Key Lime Mousse
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This Key Lime Mousse Recipe will tickle your taste buds and whisk you away to a tropical paradise. Creamy, dreamy, and bursting with zesty flavor, this no-bake dessert is like a vacation in a spoon. It’s a lime-infused masterpiece that will have you floating on a cloud of citrusy bliss.
Love this summer treat? Be sure to try my 5-Minute Strawberry Dessert, Mini Key Lime Cheesecakes, and Jello Grapes!
Recipe Features
- Quick and Easy: With an ingredient list so short, this recipe comes together in a snap! Perfect for a last minute treat.
- No-Bake: ZERO baking required. If you can use a whisk, you can make this impressive dessert.
- Serve Full Versions or Mini: Serve this in a cup with fresh fruit or as a bite sized version in small pastry cups!
This recipe is SO DANG GOOD and possibly one of the easiest desserts you will ever make. If you are a fan of key lime pie, this mousse recipe is for you. Smooth, creamy, and the perfect blend of citrus and sweet.
If I had to pick just one summer dessert to eat the rest of my life, this would win. Serve it with piled high with fresh fruit, as a bite sized dessert, or even as a fruit dip. You just cannot go wrong with this tasty treat.
Lime Mousse Ingredients
Believe it or not, you only need four simple ingredients to make this mousse recipe.
- Cream Cheese: This is what gives your mousse a little thickness and slight tang. You don’t need much, but it really brings things together.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: The key ingredient to help tone down the tartness of the lime juice. It also is where the sweetness comes in to play.
- Key Lime Juice: Squeezing key limes to get enough juice can be quite the task, but is well worth it. However, you can also use bottled juice. This is most likely located in the baking aisle of your grocer.
- Heavy Cream: To get the light and fluffy texture, we’re whipping cream to stiff peaks. This is going to add air into the mousse providing that classic texture.
- Phyllo Dough Cups: Optional, but oh-so adorable. This is our favorite way to serve this recipe. They make for the perfect bites sized mousse dessert.
What Is The Difference Between Limes And Key Limes?
First off, you will notice that regular limes, also known as Persians, are much larger than their Key Lime cousins. Besides the difference in size, what are the other main differences between the two? We dived into comparing and found that key limes have a more bold floral aroma, tend to be a little more yellow vs green, and pack a tart punch. That bold flavor is exactly what you need in this lime mousse recipe.
That being said, you can always substitute regular limes if you aren’t able to find Key Limes in your store. You will still get a wonderful citrus flavor. It will just be slightly less bold.
Best Key Lime Mousse Recipe
Like the ingredient list, there aren’t many steps in this recipe. It’s as simple as measure, mix, and eat.
- PREP: Read through the recipe carefully and pre measure the ingredients. Whip the cream until stiff peaks form and set aside.
- MIX: Combine the cream cheese, sweetened milk, and lime juice in a bowl. Beat with a whisk, or hand mixer, until fully combined. Fold in the whipped cream.
- ENJOY: Serve immediately or chill until ready to serve.
This recipe is such a light and fun flavor. While we decided to serve as bite sized favorites, you could easily serve this mousse in a dish with a spoon.
Helpful Tools
- Hand Mixer: While this definitely can be mixed by hand, a hand mixer (affiliate) will make it come together quickly and lump free.
- Silicone Spatulas: I swear by this set of silicone spatulas (affiliate). So handy for all of your baking projects as well as stove top cooking!
- Airtight Container: Saving the mousse for later? Be sure to invest in a quality airtight container (affiliate) to help keep it fresh longer.
Recipe Notes:
This homemade lime mousse recipe will last 4-5 days if stored properly.
Lime juice, unlike the outside skin of a lime, is a soft yellow color. This means your mousse will lean more towards the color of white than green. For added green color, use a drop of green food dye.
Keep any uneaten mousse stored in an airtight container inside the refrigerator. It should last up to 5 days if stored properly, although we always eat ours within a day or two.
Worried about how many limes you will need to reach 1/4 cup? Luckily, you only need roughly 5 to 6 key limes. Remember, these limes are much smaller.
Regular lime juice will work in this recipe.
MORE MUST-TRY LIME RECIPES
- Lime Cheesecake Bites
- Mint Limeade
- Key Lime Pie No Churn Ice Cream
- Coconut Lime Frosted Sugar Cookies
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Key Lime Mousse Bites
Ingredients
- 4 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1/4 cup fresh key lime juice
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (whipped)
- Phyllo dough cups (optional)
- Limes or fresh fruit for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- If you haven't already, whip the cream until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
- Combine the cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk in a medium sized mixing bowl.
- Whisk until smooth, about 40 seconds.
- Stir in the lime juice and fold in the whipped cream.
- Refrigerate or serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
Can the mousse filling be put into a graham cracker crust and served as a pie?
I’m sure that you could do that and it would be delicious!
This recipe was a hit at my Christmas tea!
Hi Karen, I’m so glad to hear that! This one is one of my personal favorites.
I see sections of the recipe. I don’t see how to measure , cut, place the phillo. Help!
Hi Jackie, the phillo dough comes in pre baked cups. You can find them in the freezer section of most grocers. This recipe uses those.
These are sooooo easy and look so elegant. I added a fresh reaspberry. I used a fresh key lime and needed an extra tablespoon to give me a real lime flavor. I bet theses would be great with lemon juice as well. Thank you. New favorite for sure
I love your adaptations! Can’t wait to give them a try. Thank you for sharing!
Can the filling be made the night before and then filled the next day before you serve?
YOu bake the little pyllo cups first, right?
Mine came ready to use so there was no need to bake. I would just double check the directions on the back of the box.
So Key Lime is different from a lime? Are they at the grocery store? or do I have to go to a specialty store? Sounds yummy!
Key limes are much smaller and a little sweeter vs persian (the ones you typically find in the store) but I’ve made this recipe with both varieties and have gotten rave reviews from both. Sometimes you can find key lime juice in the juice aisle of regular grocery stores but if not swap for the regular limes.
Recipe calls for 30 cups so 30 servings
Thanks for responding for me! Always appreciate the extra help.
How many little cups does this recipe make?
30 bite sized phyllo dough cups. I’ll update the recipe to show the servings.
Thank you thank you thank you!!! Not only is this remarkably easy and super delicious, it is also egg free!! This is a true blessing for those of us with egg allergies who want yummy desserts!