Description
Ina Garten’s key lime pie combines tangy citrus with creamy sweetness in a classic dessert. Crisp graham cracker crust and silky filling make this tropical treat irresistible for you to savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 (396 grams/14 oz) sweetened condensed milk cans
- 1 cup (240 ml) plain Greek yogurt (2% or whole milk)
- 1 cup (240 ml) cold heavy cream
- 1 ½ cups finely crushed graham cracker crumbs
- ⅓ cup (67 g) packed light brown sugar
- 4 tbsps unsalted butter, melted
- 3 tbsps lime zest (1 tbsp + 2 tsp)
- ¾ cup (180 ml) fresh lime juice
- 2 tbsps confectioners’ sugar
- 8 to 10 thin lime slices
Instructions
- Crust Preparation: Mix graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, and melted butter until uniformly combined, then press firmly into a 9-inch deep-dish pie pan, ensuring even coverage on bottom and sides.
- Initial Baking: Roast the crust at 375°F (190°C) for 10 minutes until light golden, then cool completely on a wire rack while reducing oven temperature to 350°F (175°C).
- Filling Creation: Whisk sweetened condensed milk, yogurt, lime zest, and lime juice until achieving a thick, smooth consistency.
- Pie Assembly: Pour lime filling into the cooled crust, distributing evenly, and bake for 15 minutes until filling is nearly set with a subtle center wobble.
- Cooling Process: Allow pie to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes, then refrigerate for 3 hours to completely set.
- Topping Application: Whip heavy cream until soft peaks form, gradually incorporating confectioners’ sugar to create medium-firm peaks.
- Final Presentation: Spread whipped cream across chilled pie surface, garnish with additional lime zest and delicate lime slices, and keep refrigerated until serving.
Notes
- Crumb Crust Technique: Press graham cracker mixture firmly and evenly using fingertips or glass bottom to create a compact, sturdy base that won’t crumble when slicing.
- Lime Juice Freshness: Use freshly squeezed lime juice and zest for maximum flavor intensity, avoiding bottled alternatives that can taste flat and less vibrant.
- Filling Consistency Check: Watch for a slight wobble in the center when baking, indicating perfect doneness without overcooking, which prevents a rubbery texture.
- Chilling Importance: Refrigerate pie for minimum 3 hours to allow complete setting, ensuring clean slices and optimal flavor melding between crust and filling.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 32 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg