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Easy Key Lime Mousse Tarts

These easy Key Lime Mousse Tarts are mini in size but are filled with a delicious smooth and creamy blend of sweet and tart.

Easy Key Lime Mousse Tarts collage with text - updated

These mini Key Lime Mousse Tarts are just too cute and they taste like springtime to me. I really never thought there was much difference between regular limes and key limes. Then again, I had never tried a key lime until I made this key lime filling.

Making a creamy mousse filling with the key limes was a perfect way to use already-made phyllo cups that I had in the freezer. The mini key lime mousse cups are perfect for a spring or summer dessert, a great addition to brunch menus, and would be lovely to serve at a baby or bridal shower. I would even love to serve them for a delicious Mother’s Day dessert.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Refreshing Citrus Flavor: The key lime mousse filling is tangy, citrusy, and incredibly refreshing, making it perfect for a light and satisfying dessert.
  • Creamy Texture: The mousse has a smooth and creamy texture that contrasts beautifully with the crunchy phyllo cup.
  • Easy to Make: This recipe is simple and straightforward, requiring just a few basic ingredients and minimal effort to whip up a batch of delicious mini tarts.
  • Adorable Presentation: The individual mini tart servings are not only delicious but also visually appealing, making them a charming addition to any dessert spread or special occasion.
mini tarts filled with lime mousse

Key Lime Mousse Mini Tarts

Create a burst of citrusy delight with our mini key lime tarts! These bite-sized treats are a refreshing and indulgent dessert option. Simple to make and bursting with flavor, they’re sure to impress at any gathering or as a special treat for yourself.

Keep a pack or two of the frozen phyllo tart shells in your freezer to have on hand when you need a quick dessert to serve your guests or to take to a gathering. This is a no-bake recipe and the filling can be made a day ahead and then fill the tart shells right before serving.

What are Key Limes?

The Key lime has thinner rind and is smaller, seedier, more acidic and more aromatic than the Persian lime. The name comes from its association with the Florida Keys, where it is best known as the flavoring ingredient in Key lime pie. Key limes are a bit more tart than then regular limes and the fruit itself smells so good. Using key limes in sweet recipes balances out the sweetness.

Key Limes

Can you use Bottle Key Lime Juice?

You can use bottled key lime juice, but the flavor of fresh key lime juice is much brighter and more intense than the bottled variety. Be sure to read the label of the juice to make sure it contains 100% key lime juice as some manufacturers will add high fructose corn syrup and you do not want that.

Can you use regular lime juice?

If you cannot find key limes, your best substitution would be an equal amount of fresh lime juice and lemon juice.

mini tarts shells filled with key lime mousse = updated

⏰Time-Saving Tips and Variations

  • Because key limes are much smaller than regular limes, you will need 10 – 12 key limes. Most grocery stores will have key limes in a bag that will contain enough to use.
  • Zest the limes FIRST before juicing them. It’s a little more challenging to zest citrus once it’s been cut.
  • Premade Phyllo shells are stored in the freezer section of your grocery store.
  • Place the bowl you are going to use to mix the whipping cream in the freezer or refrigerator before using. This will keep the cream colder and it will whip up much better.
  • Don’t fill the shells until right before you are serving otherwise the bottoms of the shells will get soggy.
  • You can make the mousse filling a day ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator.
  • If you would like a larger dessert cup, try using the key lime mousse in these dessert crepe cups.
Key Lime tarts on green platter

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🥣Equipment

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📃Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons key lime zest (about 2 – 3 key limes)
  • 1/4 cup key lime juice (about 8 – 10 key limes)
  • 2 1.9 ounce packages of frozen phyllo mini tart shells, thawed
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 8-ounce package of cream cheese, softened
  • 2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
  • small slices of key limes and fresh raspberries for garnish, if desired

Directions

Your first step is to zest about 3 – 4 key limes as you will need 2 teaspoons of zest. Then, juice 8 -10 key limes to get 1/4 fresh key lime juice from them. Set both aside. Next, take the phyllo cups from the freezer so they thaw a bit before filling them.

zest of key limes in white bowl with limes - updated

Using a handheld mixer, beat the whipping cream in a large bowl until stiff peaks are formed. Set the bowl aside. In another large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, key lime juice, and zest until smooth and creamy. At this point, grab a rubber spatula and gently fold the whipping cream into the lime cream cheese mixture.

heavy cream in bowl ready to whip with mixer - updated
Key lime juice, zest and cream cheese in bowl - updated
adding whipped cream to lime cream cheese mixture - updagted

Chill the key lime mousse filling for at least an hour before filling each mini tart shell. Fill the mini phyllo shells right before serving so the bottoms of the shells do not get soggy.

key lime mousse ready to fill min tarts - updated

I like to spoon the chilled filling into a large resealable bag, then snip a small piece from one corner and pipe the filling into the phyllo shells. Garnish the tarts with a small slice of key lime and a fresh raspberry, if desired.

single key lime mini tart with raspberry - updated

The key lime mousse filling can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Then give it a good mix and fill the mini tart shells.

Other Desserts You May Enjoy

2024 Alphabet Challenge – “K”

In updating this post, I am sharing it in the 2024 Alphabet Challenge in which fellow foodies will share recipes with the letters of the alphabet. Twice a month we will bring you two letters – recipes that either start with the letter or the main food in the recipe starts with that letter. Today is the letter “K” and I am sharing these delicious mini Key Lime Mousse Tarts with you. Here is what the others are sharing. To see all the recipes I have shared in this challenge, go here.

  • A Day in the Life on the Farm: Kwasnica (Polish Sauerkraut and Pork Soup) 
  • Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Key Lime Pie Cocktails 
  • Mayuri’s Jikoni: Khamang Kakdi 
  • Sneha’s Recipe: Kala Chana Batata Chaat 
  • Culinary Cam: Purple Napa Kimchi 
  • Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice Kalamata, Mozzarella, & Tomato Couscous Salad 
  • Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Kung Pao Chicken 
  • Food Lust People Love: Korean Barbecue-Style Meatballs 
  • close up of mini tarts with raspberry garnish - updated

    I hope you enjoy all the recipes I share with you, including this one! I hope you try it, enjoy it, comment and rate it, and share it with your friends and family!

    Printable Recipe Card

    feature image for key lime tarts

    Key Lime Mousse Tarts

    These easy Key Lime Mousse Tarts are mini in size but are filled with a delicious smooth and creamy blend of sweet and tart.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: dessert, key lime, key lime mousse, key lime mousse mini tarts, lime, mini tarts, phyllo cups
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Chill time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
    Servings: 30 mini tarts
    Author: Lisa Kerhin

    Equipment

    • hand-held electric mixer
    • measuring cups and spoons (space saver set)
    • citrus zester
    • citrus juicer
    • piping bag or large plastic resealable bag

    Ingredients

    • 2 teaspoons key lime zest (about 2 – 3 key limes)
    • ¼ cup key lime juice (about 8 – 10 key limes)
    • 2 1.9 ounce packages frozen phyllo mini tart shells,thawed
    • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
    • 1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
    • cup sweetened condensed milk
    • small slices of key limes and fresh raspberries for garnish, if desired

    Instructions

    • Your first step is to zest about 3 – 4 key limes as you will need 2 teaspoons of zest. Then, juice 8 -10 key limes to get 1/4 fresh key lime juice from them. Set both aside.
    • Next, take the phyllo cups from the freezer so they thaw a bit before filling them.
    • Using a hand held mixer, beat the whipping cream in a large bowl, until soft peaks are formed. Set the bowl aside.
    • In another large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, key lime juice, and zest until smooth and creamy. At this point, grab a rubber spatula and gently fold in he whipping cream into the lime cream cheese mixture.
    • Chill the key lime mousse filling for at least an hour before filling the mini tart shells.
    • Fill the mini phyllo shells right before serving so the bottoms of the shells do not get soggy. I like to spoon the chilled filling into a large resealable bag, then snip a small piece from one corner and pipe the filling into the phyllo shells. Garnish the tarts with a small slice of key lime and a fresh raspberry, if desired.
    • The key lime mousse filling can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Then give it a good mix and fill the mini tart shells.

    Notes

    see post for time saving tips and variations

    Nutritional Disclaimer

    “Blogghetti” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

    Tried this recipe?I hope you enjoy all the recipes I share with you, including this one! I hope you try it, enjoy it, comment and rate it, and share it with your friends and family!

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    5 from 4 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    19 Comments

    1. That key lime mousse is calling my name and it looks amazing with the raspberry on top!

      1. I may have eaten the leftover mousse straight from the bowl!

    2. These little tarts are just adorable. I love how you incorporated so many elements.

    3. Jill Baird says:

      5 stars
      These are so darling and the combo of lime with the little bit of fresh raspberry is amazing! Making these for our Easter dessert! Thanks for the great recipe!

    4. 5 stars
      I made these for a potluck and they were a huge hit.

    5. Karen's Kitchen Stories says:

      These are adorable. I’m pretty sure I couldn’t stop at just one!

    6. Wendy Klik says:

      These sound delicious and would be perfect for a picnic pot-luck.

    7. Colleen - Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck says:

      I’m not a huge lime person, however, key limes always taste pretty good to me. What a great recipe to use phyllo cups!!!

    8. I know they won’t be as good but I do have some 100% Key lime bottled juice in the fridge to use up. I love desserts that are easy but look like you spent all morning putting them together!

    9. Mayuri Patel says:

      I love citrusy desserts as the sweet and tangy flavours are awesome. This key lime mousse tarts recipe is just perfect for the party I am planning in July. What I like about the recipe is that it is easy to make and how you’ve used phyllo pastry.