When I was a teenager I travelled to the Florida keys with my family (here – one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen), I tried key lime pie made with real key limes for the first time. Sadly the tart zestyness of the fruit didn’t win through the piles of whipped cream on top. In America, more is more!
A couple of weeks ago, I was asked by the team behind Baking Mad to whip up a dessert to celebrate the start of the new daily cooking show Baking Mad on Ch4. I chose this Key Lime Pie because I’m SO excited about the weather warming up. All I can think about is zingy lemon blueberry cheesecakes, ripe strawberry victoria sponges and sparkling raspberry lemonade.
This simple key lime pie uses the juice and zest of four limes, and the bright fresh flavour really shines through. I couldn’t think of a more beautifully summery dessert.
Its pretty easy to make too! First preheat the oven to 160 degrees/gas mark 4/350 degrees F, and make the base –
- 350g digestive biscuits, crushed and bashed into crumbs
- 125g unsalted butter
First, grease your pie tin and then bash up your biscuits.
After an unsuccessful attempt at doing this in a bowl with my hands, I regained my common sense and put the biscuits into a large sandwich bag and bashed them with a rolling pin until they were crumb sized. Stir in the melted butter and then press the buttery crumbs into the bottom and edges of your dish.
Place into the oven and bake the base for 10-15 minutes until browned.
Now for the filling, you’ll need –
- 4 large eggs, separated
- 1 397g can condensed milk
- zest and juice of 4 limes
- 50g golden caster sugar
Crack the egg whites into a bowl, being careful not to get any yolks in with them. Beat the yolks in a second bowl until they’re light and fluffy, then add the condensed milk and lime zest and juice. In the second bowl, whisk the egg whites and caster sugar until firm and then fold into the lime mixture carefully.
Fill the pie dish with the limey creamy goodness and return to the oven for 20-25 minutes. I baked mine in the middle of the oven so it didn’t get too browned. When its done, it will be set and slightly browned. Leave to cool, then decorate with icing sugar, more limes, and whipped cream if you so desire!
Baking Mad is on weekdays on Channel 4 at 12.05pm – or you can catch up on 4OD! And you can check out baking tips and recipes at the Baking Mad online here.
x Kerry
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Oh my days, this looks EPIC! You are a baking queen! I saaay Great British Bake Off!!!!!
I got to eat some of this Key Lime Pie and I have to say it was lovely and much nicer than all the American ones I have tried which tend to be cloying and too sweet…..more limes people…yay! Thanks again Kerry for my loveley Mothers Day Roast, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
only one e in lovely sorry all you literarti 🙂
This is great Kerry. I love Key Lime Pie. Hard to get actually. Only great restaurants tend to serve them here in Noo Yawk.
The other pie that’s hard to come by is Banana Cream, another fave of mine.
You are an incredible baker and teacher.
I love lime! This looks SO yummy.
OMG! That looks amazing!
Thanks my dear! Incredibly easy to make! Would have saved you some if I knew you loved it…. as it is I ate the remaining pie for dinner last night!