Description
Creamy, tangy key lime pie whisks dessert lovers straight to Florida’s sunny shores with its perfect balance of zesty citrus and sweet graham cracker crust. Cool and refreshing, you’ll savor each sublime bite of this classic American treat that promises pure tropical delight.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 4 large egg yolks
- ½ cup key lime juice (fresh or bottled)
- 1 tablespoon key lime zest (optional, for extra zing)
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs (about 10–12 full crackers)
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Crust Preparation: Warm the oven to 350F (175C). Blend graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter into a uniform mixture. Firmly press the combination across the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie dish. Bake for 810 minutes, allowing the crust to set and develop a light golden hue. Remove and let cool momentarily.
- Filling Creation: Whisk sweetened condensed milk, egg yolks, fresh lime juice, and zest in a medium bowl until achieving a silky, uniform consistency. Gently transfer the mixture into the slightly cooled crust, ensuring an even distribution.
- Baking and Chilling Process: Place the pie in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until the filling stabilizes with a gentle jiggle. Remove and allow the pie to cool completely at room temperature. Refrigerate for a minimum of 3 hours, permitting the pie to set and develop its signature tangy flavor profile.
- Garnish Technique: Whip heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until soft, billowy peaks emerge. Just before serving, lavishly crown the chilled pie with the freshly prepared whipped cream, creating an elegant and inviting presentation.
Notes
- Press graham cracker mixture firmly and evenly into pie dish to create a compact, stable base that won’t crumble when serving.
- Use fresh lime zest for maximum flavor intensity, avoiding the bitter white pith underneath the green skin when grating.
- Whisk filling ingredients thoroughly to prevent lumps and ensure a silky, uniform texture throughout the pie.
- Allow pie to cool completely before refrigerating to prevent condensation and maintain the clean, crisp texture of the filling.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg