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Home » Recipes » Beverages

Published: Mar 28, 2019 · Modified: Jan 20, 2023 by Amanda McGrory-Dixon

Sparkling Key Lime Pie Martini

Jump to Recipe

With its tart key lime, hint of sweet vanilla and pineapple, and creamy finish, this sparkling key lime pie martini is the perfect beachy dessert cocktail. Sometimes you need a tropical, fruity cocktail in your life, and when those moments hit, this sparkling key lime pie martini will make you think you're sipping on a beachside cocktail in the Florida Keys.

Two sparkling key lime pie martinis with graham crackers and key limes.

Back when Matt and I first started dating, we often found ourselves at this cute, little martini bar with a menu full of pages and pages of cocktails. Naturally, all those martini options invoked my competitive spirit, and I was determined to eventually try every martini on the list. Dream big, right?

But even with all those options, we didn't always stay on task and couldn't help but returning to our favorite of the bunch: the key lime pie martini. Given our mutual love for this delicious martini, I had to recreate the recipe for our at-home cocktail nights but with my own slight spin.

I'm obviously a little bubbles obsessed, so giving my key lime pie martini a sparkling kick felt natural. For that bit of fizz, I like to use La Croix Key Lime.

Have you tasted La Croix's Key Lime? To me, it's easily one of La Croix's most delicious flavors.  Obviously, I expected a level of key lime pie flavor, but I was surprised at how well it translated to sparkling water.

My local grocery store keeps La Croix Key Lime well stocked, but if you can't find it, you can use plain sparkling water instead. I just happen to love the extra key lime flavor it adds, but don't feel like you won't still have a tasty drink if you can't find that exact variety.

Related: For more beach-inspired cocktails, try this passion fruit martini and peach daiquiri.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Now let's get shaking. We start by finely crushing graham crackers, which we'll use as a garnish as a nod to key lime pie's classic graham cracker crust. Considering that we only need a small amount of graham cracker crumbs, I prefer to do this with a rolling pin rather than a food processor. I love my food processor, but cleaning it is a bit of a pain.

Let's not waste our time cleaning excessive equipment when drinks are on the agenda. For even less of a mess, you can place the graham cracker in a zipped bag and then roll.

Crushed graham cracker crumbs with a rolling pin for the sparkling key lime pie martini garnish.

To finish our garnish, we place the graham cracker crumbs on a plate, run a key lime around the rim of a chilled martini glass and then dip the glass into the crumbs.

A martini glass in the crushed graham crackers.

With our martini glass perfectly garnished, we're ready to make our cocktail. Grab a cocktail shaker and pour in vanilla vodka, pineapple juice, key lime juice and a touch of heavy cream. The vanilla vodka makes a big difference in flavor, so I definitely recommend using that as opposed to regular vodka. You just won't get the same pie-in-a-glass vibe without the extra flavor boost.

For the key lime juice, I always recommend freshly squeezed over bottled, but sometimes it doesn't make logistical sense. Juicing key limes, even with a lime juicer, takes a bit of time because of how small they are. When making only a couple martinis, freshly squeezed juice isn't too much of a hassle, but if you're playing bartender and making this sparkling key lime pie martini for a crowd, bottled key lime juice will make your life much easier.

Now throw in some ice, pop on the top and give the mixture a good shake. Take a quick taste and decide if the martini is sweetened to your liking. If not, add a touch of simple syrup.

I like adding a little simple syrup to really give it a dessert feel, but some people prefer theirs on the tart side. No right or wrong here. You do you.

Pour the cocktail into your chilled martini glass and top with a splash of La Croix Key Lime. If you want to get extra fancy, garnish with a key lime slice and happily sip away. Clink!

An upfront and low view of the sparkling key lime pie martini.

Can You Make Nonalcoholic?

Sure, just leave out the vanilla vodka and add a little more sparkling water. I do love the vanilla flavor the vodka adds and find it rounds out the drink, so if you plan to skip the vodka, I recommend adding a smidge of vanilla extract. Keep in mind, vanilla extract is potent, so I'd start with just an eighth of a teaspoon and adjust to your liking from there.

Oh, or you could mix up the ingredients, pour over a scoop of vanilla ice cream and top with La Croix Key Lime for a fun nonalcoholic float variation. Depending on the size of your ice cream scoop, you may want to double the amount of liquid ingredients. Just eyeball it and trust your gut. You can't go wrong with these tropical flavors and a little vanilla ice cream.

An aerial view of the sparkling key lime pie martini with a plate of crushed graham cracker crumbs and key limes.

Perfect Pairing

Naturally, you might be tempted to pair this with an actual slice of key lime pie. And I don't blame you. When a drink is based off some kind of dish, I always think it's fun to put the two together to see how they compare.

At the same time, this sparkling key lime pie martini is delicious with a big slice of coconut cake. We already have the cream going on in this martini, which I like with coconut cake for two reasons.

  • We get nice textural contrast pairing a creamy martini with a light and fluffy coconut cake.
  • Think of how satisfying it is when you take a big gulp of milk after a bite of cake. With this martini's creamy, chilled finish, this pairing is a lot like that --- except with booze and key lime juice. Just trust me and go with it.

Plus, key limes and coconut make for one delicious flavor combination.

If a boozy key lime pie in a cocktail glass sounds like your kind of happy hour celebration, I hope you shake up a round of this delicious martini.

Cheers!

A closeup of the sparkling key lime pie martini
Two sparkling key lime pie martinis with crushed graham crackers and key limes.

Thirsty for More Refreshing Drinks?

  • Minted strawberry lemonade
  • Peach sangria
  • Coconut margarita
  • Sparkling pomegranate martini
  • Cucumber-mint lemonade

If you love this recipe, please leave a comment with a five-star rating — or simply hit the five-star button in the recipe card. Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter, and you can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok.

📖 Recipe

Two sparkling key lime pie martinis with graham crackers and key limes.

Sparkling Key Lime Pie Martini

With its tart key lime, hint of sweet vanilla and pineapple, and creamy finish, this sparkling key lime pie martini is the perfect beachy dessert cocktail. Sometimes you need a tropical, fruity cocktail in your life, and when those moments hit, this sparkling key lime pie martini will make you think you're sipping on a beachside cocktail in the Florida Keys.
5 from 31 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Cocktails
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 1 drink
Calories: 205kcal
Author: Amanda McGrory-Dixon

Ingredients

  • 1 graham cracker for garnish, optional
  • Slice of key lime for garnish, optional
  • 2 ounces vanilla vodka
  • 1 ounce freshly squeezed key lime juice
  • 1 ounce pineapple juice
  • 1 ounce simple syrup
  • Splash of heavy cream
  • Ice
  • Splash of La Croix Key Lime or sparkling water

Instructions

  • If desired, chill the martini glasses in the freezer. With a rolling pin, crush the graham cracker into fine crumbs. To keep from getting too messy, you can place the graham cracker in a zipped bag for rolling if you'd like. Moisten the rim of a martini glass with a slice of key lime. Spread the graham cracker crumbs onto a plate and invert the martini glass into the crumbs. Twist the glass a few times to help the graham cracker crumbs adhere to the rim. Turn over and add a slice of key lime on the rim.
  • Pour the vanilla vodka, key lime juice, pineapple juice, simple syrup and heavy cream into a cocktail shaker. Add a handful of ice, pop on the top and shake vigorously for 15-30 seconds.
  • Strain into the martini glass. Top with La Croix Key Lime and gently stir. Enjoy!

Notes

  • To make the simple syrup, simmer the 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir frequently to dissolve the sugar. As soon as the sugar dissolves, remove from heat. Allow to cool and store chilled.
  • Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1drink | Calories: 205kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 12mg | Sugar: 4g
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @BurrataandBubbles or tag #burratandbubbles!

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Comments

    5 from 31 votes (17 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Alexandra @ It's Not Complicated Recipes says

    April 02, 2019 at 1:48 pm

    5 stars
    I am volunteering my services any time you need a taste tester 😀 Sounds so good, cheers to this martini!

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      April 02, 2019 at 1:58 pm

      Haha, sounds like a plan! ?

      Reply
  2. Maman de sara says

    April 02, 2019 at 3:08 am

    5 stars
    Thank you for the nonalcoholic Key lime pie martini version, that looks refreshing!

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      April 02, 2019 at 2:01 pm

      You're welcome! Glad that's helpful.

      Reply
  3. Jori says

    April 02, 2019 at 1:54 am

    5 stars
    You have the best cocktail recipes! They're so delicious and creative. Plus, I love lime LaCroix so this has my name written all over it. lol

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      April 07, 2019 at 7:24 pm

      Aww, thank you so much! That means a lot. ❤️

      Reply
  4. Lathiya says

    April 01, 2019 at 7:30 pm

    5 stars
    The martini looks fabulous. I love the key lime flavor and this looks amazing. I love the fact that you gave non alcoholic version

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      April 01, 2019 at 8:19 pm

      Thanks so much, Lathiya! I'm glad that helps.

      Reply
  5. Mimi says

    April 01, 2019 at 12:03 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious recipe that looks fabulous! I especially liked the crushing graham crackers part - looks so yummy. Can't wait to make it myself now!

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      April 01, 2019 at 8:18 pm

      Thanks! The graham cracker rim is definitely a tasty touch. Hope you love it!

      Reply
  6. April says

    April 01, 2019 at 12:00 pm

    5 stars
    I bet the burst of flavor in this sparkling key lime pie martini is incredible! Fantastic cocktail that is perfect to entertain a group of close friends. They will be excited and I will be happy! 🙂

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      April 01, 2019 at 8:18 pm

      Thank you! Sounds like a good time to me. ?

      Reply
  7. Jacqueline Debono says

    March 31, 2019 at 5:37 pm

    5 stars
    Using graham crackers as a garnish is such a cool idea! The flavours in this cocktail make me think of palm trees and white sand! Can't wait for summer! Can't wait to try this!

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      April 01, 2019 at 8:17 pm

      Totally! If we can't be at the beach, at least we can pretend.

      Reply
  8. Heather says

    March 31, 2019 at 4:28 pm

    5 stars
    OMG! This is the cocktail of my dreams. I just love key lime pie and I think the only thing that could make it better is booze, well, booze haha! So this is just perfect. Love the graham cracker crumbs on the rim 🙂

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      April 01, 2019 at 8:16 pm

      Haha, I would have to agree. Cheers! ?

      Reply
  9. Sophie says

    March 31, 2019 at 1:24 pm

    What an interesting flavor combination! Loved the recipe and thank you for sharing

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      April 01, 2019 at 8:16 pm

      You're welcome! So glad to hear it!

      Reply
  10. Sophia says

    March 30, 2019 at 4:07 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious, this is like dessert in a glass! With a boozy twist, my favorite! I love the idea of graham crackers for the cocktail rim, so creative. Yum!

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      April 01, 2019 at 8:15 pm

      Totally! Best kind of dessert. ??

      Reply
  11. Linda says

    March 30, 2019 at 1:22 am

    5 stars
    I'm not a big fan of key lime pie, but this martini says something different. Sounds so refreshing and perfect for my next gathering.

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      April 01, 2019 at 8:15 pm

      Thanks! Hope you love it.

      Reply
  12. Gloria | Homemade & Yummy says

    March 29, 2019 at 5:50 pm

    5 stars
    This would be perfect for the weekend brunch. Or an afternoon with the girls. I think it would be a hit at BBQ parties too.

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      April 01, 2019 at 8:14 pm

      For sure! I can definitely see this being a BBQ favorite.

      Reply
  13. Kelly Anthony says

    March 29, 2019 at 5:43 pm

    5 stars
    Next time I'm at the grocery store I'm going to look for the La Croix Key Lime because I haven't tried that one yet. Sounds so refreshing as does this sparkling key lime pie martini.

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      April 01, 2019 at 8:14 pm

      Sweet -- I hope you find it and get a chance to try it!

      Reply
  14. Stine Mari says

    March 29, 2019 at 11:09 am

    5 stars
    This key lime pie martini sounds so delicious. I once tried a lemon pie tini, and it was fantastic. I've been thinking about recreating it at home for a long time, but I haven't gotten to it yet. I would LOVE to try this one, also!

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      April 01, 2019 at 8:13 pm

      Oh, I hope you do add it to your list! I bet you'll love it.

      Reply
  15. Danielle Wolter says

    March 28, 2019 at 6:31 pm

    5 stars
    what a wonderful cocktail idea! the graham cracker is just the perfect touch - how cute! pineapple and lime juice must be incredible together.

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      April 01, 2019 at 8:13 pm

      Thank you! It really is a lovely combination.

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Amanda, a Denver-based lady who believes life is best spent with comforting meals, tasty beverages and good company. When I'm not playing in the kitchen, I'm probably exploring new breweries with my husband, Matt, or obsessing over my adorable dog, Baylor.

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Hi, I'm Amanda, a Denver-based lady who believes life is best spent with comforting meals, tasty beverages and good company. When I'm not playing in the kitchen, I'm probably exploring new breweries with my husband, Matt, or obsessing over my adorable dog, Baylor.

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