The short answer: key lime pie is hard to send. It only travels frozen, packed in dry ice. A key lime gift basket is the easier gift. It's full of key lime treats that ship well, or everything they need to bake the pie fresh at home.
I make gift boxes in Key West from local products, and I ship them anywhere in the US. Key lime is the flavor people ask me for most. Here's what actually travels well, and which of my boxes I'd send to the key lime lover in your life.
The short version:
Real key lime pie ships frozen on dry ice. It needs a freezer the moment it arrives.
Key lime cookies, candy, chocolate and baking kits travel much better.
The best gift for a pie lover is everything they need to bake it fresh.
My key lime boxes start at $80 and ship nationwide.
Can you ship a key lime pie?
You can, but it isn't simple. Key lime pie needs to stay cold. The bakeries that ship it send it frozen with dry ice, and the pie has to go straight into the freezer when it arrives.
That works if someone is home to receive it. It's a gamble for a surprise gift, a busy office or a hot summer porch.
So here's my advice.
If they love key lime pie, don't send the pie. Send them everything they need to make it.
What makes a good key lime gift basket
Real key lime juice. Key limes are smaller and more tart than the regular limes in most grocery stores. Real key lime juice is what makes the pie taste like the pie.
Treats that travel. Cookies, candy and baking mixes ride out a few days in a delivery truck without trouble. They make lovely wedding favors too, as I explain in my guide to destination wedding favors.
A little Key West. A tea towel, a book or a local coffee turns a box of snacks into a gift from a place.
One warning about chocolate. Key lime chocolate is delicious, but it can melt in summer shipping. In the hot months, the cookie and baking boxes are the safer choice.
My key lime gift baskets
Every box is put together by hand in my Key West shop, with a handwritten card. Prices are from my shop as of October 2026.
For the baker: Key Lime Pie
This is the one I send to true key lime pie fans. It's everything they need to make it themselves.
Key lime squares baking mix
Real key lime juice
A key lime pie recipe and history book by Key West author David Sloan
A Key West kitchen towel
A mixing spoon and spatula
It starts at $80. See the Key Lime Pie box.
For the chocolate lover: Keys Bliss
Key lime white chocolates, local Conch coffee, a teal Key West map wine tumbler, a Key West magnet and a mini Fiji water, all in a seagrass basket. It starts at $85. See Keys Bliss.
For the coffee person: Rise & Shine
A key lime pie white chocolate bar, local medium roast coffee, local honey, a honey wand and two conch shell mugs. It's a slow Key West morning in a box. It starts at $115. See Rise & Shine.
For a sunny thank-you: Sunshine State
A key lime starfish sugar cookie, two limoncello sparkling drinks, lemon jelly beans, coasters, lip balm and sunscreen. It's bright, cheerful and easy to love. It starts at $80. See Sunshine State.
For the cocktail crowd: Cocktails on the Beach
Key lime chili cashews, key lime chocolate, a pineapple cocktail jar that makes 30 drinks, a sunset candle and a head hammock for the beach. It starts at $135. See Cocktails on the Beach.
For the savory fan: Taste of Key West
Not everyone has a sweet tooth. This one has key lime spice, Cuban coffee, local honey, hot mustard and mojo, a real taste of island cooking. It starts at $80. See Taste of Key West.
How ordering works
Pick a box in my shop and add it to your cart. I ship anywhere in the US, and orders are usually processed within 1 to 3 days. If you're in the Keys, pickup and local delivery are available too.
Every box comes with a card and a handwritten note. You can also ask for your own logo, a different ribbon color or a custom insert.
Sending six or more, for clients, a team or a family event? Get in touch and I'll put together a custom order.
Want more ideas from the island? Read my guide to the best gifts from Key West.
Xoxo - yours, Anna ❤
FAQ
Can you ship key lime pie?
Yes, but it has to ship frozen with dry ice, and it needs to go into a freezer as soon as it arrives. A key lime gift basket with treats or a baking kit is much easier to send.
What goes in a key lime gift basket?
Good key lime gift baskets mix treats that travel well, like key lime cookies, candy or chocolate, with something useful or local. The best ones for pie lovers include real key lime juice and a baking mix.
What is the difference between key limes and regular limes?
Key limes are smaller and more tart than the regular limes sold in most grocery stores. That sharper flavor is what gives key lime pie its taste.
Can I send a Key West gift basket to another state?
Yes. Effortless Creations ships gift boxes from Key West anywhere in the US. Orders are usually processed within 1 to 3 days.
Can key lime chocolate be shipped in summer?
It can melt in hot weather. In summer, key lime cookies, candy or a baking kit are the safer choice.
