by Eric Barton | February 26, 2020

How to Make the Perfect Key Lime Pie

Want to try your hand at this Sunshine State classic? Here's everything you need to whip up a Key lime pie just like a Key West local.

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Key lime pie
Photography by Eva Hilden Smith

PEPE’S CAFE KEY LIME PIE

Serves 6

  • 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 large egg whites
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk 
  • ½ cup Key lime juice
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 3 tablespoons powdered sugar

PREPARATION: Adjust oven rack to center position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together graham cracker crumbs, sugar and cinnamon. Drizzle with melted butter and stir to combine. Press mixture evenly onto bottom and sides of 9-inch pie plate. Bake for 10 minutes or until set and golden brown. Transfer to wire rack to cool. 

With a mixer or whisk, beat egg whites until they hold stiff peaks. In a large bowl, whisk together egg yolks and sweetened condensed milk. Add lime juice and whisk until combined, then fold in 1/3 of the egg whites to lighten mixture before adding remaining egg whites, folding until evenly combined. Gently spread mixture in pre-baked pie crust. 

Bake at 350 degrees until just set in center, about 20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours. 

For whipped cream, combine heavy cream and powdered sugar and whisk until soft peaks form. To serve, garnish pie slices with dollop of whipped cream. 

*Editor’s tip: Try a springform cake pan for a cheesecake-style presentation.


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