Key Lime Pie

prep time:: 20 min
total time:: 2 hr 30 minutes

Serves 6-8

This is one of those summer afternoon favorites – it’s cool and refreshing. The secret to a good Key Lime Pie is to using fresh lime juice not bottled. Also, don’t try to find real Key Limes, use the commercial Persian Limes in the grocery store instead they’re cheaper and easier to find and taste pretty good too.

ingredients

Filling:

1/2 C fresh lime juice from about 3-4 limes
4 tsp grated lime zest
4 egg yolks
1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
If you wanted to make the dessert even fancier, you could add a meringue topping using the discarded egg whites from the above.
4 egg whites
1/2 C powdered sugar
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
Beat egg whites till foamy and soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar and cream of tartar, beating until stiff and glossy. Spread meringue on to top of above cooked and cooled key lime pie and then bake again for about 10 minutes in a 325F oven or until tops of meringue just starts to get lightly brown.

Crust:

11 graham crackers
3 tbsp sugar
5 tbsp butter

directions

1
Make crust:
2
Crush graham cracker crumbs until uniform in size. This is easily done in a food processor, or placing crackers in a paper bag and pounding with a kitchen mallet. Mix graham cracker crumbs and sugar together in a bowl. Melt butter and pour butter into bowl with graham cracker crumbs and mix well. Remove mixture and place into a lightly greased 8" pie pan. Using your fingers, firmly press graham cracker mixture evenly around and up sides of pie pan. Bake graham cracker pie crust in a 325F oven for about 15 minutes. Crust should be lightly brown. Let cool to room temperature.
3
Make filling:
4
Beat egg yolks and lime zest together in a bowl until tinted light green for about two minutes. Next, beat in milk, then juice and set aside at room temperature till it thickens, about 30 minutes. Pour filling into graham cracker pie crust and spread evenly. Bake for about 15 minutes in a 325F oven or until center of pie filling sets. Remove, let cool and then refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours or better yet overnight until well chilled.
5
You can add a whipped topping to pie just before serving, or just serve it as it is. Try serving it with some sliced strawberries, the lime and strawberries go well together.