Key Lime Cheesecake

Key lime pie and cheesecake are classics for a reason. Both silky, creamy desserts make for a decadent end to a meal, especially on a hot day. And since both are so complimentary in consistency and taste, it's only natural that they be combined.

For this recipe, we'll show you how to make a Key lime-themed cheesecake fit for any function or gathering. We'll also give you some ideas for how to accent your cheesecake, as well as how to achieve the best consistency. If you're looking to add this tart treat to your baking rotation, read on for more tips.

How to Make Key Lime Cheesecake

To ensure this combination truly captures the best of Key lime pie and classic cheesecake, it's important to start with a solid cheesecake recipe, as well as a basic understanding of what makes for a perfect cheesecake filling. Luckily, we've got a great guide that will walk you through the steps to making the perfect American-style cheesecake, from crust to cooling. Once you've got the basics down, making a Key lime cheesecake is as easy as adding as much Key lime juice and zest as you like to your filling.

Step 1. Make the crust

If it's your first cheesecake, start with making a graham cracker crust. Mix together graham cracker crumbs, butter, and sugar, then press that mixture into an oil-coated springform pan. Bake for about 8 to 10 minutes at 325, until lightly browned.

If you'd like, you can try other variations on this graham cracker crust. Oreos could be used for a chocolate crust, for example.

Step 2. Make the filling

Next, make your filling. Make sure to let your cream cheese soften before mixing your ingredients. Some recipes call for heavy whipping cream as a thickener, others for sour cream; experiment to find what works best for you.

Make sure not to overmix your filling, or you'll risk it falling while it's cooking. By the same token, however, you'll unfortunately need a hand or preferably stand mixer to make a good cheesecake at hand. No matter how hard you work at it, it's near impossible to make a smooth cheesecake batter by hand.

Step 3. Prep the water bath

Once you've made your filling, you'll want to create a water bath for your Key lime cheesecake. Wrap your springform pan in two layers of heavy duty aluminum foil, and find an oven-proof container that is both big enough to fit the springform pan and deep enough that water can reach halfway up the springform pan. A roasting pan often works best for this. This process, also called a bain marie, helps ensure a smooth center.

Cook your cheesecake until the center is nearly set, which could take up to 1 hour and 20 minutes at 325°F. The hard part is the additional waiting you'll need to do even after the cheesecake has finished cooking and has cooled for a couple of hours on a wire rack. You'll want to further chill the cheesecake overnight before serving to truly make the experience sublime.

Hoping to make a Key lime take on a Japanese cheesecake? If so, you'll need to follow similar steps, but with the addition of folding a meringue into your cheesecake mixture.

How to Top a Key Lime Cheesecake

Of course, you can just slice and serve your cheesecake once it's chilled. But if you'd like to get a little fancy, why not add a few toppings?

Whipped cream is a simple and classic topping. If you have access to fresh Key limes, you could also add a thin slice of lime to each cake slice. But feel free to branch out beyond the usual whipped topping. Chocolate or fruit syrups can both make excellent additions to a Key lime cheesecake. A recipe linked below recommends strawberry sauce on Key lime cheesecake, but pomegranate or cherry syrup would also be delicious.

And if you're willing to pop your cheesecake in the freezer for a bit before serving, a fun topping idea could be to add magic shell chocolate syrup to your cheesecake for a bit of crunch to each bite. You could also dip frozen slices in melted chocolate for the same result, though this would take a bit more work.

Substitutions for Fresh Key Limes

As pointed out in our breakdown of the key differences between Key limes and other varieties, there's not likely to be a big uproar if you can't find Florida's favorite lime. Some professional chefs claim a slight taste difference between desserts made with Key limes and those made with Persian lime (the lemon and lime descendent most commonly carried in American grocery stores). Again, however, that difference is slight enough that it's not worth fretting over.

Let's say, however, that you're determined to get some Key lime taste in your cheesecake, fresh citrus or no. If that's the case, try looking for Key lime juice. You can most likely find it either in the mixed drinks section or with the other citrus juices and baking goods. It'll give your cheesecake the slightly sweeter lime taste that Key limes are known for.

Citrus Cheesecake Recipes to Check Out

- Dreamy Lemon Cheesecake
- Key Lime Cheesecake with Strawberry Sauce
- Lemon Bar Cheesecake
- Raspberry Lemon Cheesecake

Editorial contributions by Tadhg Hylier Stevens.