In the case of the perfect key lime pie recipes, I’ve fond recollections of 1 specifically—and, in fact, it dates again to center faculty. The Olive Backyard was residence to my youthful self’s peak-pie indulgences. Positive dinner was high quality, however what I couldn’t await was dessert: a slice of black tie mousse cake and certainly one of key lime pie. Piled excessive with whipped cream, the latter was a real pièce de résistance. Whereas I couldn’t inform you what really went into the dreamy-delicious pies of my youth, there’s one factor I do know for certain: my discerning dessert palette has solely developed over time.
What makes an excellent key lime pie?
Within the summertime, my dessert cravings lean vibrant, zingy, and stuffed with zest. Sweets which are refreshing on the finish of a meal however nonetheless fulfill the necessity for slightly deal with. The very best key lime pie recipe checks all of the containers of a stellar summer time dessert. It’s one which celebrates the season and can hold everybody lingering across the desk a short while longer. To verify as soon as and for all what constitutes the perfect key lime pie, I used to be greater than slightly excited to place a number of recipes to the bake-off check.
Style-Testing Parameters
My staff of seven style testers all aligned on the next pointers when rating every of the pies.
- Filling Taste. Shiny and zesty with out being too acidic or candy. Lime needs to be ahead however not overwhelming.
- Filling Texture. Creamy and easy, not too dense however agency sufficient to carry its form.
- Crust Texture. Ought to add a pleasant crunch with out detracting from the pie.
What You Must Make Key Lime Pie
Most key lime pie recipes solely name for a handful of elements.
Key limes (juice and zest). Provided that it’s within the recipe’s title, that is your most vital ingredient. And no—if you’re making the traditional summertime pie, you possibly can’t shortcut it with key lime juice. For the perfect taste, choose limes which are plump and provides slightly when squeezed. (This makes them simpler to juice.) Don’t neglect: at all times zest your limes earlier than squeezing.
Sweetened condensed milk. That is canned milk from which water has been eliminated and sugar has been added (to not be confused with evaporated milk). It’s what provides your pie a candy, creamy taste and texture with out the additional moisture you’d get from common milk or cream.
Egg yolks. Some recipes have them, others don’t. Within the ones that do, not solely do they assist the pie set, however the yolks lend a pleasant richness to every chew.
Graham cracker crumbs. For many individuals, that is their favourite a part of the pie. A standard graham cracker crust yields a buttery layer beneath the cool, creamy filling.
Heavy cream. This will probably be on your whipped cream topping. And whereas non-compulsory, I like the fluffy white cloud that evenly sits atop every slice. Whipped up with some powdered sugar and vanilla extract, the flavour is easy however chic.
Ingredient Substitutions
A mixture of recent lemon and lime juice. For those who don’t have key limes available, you possibly can mimic their tart, floral taste by choosing a 1:1 mix of lemon and lime juice. Freshly squeezed, in fact.
Coconut milk. In a saucepan, whisk collectively a can of full-fat coconut milk with 1/4 cup of sugar. Convey to only beneath a boil and simmer for half-hour till thickened. The ensuing taste will lean slightly tropical—good for the vibe of your key lime pie. It’s an ideal dairy-free various to sweetened condensed milk.
Crisp cookies. For those who’re not a graham cracker fanatic or just ran out, you possibly can swap in almost every other crisp cookie for the same texture in your crust. Assume: speculoos or ginger snaps, animal crackers, and even vanilla wafers. All will change up the flavour barely, however add their very own distinctive variation.
After I first tried this recipe, I had to return and double-check that I hadn’t missed one thing, which often isn’t an ideal begin.
Professionals:
- Simple to arrange. The pie is nearly totally no-bake apart from the graham cracker crust, which is baked then crammed and frozen.
Cons:
- Uncooked eggs yolks. As a result of this pie is frozen, the uncooked egg yolks stay uncooked. Some traditionalists be aware that key lime pies may be made with an raw filling, however we discovered that the flavour leaned eggy consequently.
- Texture. The recipe says to set the pie out forward of slicing so you possibly can slice by way of. Nonetheless, the pie was virtually melted inside half-hour.
The takeaway: Total, I just like the novelty of a frozen pie, however we had a number of structural qualms with this one. For those who strive it, eat it straight out of the freezer to make sure a stable pie.
Our notes on this pie have been fairly constructive and everybody loved their slices. There have been, nonetheless, a number of technicalities that felt pointless moderately than really additive to the pie’s general high quality.
Professionals:
- Good taste. The flavors have been very well-balanced with out being too candy, and the acidity of the lime reduce by way of the indulgent creaminess superbly.
- Environment friendly use of elements. As a result of the filling solely requires yolks, you employ the leftover egg whites within the meringue topping.
Cons:
- Meringue topping. There was some debate about whether or not the meringue topping was crucial. Whereas the salted vanilla meringue was tasty, most style testers most popular a whipped cream topping to the meringue.
- Too many pointless steps. As the one who assembled each single recipe, I assumed it was a variety of additional effort and dishes to make meringue when whipped cream would have been completely high quality.
The takeaway: In the long run, this pie recipe was good, however among the different recipes edged it out on technicalities.
To be clear: this can be a actually good key lime pie recipe. Nonetheless, the shortage of lime zest yields a taste that’s much less of the normal tangy punch. And whereas nonetheless scrumptious, we’re after one thing that distinctly screams key lime pie.
Professionals:
- Vanilla extract. Whereas many different recipes additionally embody vanilla extract, right here, it added a stunning floral chew to the filling.
Cons:
- No lime zest. We have been skeptical at first once we realized this recipe solely known as for lime juice. It may use slightly extra of the traditional key lime taste the zest delivers.
- Barely too candy. Once more, barely. If in case you have a candy tooth, you’ll find it irresistible. However for those who like your desserts to have a savory edge, you’ll need to skip this one.
The takeaway: If you wish to punch up the limey-ness, combine zest into the filling. The feel was extremely easy and general, this made for a reasonably good pie.
This key lime pie had all of the makings of a traditional and earned very excessive marks. The recipe combines Miette’s selfmade graham crackers with Martha Stewart’s Key Lime Pie Filling combined collectively in a single pie pan.
Sure it’s additional effort, so you’ve got my permission to make use of store-bought crackers. When it got here to the ultimate judging, we beloved the filling’s zingy, lime-filled taste. And with this pie’s creamy texture, we have been all quick followers.
Professionals:
- Do-it-yourself graham crackers. I’ll admit, this was my first thought: Do we actually must make selfmade graham crackers when it’s really easy (and handy!) to purchase a field? Nonetheless, the selfmade crackers give the crust a noticeable textural distinction. It’s crisp whereas retaining an unbelievable butteriness that pairs so properly with the creamy filling.
- Taste. This pie’s filling is zingy and crammed with lime-forward taste.
- Texture. Creamy doesn’t start to explain the proper, luscious chew.
Cons:
- Time-intensive. As a result of this recipe requires a number of further steps (hiya, selfmade graham crackers), this isn’t a venture to be taken on if you’re in a time crunch.
The takeaway: This pie is scrumptious and thrilling, profiting from a singular method that, whereas requiring additional time, is completely definitely worth the effort.
Drumroll please… this may be among the best key lime pies I’ve ever had. However I’ll admit: I used to be skeptical at first due to the coconut milk added to the filling. I knew the flavour would work properly, however I didn’t know if it will be too overpowering when paired with the limes.
Professionals:
- Coconut milk instead of the sweetened condensed milk. Once more, I used to be skeptical. Nonetheless, the coconut milk acted as a pleasant candy base that helped mood the lime and saved it from being too acidic.
- Nicely-balanced taste. The lime taste was upfront with out being overwhelming, and the one factor I seen after baking each single pie was that Adriana’s recipe is the one one which requires salt within the filling. That makes a distinction when it comes to bringing out the flavors.
- Texture. Absolute perfection, with a thick creaminess that’s arduous (re: unimaginable) to go up.
The takeaway: With zero cons to quote, that is the undisputed greatest key lime pie recipe. In reality, it’s the one one that each one of my style testers ate in its entirety. Run, don’t stroll to make this pie.
