Key Lime Pie
In short: Tart lime custard made with sweetened condensed milk and egg yolks, set in a buttery graham cracker crust and topped with whipped cream. It takes about 50 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Resting
- 4 h
- Total
- 50 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 500 kcal
Key lime pie is the signature dessert of the Florida Keys, a cool, tart custard in a crumb crust. The classic filling needs no real cooking: sweetened condensed milk, egg yolks and lime juice thicken together in a short bake. Real Key limes are small and very aromatic, but regular limes make a good pie too. The pie must chill for several hours before slicing, so plan to make it the day before.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Stir the crushed crackers, sugar and melted butter together until the crumbs hold when pressed.
- Press the crumbs firmly into a 23 cm (9 in) pie plate and up the sides. Bake for 10 minutes, then set aside on a rack.
- Whisk the egg yolks and lime zest for 2 minutes until pale and thick. Whisk in the condensed milk for 2 minutes, then stir in the lime juice. The mixture will thicken as you stir.
- Pour the filling into the warm crust. Bake for 15 minutes, until the edges are set and the center barely jiggles.
- Cool on a rack for 1 hour, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight, until completely firm.
- Whip the cream with the powdered sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form. Spread or pipe it over the pie and garnish with lime slices.
Tips
- Bottled Key lime juice works when fresh Key limes are not available. Regular lime juice is more sharp and less floral, so add the zest of 2 extra limes.
- Cut with a sharp knife dipped in hot water and wiped dry between slices for clean edges. The filling is baked, not raw, so make sure it is just set.
Questions and answers
Is real Key lime pie green?
No. Key lime juice and condensed milk give a pale yellow filling. A bright green pie usually contains food coloring.
Can I make Key lime pie without baking?
Not with this filling. The egg yolks need the short bake to set properly and to be safe to eat. Chilling alone does not cook them.
How long does Key lime pie keep?
Covered and refrigerated, it keeps for 3 days. You can freeze it without the cream topping for up to a month and thaw it in the fridge overnight.
How long does it take to make Key Lime Pie?
About 50 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Key Lime Pie?
About 500 kcal per serving, with 8 g of protein, 51 g of carbohydrates and 30 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 500 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 51 g |
| Fat | 30 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 38 g |
| Sodium | 190 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
