sweet, tangy & refreshing
Key Lime Pie
When it comes to classic desserts, few are as refreshing and delightful as a slice of key lime pie.
This beloved treat, with its perfect balance of tartness and sweetness, has a way of transporting you straight to the sunny shores of Florida with every bite. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a kitchen novice, this easy-to-follow recipe using sweetened condensed milk will have you whipping up a delicious key lime pie that’s sure to impress. Key lime pie is not just a dessert; it’s an experience. The creamy filling, made with sweetened condensed milk and freshly squeezed key lime juice, is nestled in a buttery graham cracker crust and topped with a cloud of homemade whipped cream. Each mouthful is a harmonious blend of tangy and sweet, with a hint of zest that brightens the palate. In this post, we'll walk you through the steps to create this iconic pie, ensuring you achieve the perfect texture and flavor every time. Whether you're preparing it for a special occasion or simply to satisfy a craving, this key lime pie recipe is sure to become a favorite in your dessert repertoire. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to bake a pie that's as delightful as a summer breeze.
Tips for Making the Perfect Key Lime Pie.
Here are some tips for creating a visually appealing and delicious key lime pie.
Use Fresh Key Lime Juice:
Freshly squeezed key lime juice gives the best flavor, but bottled key lime juice can be a convenient alternative. If using bottled juice, make sure it's pure key lime juice without any additives.
Room Temperature Ingredients:
Ensure that the eggs and key lime juice are at room temperature before mixing. This helps the ingredients combine more smoothly and evenly.
Zest Before Juicing:
If you’re using fresh key limes, zest them before juicing. It’s much easier to zest whole limes than juiced halves. The zest adds an extra burst of flavor to the filling.
Evenly Press the Crust
Use a flat-bottomed glass or measuring cup to press the graham cracker crust mixture evenly into the pie dish. This ensures a compact and uniform crust.
Prevent a Soggy Crust
Pre-bake the crust for 10 minutes to set it and prevent it from becoming soggy when you add the filling.
Don't Overbake
The filling should have a slight jiggle in the center when you remove the pie from the oven. It will continue to set as it cools. Overbaking can cause the filling to crack.
Chill Thoroughly
Allow the pie to cool to room temperature before refrigerating. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably longer, to ensure the filling is fully set and chilled.
Perfect Whipped Cream
For the whipped cream topping, chill your mixing bowl and beaters in the freezer for 10-15 minutes before whipping the cream. This helps achieve stiff peaks faster.
Decorative Topping
Use a piping bag with a star tip to pipe the whipped cream for a decorative touch. Garnish with lime zest or thin lime slices for an elegant presentation.
Serve Chilled
Key lime pie is best served cold. Keep it refrigerated until you're ready to serve, and slice with a sharp knife for clean cuts.
Here's a List of What You'll Need!
Ingredients:
For the Crust:
- 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
For the Filling:
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup key lime juice (freshly squeezed or bottled)
- 1 teaspoon lime zest (optional, for extra flavor)
For the Whipped Topping
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Get Ready to Bake!
It’s time to prepare our pie crust and filling for the oven!
If you need to save time, you can buy a store-made graham cracker crust 9″ pie tin to use for your crust.
You can use a hand whisk, hand beater, or stand beater for the eggs. However, while a hand whisk gives you more control over the process which can be helpful for small adjustments, beating eggs by hand requires more effort and time and can be challenging to achieve the same consistency as with a mechanical mixer.
Tips:
- Use Fresh Lime Juice
- Use Room Temperature Eggs and Lime Juice
- Zest Before Juicing
- Evenly Press the Crust
- Prebake to Prevent a Soggy Crust
- Don’t Overbake
- Chill Thoroughly
- Chill the Mixing Bowl and Beaters before Whipping the Cream
- Pipe Whipped Cream for a Decorative Topping
- Serve Chilled
Instructions:
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 25 minutes
Cooling Time: At least 2 hours
Total Time: About 2 hours and 45 minutes
Servings: 6 - 8
Preheat the Oven:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Prepare the Crust:
✓ In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, granulated sugar, and melted butter. Mix until the crumbs are evenly coated with butter.
✓ Press the mixture firmly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie dish.
✓ Bake the crust for about 10 minutes, or until it is lightly browned. Remove from the oven and let it cool while you prepare the filling.
Make the Filling:
✓ In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks until they are thick and light yellow.
✓ Add the sweetened condensed milk and mix until well combined.
✓ Slowly add the key lime juice and lime zest, mixing until the filling is smooth and slightly thickened.
Bake the Pie:
✓ Pour the filling into the cooled graham cracker crust.
✓ Bake the pie in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes, or until the filling is set and has a slight jiggle in the center.
✓ Remove the pie from the oven and let it cool to room temperature. Once cooled, refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until completely chilled.
Prepare the Whipped Cream Topping:
✓ In a large bowl, whip the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.
✓ Spread the whipped cream over the chilled pie or pipe it decoratively on top.
Serve:
✓ Garnish with additional lime zest or lime slices if desired.
✓ Slice and serve chilled.
Enjoy!
With a preparation time of just 20 minutes, a brief 25-minute bake, and a cooling period of at least 2 hours, you’ll have a delectable pie ready to serve and impress. This 9-inch pie serves approximately 8 people, making it perfect for gatherings or a special family treat. Enjoy the refreshing and zesty flavors of homemade key lime pie!
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size: 1 slice
Servings: 8
The calculation is for one slice, assuming the pie is divided into eight slices.
Estimated Nutrition Information (per serving):
- Calories: 380
- Total Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Cholesterol: 125mg
- Sodium: 210mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 45g
- Dietary Fiber: 1g
- Sugars: 35g
- Protein: 6g
Notes:
- The nutritional information provided is an estimate based on commonly used ingredients and their average nutritional values.
- Actual nutrition content can vary based on specific brands and measurements used.
- For more precise nutritional information, consider using a nutrition calculator or app with the exact ingredients and quantities you use in your recipe.
