Florida's signature dessert: a graham-cracker crust filled with tart key lime curd thickened with sweetened condensed milk, topped with whipped cream and a wedge of fresh lime.

Key lime pie was likely invented in the late 19th century in the Florida Keys, where the small, intensely tart key limes (Citrus aurantiifolia) grew wild and sweetened condensed milk (invented by Gail Borden in 1856) was the only available shelf-stable dairy on the islands. The chemistry is unique: the citric acid in lime juice causes the condensed milk to thicken without heat, so the original 19th-century version was uncooked. Joe's Stone Crab in Miami Beach has served the dish since 1913 and is the most-cited Miami canonical address.

3 editor picks for Key Lime Pie in Miami, ranked by editorial score. All Miami signature dishes · Key Lime Pie across every city.