This Easy No-Bake Key Lime Pie Mousse Is the Light & Creamy Dessert I’m Making All Summer

Few desserts scream summer to me as much as Key lime pie. It’s tart, perfectly sweet, and oh-so-creamy. But when I want all the flavors of Key lime pie with a fraction of the effort, I turn to this incredibly easy no-bake Key lime pie mousse. 

With just a handful of ingredients and a few hours of chilling time, you’ve got perfectly portioned desserts that are impressive enough to make for a dinner party or equally as good for a weeknight dessert for yourself. 

Get the recipe: Key Lime Pie Mousse 

This Key lime pie mousse is the ideal summer recipe because it doesn’t require turning the oven on. Plus, it’s the ultimate make-ahead dessert because it needs time in the fridge to set up. All you need to do is simply make the graham cracker crumble, whip together the Key lime pie mousse layer, assemble, and let it set up in the fridge. When you’re ready to serve, simply top it with some tangy whipped cream, more graham cracker crumbs, and lime zest, and you’re done! 

It looks super-impressive, too, despite how easy it is to make, but the flavor is really where it’s at. This dessert is perfectly balanced. The buttery, slightly salty graham cracker crumb base provides a nice crunch, while the Key lime pie mousse layer is bright, has just the right amount of sweetness, and is creamy yet still airy, reminiscent of a light cheesecake. The final dollop of tangy whipped cream on top fully rounds out the flavors, as it isn’t sweetened. It could totally pass for a dessert you’d get at a fancy restaurant. 

1. Make the graham cracker crust: Toast graham cracker crumbs with butter, sugar, and a pinch of salt until fragrant.
2. Whip the cream: Whisk heavy cream until soft peaks, then set aside. 
3. Make the Key lime filling: Beat cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, lime juice, and lime zest until smooth and creamy. Gently fold in the whipped cream until combined. 
4. Assemble and chill: Place some of the graham cracker crumbs in the bottom of the jars. Top with the Key lime mousse. Chill until set. When ready to serve, top with tangy whipped cream, more graham cracker crumbs, and a sprinkle of lime zest. 

• Make it well in advance. You can make this recipe up to three days in advance. Just don’t add the toppings until ready to serve. 
• Swap in different cookies. If graham crackers aren’t your thing, feel free to swap in Biscoff cookies or Nilla wafers instead. 

Get the recipe: Key Lime Pie Mousse

This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: This Light & Creamy Key Lime Pie Mousse Is the Easy No-Bake Dessert I’m Making All Summer