Key lime pie is one of those recipes everyone has heard of, most people love, and almost no one has every tried to make themselves. And it is possibly the easiest pie to make at home. A press-in crust (no rolling pin!) and a filling that consists of exactly three ingredients – it doesn’t get much easier than that. And much like my spinach artichoke dip, classic key lime pie is a dessert I love to make for parties. It’s a little bit unexpected and always a huge hit.
For me, key lime pie is perfectly sweet-tart and, really, graham cracker crust and fresh, vanilla-scented whipped cream make everything better, don’t they? I love to line the rim of key lime pie with fresh raspberries. It’s not traditional but it adds some pretty color and the taste of raspberries with the lime-y filling is so good.
To be puritanically accurate, you must use actual key limes for this pie. But as I live in Massachusetts and have never seen a real key lime in my life, I’ve come up with a few suggestions, and while not all 100% traditional, they are all 100% delicious, and isn’t that what we’re really after here anyway? So, for this pie you can use:
- 2/3 c. key lime juice, fresh or bottled (like Nellie & Joe’s)
- 1/3 c. freshly squeezed lime juice, 1/3 c. freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2/3 c. freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2/3 c. high-quality bottled lime juice (like Santa Cruz)
Any way you choose, you will be left with a deliciously tart pie, even if it is not actually key lime pie. But I’m just going to call it that anyway.
- 1¼ c. graham crackers (usually one paper-wrapped sleeve)
- 5 tbsp. unsalted melted butter
- 4 tbsp. sugar, divided
- pinch of salt
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
- ⅔ c. key lime, lime, or half lime and half lemon juice (fresh or high-quality bottled)
- fresh raspberries
- ½ c. heavy cream
- ½ tsp. vanilla extract
- Preheat the oven to 350º.
- For the crust, place the graham crackers in a food processor and process until finely ground. Add the melted butter and 3 tbsp. sugar and pulse until the crumbs are evenly moistened. Press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Bake until the crust is golden, 6-8 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.
- For the filling, whisk egg yolks, sweetened condensed milk, and lime juice in a medium bowl until very smooth. Pour into the baked crust and bake for 10 minutes, until the filling has set. Cool on a wire rack.
- Once cool, line the outer edge of the filling with fresh raspberries and refrigerate until you're ready to serve.
- To make the whipped cream, place heavy cream, 1 tbsp. sugar, and vanilla in a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Serve pie topped with whipped cream.
key lime pie is chris’ favorite… i pinned this for him!
Suddenly I want to make it again. I swear, I could eat it every week in the summetime!
I’m going to try making this! I’ve always been hesitant because it seemed like a difficult pie to make. So far though, outside of my aunt’s Key Lime pie, the best I’ve ever had was at Abe & Louie’s in Boston on Boylston – OMG, it was fantastic!
I think you’re in the same boat as most people but it is really soooo easy! I will have to try Abe & Louie’s sometime :)
I think you’re in the same boat as most people but it is really soooo easy! I will have to try Abe & Louie’s sometime :)
My hubby and I love key lime pie! I’ve never tried to make it on my own though – will be trying this – thanks for sharing!
It’s so simple, I hope you both love it!
It’s so simple, I hope you both love it!