Decadent Key Lime Pie

I live for pie! Hands down, without a doubt, my favorite dessert is pie. I recently did a poll on Instagram and was shocked that pie wasn’t everyone’s #1 choice lol. Honestly, I just assumed because of its deliciousness everyone loved it. I thought to myself, maybe they haven’t tried the right one. There’s no shortage of flavors you can bake up. So now I challenge you, even if pies aren’t your top pick, to bake up this simple decadent Key Lime pie.

I could eat raspberry pie all day! But Key Lime pie comes in a close second. It’s so fresh, but rich and decadent all simultaneously. And don’t get me started on the graham cracker crust! To die for! My younger son asks for only the crust to eat. If you’ve never made a Key Lime pie before, you might take a look at one and think to yourself that it’s a lot of work. But let me tell you, this is one of the easiest desserts you can whip up.

I guarantee you will be the hit of every summer BBQ with this beauty! I always keep all the ingredients ready to make this pie and often throw one together quickly when we have guests over. It’s one of everyone’s favorites.

The Crust.

I’m not a fan of graham crackers as is. I’ll eat them when we make smores, but don’t love them. Buuut, when you crush them up, throw in a little extra sugar, add some butter in the mix, and bake it! That’s another story! I also love them in these coconut holiday bars my grandmother used to make.

I always have whole graham crackers and crumbs on hand. By all means, if you don’t have crumbs, you can throw the cookies into the blender till they become a sand texture. On the other hand, having crumbs ready to go, makes the process even easier.

The Filling Ingredients.

Are you ready for my secret ingredient? Sour cream! It may sound like an odd add-in, but it gives the pie this extra layer of creaminess that is to die for! I recently made this recipe, and with all the hustle and bustle, forgot to add it. My daughter immediately noticed the pie was off lol. So is it necessary? Yes, yes it is. And I’m not talking about that low-fat sour cream, I’m talking full 14% fat sour cream. When baking, I’m a firm believer that you don’t skimp on the good stuff.

The best place to purchase condensed milk is by far Costco. For almost the same price as 1 at the grocery store, you get 3. This thick, sugary milk is a staple ingredient in lots of baked goods. The reason for its thickness is the water that has been removed. Do not try and substitute evaporated milk for this recipe.

Using fresh limes will ensure you get that tart, fresh citrus taste. Make sure you zest your limes before juicing them.

The Pie Assembly.

This decadent Key Lime pie does need to be refrigerated a few hours before being served. So ensure you plan ahead of time.

The first step will be the crust. Preheat your oven to 350*F. I like to pop my butter into the oven as it’s heating to melt. In a bowl, you will mix your graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter. Once properly combined, you will then press the mixture into the bottom and sides of a pie dish. I use the back of a measuring cup.

The next step is to bake the crust for 10 minutes. As the base is baking, you can prepare the rest of your ingredients. In one bowl, mix the sour cream, condensed milk, egg yolks, and salt. In a separate bowl, mix the lime zest and lime juice.

Once your crust is baked, you can then mix the lime juice and zest into the condensed milk mixture. Whisk well and pour into the prepared pie crust. Pop back into the oven for 15 min. Let the pie cool approximately 15 min before refrigerating.

To finish off the pie, right before serving, pipe some whip cream rosettes and some thin lime wedges for garnish.

There you have it! My super quick and easy decadent Key Lime pie recipe. May you be the hit of the party with this delicious summer dessert. Thank you for stopping by today for some baked goodies!

Elisa

If you love pie as much as I do, make sure to check out these fruit tarts.