Todd’s been a little fixated on Key lime pie. He kept looking for it on menus at Disney World, and lately he’s been talking about going to Key West just to eat pie. Sounds fun, but expensive. We have to save for Fuzz's college, so rather than book a flight to The Keys, I tried a new recipe.
It Should Not Be Green
If you want to start an argument, put a bunch of people together and serve Key Lime Pie. Even though its exact origin is unknown (though historians trace it back to Bahamian settlers), people claim it's only "authentic" if X,Y or Z. Everyone has an opinion. However, no one ever argues about the color, which we all know should not be green. Limes are green and green is pretty, but true Key lime pie is more of a yellow.
Condensed Milk and Nellie & Joe's
Another thing we can agree on is that condensed milk is authentic. It was used in early versions, because before the 1930s, it was difficult to get fresh milk to The Keys. So you can be authentic and enjoy the convenience of condensed milk! And then there's the lime juice. To really call it Key Lime Pie you should make it with Key lime juice, not Persian lime juice. It can be fresh or bottled. My personal favorite is Nellie & Joe's, which is at most USA grocery stores. Fresh Key lime juice is good too, but a real pain and not necessarily worth it unless you have access to some amazing fresh Key limes.
Meringue or Whipped Cream?
So now that the filling is out of the way, how about the topping? Some say Key Lime Pie *must* be topped with meringue, while others believe it's best with whipped cream. The level of tartness is also subjective. In my family, the more mouth puckering, eye squinting tartness the better, but pastry chefs have to feed the masses, so restaurant pie rarely hits the tartness. Update: I think this is changing. I've had some really tart Key Lime Pie at restaurants!
Curbing the Sweetness
Sometimes Key Lime Pie is too sweet. I realize that is subjective and it's just my opinion, but I've had some sickeningly sweet and a little too chalky tasting KLP. This might be why there have been so many additions to recipes - -cream, sour cream, even melted ice cream to tame that chalky sweetness. Which brings me to this recipe, which curbs the sweetness with egg whites.It's not quite as smooth as some other key lime pies, but the beaten egg white that’s folded into the filling curbs the sweetness and helps tame the chalkiness of the condensed milk, which is a huge benefit.
Tart and Sour
It's not especially tart (though you could add a pinch of citric acid and fix that!), and it has a very thick and crumbly crust. In fact, the original crust called for only 5 tablespoons of butter. I used 6 to help bind it better and to reduce the sweetness. But overall, it's a grade-A pie. Let me know what you think!
Oh, and here's one last "tip". Sorry about the pun, but I used a large tip from this Ateco set. The extra large tips are great for making a quick rim of stars or flowers around pies or icing cupcakes.
More KLP!
Recipe
Key Lime Pie
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs use 12 graham rectangles
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
Filling:
- 4 large eggs you’ll be using 4 yolks and 2 whites
- 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- ½ cup fresh or bottled Key lime juice Nellie & Jack’s
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and have ready a 9 inch pie dish.
- Process the graham crackers to make 1 ½ cup crumbs. In a food processor (or bowl) mix graham crackers, sugar, cinnamon and butter. Press mixture into and up the sides of the 9 inch pie dish.
- Bake on center rack at 350 for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for about 30 minutes.
- Make the filling. Separate the eggs so that you have 4 yolks and 4 whites , but put aside 2 of the whites because you’ll only be using 2.
- Beat the 2 whites until stiff peaks form.
- Pour the condensed milk into a mixing bowl. Whisk in the egg yolks, then gradually whisk in the Key lime juice. Fold in the 2 beaten egg whites. Empty the mixture into the graham cracker crust.
- Set pie on a baking sheet and bake on center rack for 20 minutes. Let cool at room temperature for about an hour, then chill for 4 hours or until very cold.
- Before serving, cover with sweetened whipped cream or pipe it around the edges
Notes
2 tablespoons sugar
½ teaspoons cinnamon
5 tablespoons butter, melted
Sue says
I made this on a whim and it turned out great! I would definitely make it again. Everyone enjoyed it!
Anna says
Gloria, I know what you mean. We usually splurge and order Key lime pie and something else in case the KLP isn't any good. Thanks for the Mucky Duck recommendation.
Gloria says
Your pie looks delicious!!! My mouth is watering! I am scared to try key lime pies from restaurants because I don't want to waste calories on a bad one. And I've had bad Key lime pies. I'm in Florida once or twice a year. My favorite is the frozen Key lime pie from The Mucky Duck restaurant on Captiva Island. I also had a great pie at Grandma Dots on Sanibel.
Shelly says
I have been known to smuggle bags of key limes in my suitcase back to our various overseas postings. I always wonder if the customs officials think I'm trying to ward off scurvy or something. They've never been confiscated thankfully! I have little zip top bags of zest and juice in my freezer in case a pie craving hits!
Jenn says
best Key Lime pie (well, tart, according to the menu) I have had on Disney property (or maybe anywhere) was at Olivia's at Old Key West Resort. Worth trying. =)
I've heard the one at Sunshine Seasons in Epcot isn't bad, either.
But since I'm nowhere near Disney, and now craving Key Lime Pie, I think I'm going to bookmark your recipe, and stop for a bottle of Nellie & Joe's on my way home.
Martha in KS says
This would be a good chance to try separating an egg using a water bottle. Have you seen the video? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcEx3h02epQ
Sue says
Here is a run down of some other key lime pies in Florida which includes photos! Including the pie at Versailles!
http://www.giovannastrifles.com/2011/04/key-lime-pie.html
Sue says
The best key lime pie I ever had was at Versailles, a Cuban restaurant in Little Havana. If you and Todd head to Key West you might take a detour there on your way. I also remember that the red snapper was outstanding!
Katrina says
Key lime is well liked around here. My chef friend mentioned in a class once that Nellie and Joe's is really good and a great alternative to fresh key limes. Nice to know that even chefs think so. I have a bottle of it in the fridge. Need to use it up. Might be time for a key lime pie.
Emily says
I want this. I have a feeling this key lime pie is better than one you'd get in Key West.
I like whipped cream on key lime pie, but I wouldn't turn one away with meringue.
Holiday Baker Man says
I have been thinking I needed to make this sometime soon...now I have a great recipe.
Anna says
Cindy, if you remember the name of it, let me know! A friend of mine just got married in Key West, so I'll ask her too. Not that I'm going anytime soon :(.
CindyD says
We are not big restaurant dessert eaters, but we took a trip to the Everglades and the Keys and tried Key Lime pie every chance we got! Best we had was at a restaurant in Everglades, FL (can't remember the name of it). So good we changed our route to go back there on our last day!