Coconut Key Lime Pie Coolers! The combination tart and creamy will have you reaching for sip of this tasty coconut lime drink and remind you of sweet and smooth key lime pie with an extra tropical twist.
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As the mercury rises, so do the cravings for cool, refreshing drinks that chill you from the inside out!
These Coconut Key Lime Coolers are like a sweet, island vacation in a glass! Made with tart lime juice and creamy coconut milk, the flavor combo is reminiscent of a decadent slice of key lime pie. A crushed graham cracker rim fully drives the flavor home!
This coconut lime drink can be made with or without alcohol, so it’s a perfect sipper to bust out for the whole family to enjoy!
Looking for more drink recipes to enjoy throughout the hot summer months? Try some of my favorite family-friendly drink like Strawberry Thyme Lemonade and Sparkling Mint Limeade or a few adult beverages like my Strawberry Mojitos or Watermelon Mojitos!
This recipe is naturally gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan (without the graham cracker rim. See notes in Variations and Substitutions area below.)
Ingredients
- Water. You’ll need water to make the simple syrup sweetener as well as to cut the tartness and intensity of the lime juice.
- Sugar. I used both granulated and brown sugar to give the simple syrup a deeper, more pie-like flavor, but either would work.
- Fresh limes. You will need both the zest and the juice. Zest the limes before you juice them! You can use key lime juice if you’re able to get key limes, but regular lime juice works just as well.
- Coconut milk. Canned coconut milk, not the refrigerated kind, gives a rich, creamy mouthfeel and flavor to this drink.
- Sparkling water. Bubbles make this fizzy and fun! Lime sparkling water or coconut sparkling water add extra flavor, but you can also use plain.
- Honey. I found that honey works really well to adhere the graham cracker crumbs onto the rim, but you can also use a bit of simple syrup if you don’t have or don’t want to use honey.
- Graham crackers. The graham cracker rim really gives it that Key Lime Pie flavor!
Instructions
Make Simple Syrup
First things first, you’ll want to start by making a quick simple syrup. Simple syrup is (simply!) water and sugar that is boiled until the sugar has dissolved. It can be used in all kinds of drink recipes like coffee drinks, cocktails and iced tea and flavored in a million ways!
In a small saucepan, combine the sugars and water and bring to a boil over high heat until the sugar has dissolved. Remove the saucepan from the heat and toss in a few strips of lime peel. (I use a vegetable peeler to take of a thick strip of peel, avoiding the pith. The pith is the white layer under the peel that tastes bitter.)
The essential oils from the lime peel will infuse the simple syrup with a citrusy flavor and give the drink and extra “lime-yness”.
Allow it to cool for about 10 minutes.
Tip: This can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a week or two.
Rim Glasses
To get that tasty crushed graham cracker rim on your glasses:
Place the graham crackers in a zip top bag (or in a food processor) and pulverize them until they’re crumbled. Pour the crumbs onto a small plate.
Pour honey (or simple syrup) onto a small plate. Flip the glasses over onto the plate to wet the rims and get them sticky.
Dip the rims into the graham cracker crumbs to adhere. Set aside.
Make Coconut Lime Drink
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the fresh lime juice, coconut milk, and cooled simple syrup. Secure the cocktail shaker top and shake vigorously for about 20-30 seconds.
For a larger batch, you can stir this together in a pitcher.
Tip: I love my citrus juicing attachment for my KitchenAid stand mixer any time I need a large amount of orange, lemon or lime juice! If you don’t have a stand mixer, there are many inexpensive juicers that are great to have on hand.
Fill the glasses with ice.
Strain the lime juice into the graham cracker rimmed glasses, filling them about half-way. Top each with about 1/2 cup lime or coconut sparkling water (or more depending on how tart you like your drink) and stir to combine.
Note: This version is non-alcoholic, but if desired, it can be turned into a cocktail with a shot of coconut rum or regular rum!
Garnish with a strip of lime if desired.
FAQ’s
The simple syrup can be made ahead and the limes can be juiced ahead of time (both stored in airtight containers in the refrigerator), but the drink should be put together just before serving for best results.
Key limes are small, round limes that are native to tropical Southeast Asia, but can be found in many tropical areas around the world. In contrast to standard Persian limes, Key limes contain more seeds, have a thinner skin and are less acid, making their juice ideal for baked goods and drinks.
Variations & Subtitutions
Want to try a twist on this refreshing concoction? Here are some variations:
- Add vanilla extract or a knob of fresh ginger to the simple syrup for a flavorful addition.
- Replace the sparkling water with ginger beer (Fever Tree is my favorite) for a spicy bite.
- Add a shot of your favorite liquor to make it a cocktail. Coconut rum, plain rum or tequila are all good choices!
Diet-Specific Substitutions
- Gluten-Free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free if you use gluten-free graham crackers for the rim.
- Vegan: Use date syrup or simple syrup and vegan graham crackers to rim the glasses for a vegan-friendly version.
Coconut Key Lime Pie Coolers
