Key Lime Parfait

Last Updated on June 23, 2025 by becky

This Key lime parfait recipe captures all of the classic flavors of a slice of Key lime pie: tart lime curd, sweet whipped cream, and crushed graham crackers (plus a white chocolate twist!), in the form of an easy-to-make dessert.

Why Make This Key Lime Parfait?

Think of this parfait as a slice of Key lime pie in a glass. This easy-to-make dessert includes all the iconic flavors you love: tart lime curd; vanilla whipped cream; a crunchy graham cracker crust. And as an added treat, I’ve included layers of sweet chopped white chocolate.

Many of the components in this Key lime parfait (including the lime curd) can be made in advance or substituted with store-bought products, making this recipe a good choice for summer dinner parties or other occasions where you’d rather not spend all evening in the kitchen. (I like my lemon granita recipe for similar reasons!)

Lime Parfait Ingredients

To make this Key lime parfait, gather the following ingredients:

• Whipping Cream – Or heavy cream, in the US. You’ll need about 1 1/4 cups. Make sure it’s very cold.
• Confectioner’s Sugar – A.k.a. icing sugar, or powdered sugar. I’ve added a small amount to sweeten the whipped cream; you can also skip the sugar if you prefer less sweetness.
• Vanilla Extract – For flavoring the whipped cream. If you have a bottle of vanilla bean paste, that will work, too. Or, substitute the scrapings of one vanilla pod.
• Lime Curd – You can use my homemade lime curd recipe, or substitute a store-bought curd.

• Crushed Cookies – Both graham crackers (if you’re in the US) or digestive biscuits (in the UK) will work.
  
• White Chocolate – Choose a good-quality, good-tasting white chocolate. Finely chop the pieces, or shave the chocolate into curls using a vegetable peeler.

Key Lime vs. Lime

Regular limes (Persian limes) and Key limes are similar, but not exactly the same. Persian limes are larger, with a thick, bright green skin, mild flavor, and seedless interior. These are the limes you’ll usually find at your local supermarket. On the other hand, Key limes run smaller, with a thin, yellowish skin and more seeds. Key limes also feature a stronger flavor and increased acidity, and they tend to spoil faster than grocery store Persian limes.

Traditional pie recipes include a curd made from Key limes. I’ve developed this recipe using my homemade lime curd recipe, which contains Persian limes. (They’re both cheaper and more readily available, at least here in the UK.) But if you have a favorite Key lime curd recipe, or a store-bought Key lime curd you love, feel free to use that instead.

Lime Parfait Recipe Tips and Tricks

You can assemble your key lime parfaits in champagne flutes, ramekins, plastic dessert cups, or anything else you’d like. I used stemless wine glasses. As written, this recipe makes four stemless wine glass-sized parfaits; if using larger or smaller glasses, you might need to adjust the fillings accordingly.

I’ve garnished my parfaits with crushed cookies and slices of fresh lime, but you can also use candied citrus peels, fresh berries, whole cookies, mint leaves, edible flowers, or anything else you’d like.

Make-Ahead and Storage Suggestions

If using homemade lime curd, you can prepare it up to 48 hours in advance and refrigerate until ready to use. Other ingredient prep (chopping the white chocolate, crushing the cookies) can also be completed in advance.

Do not assemble the components until just prior to serving. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself with soggy cookies and watery whipped cream! I also recommend not whipping the cream until you’re ready to assemble and serve the parfaits.

Other parfait recipes you might enjoy:

Mixed Berry Eton Mess
Cherry, Chocolate, and Oreo Parfait
Cranberry Orange Parfait
Classic Strawberry Eton Mess

And if you do make these, or any of my recipes, don’t forget to tag me @bastecutfold or use the hashtag #bastecutfold on Instagram. I always love to see what you’re making!

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