We're sorry
There was an error adding this product to your cart. Please close this window and try again.
Key lime pie is all about the juice. Spanish explorers introduced small Mexican limes to Florida, and by the early 1900s, the limes were being cultivated commercially in the Florida Keys as key limes. The pie dates from that era, when key lime plantations were flourishing. It was probably a local favorite, but the person who gets credit for the recipe is a woman known to history only as Aunt Sally, a cook in the household of William Curry, Key West’s first self-made millionaire. Aunt Sally worked for the Curry family in the late 1890s, and this time period is often given as the date of her “invention.”
The three essential ingredients in a key lime pie are key lime juice, sweetened condensed milk and a graham cracker crust. Graham crackers had been around since the late 1820s, and canned sweetened condensed milk (patented in 1856 by Gail Borden) was popular in the Florida Keys because it did not need refrigeration. Key limes were, of course, readily available.
For today’s cook, though, these limes—now imported from Mexico and Central America—can be harder to come by. Luckily, other tart fruit juices can produce equally delicious results (hint: combine regular lime juice with lemon juice). So in addition to our classic key lime pie recipe, we’ve provided you with several tasty twists on the traditional.
Inspired? Create and share by tagging @hallmarkstores.
*To make the crust yourself, stir together 1 cup graham cracker crumbs, ¼ cup melted butter and 3 tablespoons sugar. Press into a pie pan. Bake for 10 minutes at 350°F to set the crust. Let cool before filling.
Lime pie in a coconut crust
Make a graham cracker crust and add ½ cup toasted coconut. Use regular lime juice instead of key lime juice. Bake as directed, but do not make the meringue. Top the pie with sweetened whipped cream.
Orange pie in a chocolate crust
Use 6 tablespoons orange juice and 3 tablespoons lemon juice instead of lime juice. Add 1 teaspoon grated orange zest to the filling. For the crust, blend 1 cup chocolate wafer-cookie crumbs (5 ounces) with ¼ cup melted butter and 3 tablespoons sugar. Press into an 8- or 9-inch pie plate and bake for 10 minutes in a 350°F oven to set. Let cool before filling and baking as directed.
Healthier key lime pie
Use low-fat sweetened condensed milk, 2 egg yolks and 1 white in the filling. Use a reduced-fat crust. Omit the meringue.
Lemon-cranberry pie
Instead of key lime juice, use 6 tablespoons lemon juice and 2 tablespoons unsweetened cranberry-juice concentrate. Add 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest to the filling.
If summer had a single defining flavor, it would have to be citrus. From lemonade to key lime pie, that mouth-waterin...
We don’t know about you, but we love a good Golden Girls marathon. Maybe it’s the furniture covered in palm fronds. O...
Green tea has been much applauded for its health-giving properties, but it also makes a great base for a sparkling su...
Does summer have you in a picnic state of mind? Eating outside is as simple as throwing open the ba...
Summer and salads go together like sandals and pedicures, chick-lit and lounge chairs, and Fourth of July and frea...
Slump. Buckle. Pandowdy. Crisp. Boy Bait. Cobbler. Sonker. With their deliciously folksy names, these cousins of t...
Serve dad a big slice of happiness with these grilled pizza recipes perfect for Father's Day
Two of the best things about the holidays are eggnog and pie. Putting those things together makes them exponential...
Take a chance—try a new pie this Thanksgiving! Don’t abandon your family favorites; just add one of ours: streusel...
Looking for mulberry recipes? This easy Mulberry Pie is sure to become one of your new fall favorites. Mulberries ...
You'll find lots of recipes for making pumpkin pie, the Miss Congeniality of all pies. But Hallmark has a tried-an...
This simple, slow-roasted tomatoes recipe is packed with fresh flavor. Serve these roasted tomatoes as a savory si...
This is a tangy adaptation of a classic Brazilian cocktail made with Brazilian lemons, which are more similar in l...
Mix up a sweet, boozy pitcher full of summer with this White Sangria recipe. In this tropical twist on traditional...
Dance the night away with this tropical twist on the classic mojito. Our Pineapple Samba Mojito recipe is lighter ...
Shannon's easy caprese appetizer recipe calls for marinating mozzarella cubes with basil leaves, lemon zest, lemon...
This versatile Margarita recipe lets you express yourself with tequila, limeade and triple sec. Serve these margar...
Too adorable to eat? Nope, these Mini Fruit Pies are just adorable enough. We'll show you how to turn two ingredie...
Avocados are a summertime smash! But there’s more to this super-fruit than guacamole. Whether they’re smashed or s...
In many British families, mince pies are a staple at holiday gatherings. Using this Mincmeat Tart recipe, you can ...