Classic Key Lime Pie Recipe

We'll admit that we'll never turn down dessert. Truly, any kind of dessert is delicious in our eyes. While many desserts are indulgent, rich, and heavy, a classic key lime pie is unique in that it has a refreshing lightness that not many other desserts possess.

Recipe developer and registered dietitian nutritionist Kristen Carli, MS, RD brings us this recipe for a classic key lime pie. "I love a classic key lime pie," Carli raves. "It's one of my favorite desserts of all time. It works well any time of year."

When asked when she typically serves this pie, Carli notes, "This pie is ideal for family holiday celebrations, but it is also simple enough for the more frequent gatherings like baby showers. I've been known to serve this at book club meetings." While citrus, including key limes, are in season in the wintertime, we love how versatile this pie is — you can make it year round, and it comes together more easily than you might think.

To make this classic key lime pie, you can start by gathering your ingredients. For this recipe, you will need egg yolks, key limes, sweetened condensed milk, and graham cracker crust.

Preheat the oven to 325 F. This recipe calls for egg yolks only, so start by separating the egg whites from the egg yolks. Save the leftover egg whites for another use. Then, zest three key limes to produce about 1 tablespoon of zest. Next, juice 1 pound of key limes to result in about ⅔ cup of lime juice.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, add in the egg yolks. Using the whisk attachment, mix the egg yolks until they are aerated, light, and thick. This process should take about 3-4 minutes. Next, add in the remaining ingredients to the stand mixer: lime juice, lime zest, and the sweetened condensed milk. Using the whisk attachment once more, mix these ingredients until they are well combined.

Lastly, pour the newly-prepared filling into the graham cracker crust. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove the pie from the oven and immediately place in the refrigerator to chill. How do you know the pie is done? "The pie will have a little jiggle, but it will not be wet," Carli explains. Once the pie has chilled for at least 1 hour in the fridge, you can slice and enjoy it.