Valerie Aikman Smiths Key Lime Pie Recipes

VALERIE AIKMAN-SMITH'S KEY LIME PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Crust: In a food processor, combine graham crackers and sugar and process until crackers are reduced to crumbs. Add melted butter and pulse until well combined.
• Pour crumb mixture into a 9-inch pie pan and press it evenly over bottom and sides of pan. Bake until golden, 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool.
• Filling and topping: In a bowl, whisk together egg yolks and condensed milk until blended. Pour in lime juice and whisk until well combined and smooth. Pour into cooled piecrust.
• Bake pie until filling is set, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely. Cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours and up to 24 hours.
• Just before serving, pour cream into a bowl. Using a handheld mixer, beat cream until stiff peaks form.
• Pile cream on top of cold pie, sprinkle with coconut flakes, and garnish with lime zest. Cut into wedges to serve.

KEY LIME PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grind the graham crackers and butter in a food processor. Scoop the crust mixture into a 9-inch pie pan and mold to the sides and bottom. Mix together the egg yolks and condensed milk. Then add the juice and mix well. Pour the filling into the crust and bake until set, 20 minutes.

THE BEST KEY LIME PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the crust: Stir together the graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar and salt with a fork in a medium bowl. Pour in the butter and continue to stir until the mixture resembles wet sand. Transfer the crumb mixture to a 9-inch glass or metal pie dish and spread into an even layer. Use a 1/4 measuring cup or small glass to firmly press the crumbs into the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Bake until it is dry-looking and lightly browned, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack while you make the filling.
• For the filling: Combine the sweetened condensed milk and sour cream in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until combined, about 1 minute. Add the lime juice, egg yolks, salt and lime zest and continue to beat until the batter is smooth, about 2 minutes. Pour into the graham cracker crust. Bake until the pie is mostly set but jiggles slightly in the center, 15 to 20 minutes. Let the pie cool to room temperature on a wire rack, then refrigerate to set and chill completely, at least 2 hours, but preferably overnight.
• For the whipped cream topping: Combine the heavy cream, confectioners' sugar and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on high speed until stiff peaks form. Transfer the whipped cream to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe the topping decoratively on top of the pie. Alternatively, dolloped the whipped cream on slices of pie. Sprinkle with lime zest.

KEY LIME PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the crust: Crush the graham crackers in a food processor or a resealable plastic bag. Pour them into a bowl and stir in the melted butter and sugar. Press the mixture into a pie pan and bake until golden and set, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
• For the filling: Mix the condensed milk, lime zest, lime juice and egg yolks in the bowl of a mixer and mix on high until smooth and thick.
• Pour the mixture into the crust and bake for 15 minutes. Allow to cool, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour -- more if possible.
• Serve with whipped cream.

INDIVIDUAL KEY LIME PIES

Steps:

• For the lime curd: Combine the lime juice, sugar and butter in a medium saucepan and cook on a low flame until the butter melts. Beat the eggs, add to the saucepan and stir until combined. Bring to a simmer. Stir constantly and cook until the mixture is a thick and creamy consistency, 5 to7 minutes. Pass through a mesh strainer. Chill for 2 hours in the fridge.
• For the crust: Add the sugar and graham crackers to a food processor. Pour in the melted butter and pulse to combine.
• For the topping: Whip the cream with the sugar until stiff.
• To assemble, layer the crumb mixture into the bottom of a serving cup, followed by the lime curd. Top with the whipped cream mixture and garnish with lime zest.

KRISTI'S KEY LIME PIE

Steps:

• If using 6 to 8 limes instead of lime juice, put water in blender or food processor, set processor on puree, and with processor running drop lime slices in, one at a time. Key limes are very tough - do not drop in too many at one time. Drop in 8 to 10 slices, maybe more if you have a really powerful blender or processor. Process completely, then pour through strainer into another container. Make sure to press out all of the juice, discard lime remains then pour the lime juice back into blender. Again, drop in lime slices, repeating the above process until you have processed all of the limes. Set aside 1 cup of the resulting lime juice.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Blend key lime juice with the sweetened condensed milk. Add the sour cream. In a separate container, beat the eggs, then add to the key lime mixture and beat for 1 minute. Pour mixture into the graham cracker crust. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool pie completely, about 1 hour. Top with whipped topping and put in freezer. Freeze at least 3 hours. Serve straight from freezer. Cutting the pie is made easier by wetting a knife in hot water before slicing.

PHOENICIAN'S KEY LIME PIE

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Pulse the almonds in a food processor until finely ground. Combine the almonds with the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and salt. Pour in the melted butter and mix until evenly moistened. Press into a 9-inch pie plate.
• Bake the crust in the preheated oven until golden brown, 10 to 13 minutes.
• While the crust is baking, beat the egg yolks in a bowl with the condensed milk, cream, and lime zest. Whisk in the lime juice a little at a time to thicken the custard. Pour the custard into the pie crust and return to the oven.
• Bake in the oven for 15 minutes to help the custard begin to set. Cool to room temperature on a wire rack before covering loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerating overnight.