This Baked Key Lime Pie Recipe contains not only sweetened condensed milk and key limes, but also egg yolks and whipped egg whites.
This means two things. First, It must be baked. Second, the pie will be lighter in texture. Allow time for the pie to chill.
My sister Kay was just here from Alabama for a brief visit. She’s a good southern cook, so I’m always keen for her recipes. This time I coerced her into making her Key Lime Pie while I took pictures.
WHAT IS THE CORRECT WAY TO USE A CITRUS SQUEEZER?
Kay: “I’m not sure how would be the best way to juice these key limes.”
Me: “I’ve got one of those metal squeezy things…. or a reamer… or even a glass dish with a built-in reamer. Here, let’s try this metal lemon juicer.” (I pull it out of the drawer and proceed to try it.)
Me: “See? It works perfectly.”
Kay: “I see that, even though you’re doing it upside-down.”
Me: “What?!?! That’s not upside down. What do you mean? So how would you do it?”
Kay: “The other way, with the lime-half flipped over.”
Me: “Hm-m-m. I don’t know about that, but I have an idea. Why don’t we ask my readers?”
DOES THE LIME (OR LEMON) GO UP OR DOWN?
The cut side goes down.
The verdict is in…
Looks like I was wrong on this one. Although a few people agreed with me, many more went with my sister. (Her way is shown on the left in the picture above–cut side down.)
I am generally an early-adopter. But on this one, it looks like I’m a little late learning how to squeeze a lime with a citrus squeezer. Thanks for straightening me out, Sis.
FAQ
When properly baked through, the pie will have a slight jiggle–like Jello. Remember that the pie will continue to bake for a few minutes after you remove it from the oven. If you over bake it, the texture will be spoiled with a curdled effect.
Yes. It takes 4-5 key limes for every regular or Persian lime.
“Key limes, also known as Mexican or West Indian limes, are more aromatic, with tarter and more floral juice. They are slightly yellow in color and contain more seeds.”
—TastingTable
When refrigerated, key lime pie will last 2-3 days.
Yes. According to Leaf.TV, “You can freeze limes whole, wedged or sliced, or you can just freeze the juice. You can even freeze the lime zest.”
Perhaps. I’ve never tried it. A graham cracker crust is the traditional way to serve key lime pie. I can’t imagine it any other way.
Credits for Baked Key Lime Pie:
Thanks to my sister Kay for sharing this recipe. The graham cracker crust comes from Helen Corbitt’s Cookbook.
MORE RECIPES FOR PIE LOVERS
Mini Fruit Tarts with Vanilla Pastry Cream
These shortbread-crusted tarts are filled with a light, creamy custard and topped with fresh fruit of your choice.
Aunt Marg's French Silk Chocolate Pie
Silky smooth chocolate pie with a crumbly pecan crust and topped with chopped chocolate covered toffee candy bars.
Grandma's Magic Layered Custard Pumpkin Pie
A non-traditional pumpkin pie flavored with only 2-3 tablespoons pumpkin pureé. As the pie bakes, it will magically turn into 3 distinct custard-like layers.
Did you try this recipe and enjoy it? Consider helping other readers (and me) by returning to this post. Leave a rating on the recipe card itself underneath the picture. Although always appreciated, comments aren’t required.
If you have a question or tip to share, please leave it in the regular comments after the recipe so I can answer back. Or, email me privately: paula at saladinajar.com.
Thank you for visiting!
Paula
Baked Key Lime Pie Recipe
A baked dessert made with sweetened condensed milk and key limes.
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs (about 20 squares)
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 4 eggs, separated
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/3 cup fresh-squeezed key lime juice
- 9-inch graham cracker pie crust (purchased or homemade)
- 1 cup heavy cream, whipped with 1/3 cup powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Crust:
- Crush crackers using food processor or blender. Add sugar and melted butter. Pulse until mixed.
- Press into 9-inch pie shell.
- Bake at 300 degrees for 8 minutes.
Filling:
- Beat 3 egg whites in a small bowl until stiff. Set aside.
- You can use the same beaters to beat 4 egg yolks and 1 egg white in a separate medium-sized bowl until thick and light-colored.
- Add milk to egg yolks and mix well. Add juice and continue to beat until thick.
- Add beaten egg whites to egg-yolk mixture and mix gently just until evenly distributed. Don't over mix. Stop when there are no more obvious lumps of egg whites. Carefully pour into baked pie shell.
- Bake at 325 degrees for 10-15 minutes.
- When cooled, refrigerate for 2-3 hours.
- Garnish with whipped cream when serving.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 485Total Fat: 32gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 159mgSodium: 321mgCarbohydrates: 43gFiber: 1gSugar: 23gProtein: 7g
Suemillerbuckley
Tuesday 28th of January 2014
This Recipe is awesome!! This is same original recipe for key lime pie found on the the Carnation Sweetened Condensed milk can for over 40 years!! Will not find a better key lime pie recipe!!! :)
Pennie
Tuesday 15th of January 2013
Can't wait to try the recipe but was surprised to see that I've been using my citrus press incorrectly. The cut side should be facing down so the juice goes out the holes and doesn't squirt upwards. Plus, it turns the peel inside out, extracting every bit of juice. Youtube doesn't lie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAlelDEfkUw
Henrietta Lala (Granny Lala)
Thursday 29th of March 2012
I adore cooking, but detest cleaning up, so the less mess I make the better. I clean as I cook so that by the time it's in the oven or on the stove the kitchen looks like I just started. If I don't do it that way, I get depressed. That's why I try to get cooking in as early in the day as possible. By 6PM, I'm ready to call it quits, so everything gets set up and cleaned up before then. I specialize in methods and recipes that require very little kitchen disruption.
Henrietta Lala (Granny Lala)
Thursday 29th of March 2012
I vote for cut-side down because if you do it the other way it blocks the holes which are there for a reason-to let the juice drain out. Sometimes, depending on the size of the fruit, I will do it one way, flip it and do it again the other way just to get more juice. I even quarter grapefruit and squeeze it rather than drag out my electric juicer which would make me have an entire machine to wash.
Paula
Thursday 29th of March 2012
Henrietta, Grapefruit??? Why haven't I thought of quartering them like that? You are a genius. Can't wait to try it. pr
Elle
Saturday 17th of March 2012
As for the lime, I've always done it with the face up like on the right but on food network I've always seen them place them face down like on the left.