Tasty and Simple Key Lime Pie Recipe – Creating Florida Keys Delight at Home
We adore key lime pie and always find it delightful, so we savor it both at home and while traveling through the Keys. Certainly, I enjoy baking, but that doesn’t imply I excel at it. I believe that’s the way many individuals feel. However, that doesn't imply that I will surrender! This is the simplest Key Lime Pie recipe in existence and it’s ideal for those who don’t bake. I’m making it straightforward, tasty, and genuine. You don’t need to be a skilled baker or possess advanced techniques; simply follow basic directions. This recipe offers two methods for each step, allowing you to choose what suits your baking approach best.
I hope you have fun preparing this, as it's truly the simplest key lime pie recipe and you’ll feel great about your achievement when finished. I would be thrilled to see photos of your pie achievements, so please tag us on Instagram while you create this slice of Florida's culinary heritage! Please feel free to comment or reach out if you have questions or want to share your tips for the graham cracker crust or meringue. We are always pleased to provide additional information and assist others in experiencing the Florida Keys from home.
Why choose Key Lime Pie?
Easy. In the Spring of 2020, we relocated to Florida and quickly began sampling various key lime pies. Even beyond the Florida Keys, key lime pie is genuinely a Florida classic. It's amusing, but when you chat with Floridians about key lime pie, they all appear to enjoy it… yet no one actually bakes their own. Publix (the supermarket) offers a truly tasty one, and no one believes they can or should improve it.
After embarking on a week-long journey through the Florida Keys and sampling over 20 pies, I discovered the best Key Lime Pie in Key West and the Florida Keys and then needed to figure out how to replicate it for my family. Nothing is more rewarding after a day of kayaking in the Florida Keys than a tasty key lime pie. Can you believe it? It turned out to be much simpler to create than I anticipated. My version is equally tasty, though likely not as sophisticated.
Variations of Key Lime Pie Recipe
I never truly understood the numerous variations of key lime pie recipes until we embarked on our trip to the Florida Keys with the goal of tasting it wherever possible. I was aware that there could be differences in crusts and presentation, but I didn't realize there would be such variation in flavor, texture, or toppings.
The most significant difference we observed was in the sharpness or intense lime taste, and this is something I hold a deep passion for. While refining my simple key lime pie recipe, I have ensured the flavor is both understated and powerful. I don’t wish to make a pie that could be mistaken for key lime cheesecake or something similar. I enjoy a piece of key lime pie that is sweet enough to make me happy about the dessert aspect, yet tart enough to prevent overindulging.
The consistency of various key lime pies we've encountered has been another challenge I've aimed to master. My simple key lime pie recipe features the finest texture of all that I've tasted. Maybe it's due to numerous restaurants and bakeries freezing their key lime pies after baking, or maybe it's because they incorporate excessive milk in their filling, but a runny pie is an issue I don't wish to be served on a dessert plate. I also don’t want a frozen pie or key lime pie that feels like ice cream. This key lime pie recipe avoids all those problems, even when chilled and then left to reach room temperature.
The final variation of key lime pie that caught my attention during my research was the various toppings. I discovered pies topped with Italian meringue, hand-whipped cream, aerosol whipped cream, coconut whipped cream, Cool Whip, and even chocolate sauce. Honestly, it’s a key lime pie; it ought to be garnished only with basic whipped cream or meringue (both choices are listed below).
Our Simple Key Lime Pie Recipe
This key lime pie recipe is the simplest, and the reason I enjoy it is due to its texture. Regardless of the version you pick, it’s not a complicated recipe, and as long as you adhere to the straightforward instructions, you ought to be able to create the tastiest key lime pie.
Basic Instructions for Key Lime Pie
This is the procedure for preparing a simple key lime pie. Adhere to these instructions to guarantee that your timing is accurate and your pie bakes thoroughly and firmens correctly. Keep in mind that this key lime pie recipe will only be successful and yield the desired results if you allow the pie to COOL FULLY before serving. I don’t require 50 remarks from individuals dishing out hot, runny pie because they disregard instructions.
Duration required: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Simple Steps for Baking Key Lime Pie
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 350 is the temperature used for both pre-baking your pie crust AND baking the actual key lime pie.
- Bake pie crust – 6 minutes for graham cracker, 10-12 minutes for shortbread.
- If you’re preparing your pie crust from scratch, pre-bake it to allow it to cool before adding the filling.
- Blend key lime pie filling
- Make sure the pie filling is thoroughly blended for uniformity.
- Cook for 15 minutes.
- For a softer set pie, bake it for 12 minutes. After it comes out of the oven, it will keep cooking slightly and will be completely set as it cools down. Refer to the meringue section below for instructions on how to bake if you choose to use a meringue topping.
- Let the pie cool down before serving.
- Apple pie can be served warm. Make it easy by refrigerating the key lime pie for one hour prior to serving.
Options for Key Lime Pie Crust
Did you know that graham cracker crusts weren't always popular? Traditional pie crusts and shortbread crusts were primarily used for pies, such as citrus varieties like lemon meringue and key lime pie, until the creation of graham cracker crust. The graham cracker crust was originally created (recorded) for lemon chiffon pie in 1926. Key lime pie gained popularity (though it wasn’t new) roughly a decade later, and shortly thereafter, the two components united to set what many regard as the standard for key lime pie recipes today.
When selecting your crust, you have several choices. You can purchase a ready-made crust (why not?!) or create your own.
If you decide to prepare your own pie crust for your key lime pie, here are two simple, effective recipes. Simple Graham Cracker Crust – Quick Shortbread Base
Remember that regardless of the pie crust you opt for, it’s important to pre-bake it instead of adding the key lime pie filling to the unbaked crust. You could just pour it in and hope for the best if you're making a graham cracker crust (that's what I do for pumpkin pie with a graham cracker base), but it's preferable to have a solid crust before adding the filling.
If you prefer not to pre-bake your graham cracker crust, you can simply cool it in the refrigerator prior to adding the pie filling. This will prevent it from falling apart while it rests on the counter as you prepare the filling, but I believe a brief par bake is preferable.
Ways to create an excellent graham cracker crust.
To be a bit less ordinary and add some flair, make minor adjustments to the graham cracker crust recipe. Take out 1 teaspoon of butter from the graham cracker crust recipe and INCLUDE 1 teaspoon of molasses. It's incredible, and the texture of the crust is outstanding. You experience a touch of caramel flavor that adds a pleasing chewiness.
An alternative that enhances the graham cracker crust is to substitute 1/4 cup of the finely ground graham cracker crumbs with finely ground toasted coconut flakes. Make certain to process them in a mill or food processor prior to adding, or else the dried coconut flakes will affect your texture and may be unappealing.
Recipe for Key Lime Pie Filling
Keep these ingredients unchanged. While reading food blogs, I often find the comments amusing as individuals critique a recipe for failing while listing all the alterations they made. Significant facepalm. Stick to these ingredients/quantities and you'll be good to go.
- 4 medium egg yolks (do not reduce to 3 even if you opt for X-Large eggs)
- 1 can of sweetened condensed milk (14 oz size)
- 1/2 cup of key lime juice (opt for Nellie & Joe’s Key Lime Juice if you prefer not to juice limes)
To achieve a creamy and smooth filling (remember that consistency is key?), blend with a mixer on medium speed. This is not a “bending” recipe:
- Combine the egg yolks with the sweetened condensed milk.
- Gently add the lime juice.
- Blend thoroughly and continue mixing until you are set to pour into the pie crust.
- If you’ve baked your pie crust in advance, whether it’s a standard crust, graham cracker, or shortbread, ensure it has cooled before adding the freshly prepared key lime pie filling.
Tips for Making Key Lime Pie Filling Even More Delicious
These are the sole suggestions I would make for your key lime pie filling in addition to the basic recipe. If you go too far with the customization, you might alter the texture or taste, and then you'll be one of those bakers who visits a recipe blog and gripes that the recipe didn't work out as expected, followed by detailing all the ways you ignored the guidelines… leading everyone to collectively face-palm.
The initial option is to incorporate a little lime zest. Limit your key lime pie filling to a maximum of 1 teaspoon of lime zest. Going beyond that will alter both the taste and texture excessively. It might also have a slightly bitter flavor.
The alternative is to incorporate as much as 2 teaspoons of finely ground toasted coconut. Opt for minimalism over excess. Incorporating a small quantity of toasted coconut will provide a subtle hint of coconut flavor, but excessive amounts may result in a slightly odd or metallic taste in the pie filling. A minimal amount of coconut extract is also effective and will not affect the texture.
Keep in mind, this simple key lime pie recipe is truly delicious without altering the main ingredients. If you wish to include the extra details, do so sparingly.
Simple Key Lime Pie Toppings
As I mentioned earlier, I've encountered key lime pies topped with various ingredients, and some just don't seem appropriate. The simplest and finest topping for key lime pie is classic whipped cream. You can combine it by hand or using a stand mixer. Ensure that the cream and bowl are extremely cold and whip it until it reaches a pleasing firmness. DO NOT WHIP TOO MUCH (this leads to butter)!
If you're short on time or not feeling it, you can use a product like Reddi-whip or whipped cream from a spray can to finish your pie. There's no embarrassment in creating something from the ground up and then completing it with a reliable, off-the-shelf item.
To decorate your fresh key lime pie and enhance its appearance, there are many options available. Here are my favorite selections:
- complained graham biscuits
- small slice of lime (key limes turn yellow when fully ripe)
- sauce of raspberry on the plate
- toasted coconut shreds
No matter the garnishes you select, keep in mind to use them sparingly. This simple and tasty key lime pie recipe is great by itself. There’s no requirement to showcase your creativity to impress others. Allow the pie to showcase its appeal.
Substitute: Simple Meringue Garnish
The key lime pie I adore most in the Florida Keys is finished with Italian meringue. It’s located at Skipper’s Dockside in Key Largo, adjacent to the Holiday Inn Key Largo. Once I enjoyed that piece of pie, I realized I needed to master meringue, and I have since succeeded in making it several times. Now I have the chance to share it with you! (you're welcome)
This meringue is a simple one; I don't believe it's Italian, French, or anything else… It's a meringue from Florida. The secret to achieving this effectively is to avoid distractions. Creating a meringue topping for a key lime pie is simple, but it's important to adhere to the instructions closely.
- 4 medium egg whites at room temperature (unused yolks set aside for the filling)
- 1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar
- a robust dash of salt
- 6 tablespoons of sugar (powdered sugar if available)
- 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla essence
If you search online for meringue recipes, you'll come across many elaborate methods that involve heated sugar and numerous steps. This method is NOT that, yet is equally tasty.
Combine the egg whites and salt using a mixer at low speed until they become frothy and bubbly.
increase the speed to medium and incorporate the cream of tartar
Once the bubbles are small in the center and large at the edges, gradually incorporate the sugar until it is fully blended.
Continue to blend on medium and incorporate the vanilla extract.
Once stiff peaks have developed and appear glossy, stop the mixer.
Spoon the fresh meringue onto the surface of the key lime pie.
A few key tips about preparing a meringue topping that I discovered through experience. If you mix the meringue too much, it will collapse and resemble unpleasant shortening, resulting in improper baking. Dispose of that. The next point is that you should avoid pouring the meringue onto your pie because 1.) you could accidentally drop the bowl into the pie and 2.) if you ladle the topping onto the pie, it will maintain its shape better during baking.
After topping the key lime pie with meringue, place it in the oven! Without the topping, your pie would bake for roughly 15 minutes. You’ll need to bake the meringue topping for approximately 17 minutes.
KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR PIE!! If the meringue is becoming golden brown, that’s a positive sign. The pie and meringue are ready when the peaks and ridges of the meringue appear darker than the remainder of the meringue. The entire topping should achieve a minimum of golden brown and a maximum of dark brown ridges (not black!).
As mentioned earlier, allow the pie to cool completely before serving. When you've baked it with the meringue topping, make sure to slice the cooled pie with an INCREDIBLY SHARP knife for clean meringue cuts.
Tip: a fantastic topping or garnish if you’re skipping meringue is a drizzle of warm honey. It’s sugary with a touch of zest and pairs well with key lime pie. Here’s a simple recipe for spicy honey that you can prepare at home!
Are you thrilled to prepare this delectable, tempting, truly-Florida-Keys key lime pie?! Absolutely, you are! Here’s a brief list of the ingredients required to create this incredibly simple dessert.
Shopping list per cake (double for two cakes):
- Juice of Key Limes – 1/2 cup
- Condensed milk with sugar – 1 can
- Egg yolks – 4 medium or 3 X-Large, separated eggs will be entirely utilized if preparing meringue.
- crust – graham cracker, shortbread or regular – pre-made is acceptable
Shopping List for Meringue by Cake:
- Egg whites – 4 medium or 3 extra-large
- Cream of Tartar
- Sodium chloride
- Vanilla essence
Additions to modify the ideal key lime pie recipe:
- graham cracker crumbs
- roasted coconut shavings
- black treacle
- fresh lime for decoration
- lime key for zest
I hope you have fun preparing the simplest, most delightful key lime pie ever. I've loved exploring key lime pie and refining my recipe. I’d be happy to hear from you if you try this… but only if you TRULY FOLLOW the recipe instead of altering everything and then criticizing. 😉 Drop us a note or leave a comment with your thoughts or questions. Thank you!
Key Lime Pie Ingredients
- 1 (9 inch) arranged graham saltine outside
- 2 (8 ounce) bundles cream cheddar, relaxed
- 2 (14 ounce) jars low-fat improved dense milk
- ¾ cup key lime juice
- 1 teaspoon ground lime zing
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup weighty cream, chilled
- 1 teaspoon vanilla concentrate
- 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
Key Lime Pie Directions
Stage 1
To Make Lime Filling: In an enormous blending bowl, whip cream cheddar until cushioned. Add dense milk, lime juice, lime skin, and salt. Whip until blend is smooth. Fill graham wafer hull. Cover with cling wrap and chill completely.Spaghetti-squash-lasagna-with-broccolini.
Stage 2
To Make Topping: In a medium bowl, whip cream until delicate pinnacles structure. Add vanilla or lemon concentrate and confectioners' sugar. Keep on whipping until cream frames solid pinnacles. Place beating in a fine-network strainer and spot sifter over a bowl to get fluid that channels off. Cover besting firmly with saran wrap and permit to deplete for 2 hours.Rigatoni-with-roasted-cauliflower-and.
Stage 3
Prior to serving, dispose of fluid that has depleted from garnish. Spread fixing over pie. Cool. Partake in the Florida Key Lime Pie plans !!!
Florida Key Lime Pie Video :
