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3.92 from 12 votes

Insanely Delicious Key Lime Pie

Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time1 hour 45 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Author: Emily Clifton - Nerds with Knives

Ingredients

  • For the crust:
  • 2 cups 170 grams finely ground graham cracker crumbs (from about 12-13 full cracker sheets)
  • 4 tablespoons 94 grams granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 8 tablespoons 113 grams unsalted butter, melted
  • For the filling:
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons finely grated lime zest
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 1 14- ounce 396-gram can sweetened condensed milk
  • 9 tablespoons 133 ml fresh lime juice (from about 1 dozen key limes or 4 large limes)
  • For the topping:
  • 3/4 cup 175 ml heavy cream, cold
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons powdered sugar to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Heat oven: To 350°F (176°C).
  • Make the crust: Combine cracker crumbs, sugar and salt in a medium bowl and stir until combined. Stir in the butter until it's evenly coated. Pour crumbs into a 9 inch pie dish and press them down into the bottom and up the sides. You can use the edge of a flat-bottomed measuring cup or drinking glass to make the corners neat or just use your fingers. Bake crust for about 10 minutes, until it's just lightly browned. Set aside on cooling rack while you make the filling. Leave oven on.
  • Make the filling: Zest limes using a fine grater or microplane. Once you have 1 1/2 tablespoons zest, put it in the bottom of a medium bowl (or the bowl for the stand mixer). Add the yolks and using a handheld mixer or stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the yolks and zest until they turn pale and thick, about 4-5 minutes. Add the sweetened condensed milk and beat again until thickened, about 3 minutes more. Add the lime juice and whisk into the mixture until combined. Pour into the cooled graham crust and bake pie for about 10 minutes, until just set but not browned at all. Let pie cool for about an hour on the countertop and then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before topping with the cream. (You can speed this process by putting the pie in the freezer for about 10 minutes or so). It should be fully cool at this stage.
  • Make the whipped cream: Add the cream to a bowl and, using a handheld mixer or stand mixer with the whisk attachment, beat until barely thickened. Add the sugar and vanilla and continue to beat until soft peaks form. Spread around the outer rim of the pie with a dollop in the middle or just mound over the top of the pie. Chill for another 2 to 3 hours so the cream can set (if you want neat slices. If not, dig in now).
  • Keeps in fridge for a week.
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