictions really enjoyed it! I will say that it took longer than I expected to make – about 1.5 hours or so from start to finish as the commenter above mentions. But it was really good, and several people went back for seconds! Thank you!
You’re welcome! I’m so glad that you liked it and that people went back for seconds. :) And it’s always great when people with no restrictions like something, too. Thanks for your feedback!
Could I make this in a pie plate instead.
I’m so sorry for just now seeing your question! I haven’t tried it but I think the crust would be difficult to cut. I wouldn’t recommend it.
I made this using some extra lime juice and it turned out amazing! I blended it in my food processor for 2 minutes and it turned out very smooth! love this recipe and cant wait to make this again!
Whoops! Sorry I just replied to your other comment. Did you use the liners? Did it work well? Thanks so much for your feedback! I’m happy you liked them. :)
Do you have to use cupcake liners or will they work without them?
The crust will most likely stick to the pan but I haven’t tried it.
Is there any way to sub the coconut oil in these? My husband’s birthday is in two days, and he LOVES key lime pie…but we’re not eating added oil right now (or dairy, or meat).
I am so sorry I just now saw your comment! This week has been crazy. Unfortunately there’s no way to sub the 3/4 cup of coconut oil in the filling. Sorry about that (and sorry again for the slow reply!). I hope your husband had a nice birthday!
I was shocked at how amazing these are. They are definitely just as good as the “real thing!”
Woohoo! So happy to hear that you also think that they taste like the real thing. Thanks for your feedback! :)
This is amazing! I just made it and am waiting for it to finish setting up but the flavor of the filling is spot on. I personally used less maple syrup and more key lime juice (I love really tart stuff) and it suited me perfectly!
Oooh… you like it super tart! I wish I did, too. :) So happy you liked it! Thanks for your comment. :)
These are amazing! And they look just like the picture. I’m always nervous to try something new with guests, but these really delivered. I topped with a little whipped coconut cream.
So sorry for my slow reply! I’m happy to hear that they came out well and like the pictures. :) Thanks for your feedback!
I am not one who usually leaves comments despite being one who relies on them heavily, but these mini pies were so extremely delicious that I had to write. Thank you for sharing this recipe! It was easy to follow, and the results were exactly as expected.
I have just one question. Is there anything that can be done with the leftover coconut in the can?
Thanks, again! I can’t wait to try more of your recipes!
Well thank you for taking the time to leave feedback! I’m so happy that you enjoyed the pies. I always just toss the leftover coconut milk into a smoothie or use it as a milk replacement in things like mashed potatoes. And sorry for the slow reply! I just came home from the hospital after giving birth. :)
Congrats on your now 10-month old! and I agree with everyone, these tarts are so wonderful! I’ve served them to six different people who could have eaten the ‘real thing’ but who each loved this version and want me to make more right away! Aside from the hour it took me to zest and make juice out of a bag of key limes, I’m looking forward to them, too :-).
Thank you! :) And I’m very happy to hear that the pies were a big hit with people who can eat the regular kind. I’m with you on the zesting and juicing thing. I so wish that the bottled juice were as good as fresh! It’d sure save a lot of time. Thanks a bunch for your comment!
Would love to try these for the paleo cafe I work for. I would like to try it in a 7″ pan. Does it hold its shape keeping only in the fridge?
Thank you
Francie
Unfortunately so! They need to be kept chilled or frozen.
Made these today. So glad I found your recipes. They are great! Thank you.
I’m so happy you liked them! Thanks a bunch for your feedback. :)