Key Lime Pie can be used as the state pie. of Florida. The dessert captures the Florida Keys: sweet, and fresh. It has a basic formula that can be quickly made.
Before Refrigeration Was Common
Key Lime Pie is rooted in the 19th century, before fridges. These were the ingredients:
- Key Limes: A little, aromatic lime assortment that was acidic.
- Condensed Milk: Invented by Gail Borden.
- Eggs: Specifically egg yolks.
Key Lime Pie relies on not baking so that the acidity in Key lime makes the dessert firm.
What Makes a Classic Key Lime Pie
A classic Key Lime Pie is defined by basic ingredients:
| Ingredient | Key Characteristic | Ingredient |
|---|---|---|
| Crust | Crumbly, Sweet, Firm | Graham saltines, butter, and sugar. |
| Filling | Creamy, sour, yellow | Key lime, milk, and egg yolks. |
| Topping | Light and vaporous | Whipped milk. |
Important: Real Key Lime Pie filling is yellow, not green.
The recipe uses the traditional method, relying on the chemical reaction for everything:
The ingredients:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Graham saltines | 1 1/2 cups |
| Granulated sugar | 1/4 cup |
| Melted butter | 6 tablespoons |
Filling
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Condensed milk | 1/4 cup |
| Key lime | 1/2 cup |
| Egg yolks | 3 |
Topping
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Milk | 1 cup |
| Confectioners’ sugar | 2 tablespoons |
Steps:
- Make the base
Heat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a bowl, combine the graham saltines, sugar, and butter.
- Press the mixture into pie plate.
Bake for 8 minutes. Let cool
- Make the filling
Whisk everything together.
Pour it into the cooked crust. - Bake and chill
Make sure it is warm.
Let it cool.
- Topping
Add the topping to the pie
Enjoy!