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Easy Key Lime Pie Recipe

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★★★★

4 from 41 reviews

This Easy Key Lime Pie recipe offers a tangy, creamy dessert with a buttery graham cracker crust, a zesty key lime filling, and an optional whipped topping garnish. Perfectly balanced between sweet and tart, this classic pie is simple to prepare and bakes quickly for a refreshing treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Crust

  • 1/3 cup butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs

Filling

  • 4 egg yolks
  • Zest from 6 key limes (approximately 2 teaspoons)
  • Juice from 6 key limes (about 1/2 cup; supplement with Nellie & Joe’s Famous Key West Lime Juice if needed)
  • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk

Garnish (optional)

  • Whipped topping
  • Lime slices
  • Additional lime zest

Instructions

  1. Prepare the crust: Combine the melted butter and sugar in a medium bowl, stirring until blended. Add the graham cracker crumbs and mix thoroughly until the crumbs are evenly coated.
  2. Form the crust: Press the crust mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Use the bottom of a measuring cup to compact the crumbs for a solid base.
  3. Chill or bake the crust: Either chill the crust in the refrigerator for 1 hour until firm or preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and bake the crust for 5 minutes. Allow it to cool before filling.
  4. Prepare the lime juice and zest: Zest the key limes until you have about 2 teaspoons of zest. Juice the key limes and pour the juice into a 1/2 cup measuring cup. If the fresh juice doesn’t fill it, top off with bottled key lime juice.
  5. Whisk egg yolks: Using a stand or electric mixer, whisk the egg yolks on medium speed until they are thick and pale yellow.
  6. Add sweetened condensed milk: Slowly add the sweetened condensed milk to the yolks while mixing on low speed to combine thoroughly.
  7. Add lime zest and juice: Gradually incorporate the key lime juice and zest, mixing on low speed until just blended.
  8. Fill and bake the pie: Pour the filling mixture into the prepared crust and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15 minutes.
  9. Cool and chill: Remove the pie from the oven and let it cool to room temperature. Then refrigerate until fully chilled and set, ideally for several hours or overnight.
  10. Serve: Garnish with whipped topping, lime slices, and extra lime zest if desired. Slice and enjoy this refreshing dessert.

Notes

  • You can chill the crust instead of baking it if you prefer a no-bake pie base.
  • If fresh key limes are unavailable, use bottled key lime juice to ensure the characteristic flavor.
  • Beat the egg yolks thoroughly to achieve a smooth and thick filling texture.
  • Refrigerate the pie well before serving to allow it to set properly.
  • Optional garnishes add a lovely presentation but do not alter the classic flavor.

Keywords: Key lime pie, dessert, easy pie recipe, graham cracker crust, lime filling

Find it online: https://epicrecipebox.com/easy-key-lime-pie-recipe/