Friday, January 7, 2011

Frozen Key Lime and White Chocolate Pie



From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...It's embarrassing to admit that a dessert this easy to make helped build my reputation as a cook and is an often requested favorite of family and friends. Its initial creation was borne of harried necessity and I never dreamt that this combination of ingredients could possibly make a memorable dessert. It came about when I was in the middle of my "only from scratch" phase of cooking and had lost a race with time. That meant that dessert would have to come from outside my kitchen or be assembled with semi-homemade ingredients from the grocer's shelves. Refusing to bring a stranger's food into my home, I ran to the store to grab the ingredients I needed to make the creation that was forming in my head. I grabbed key lime juice, a couple of limes and heavy cream from the "real" food aisles. My cart also contained several not so real items, such as a ready-made graham cracker crust, sweetened condensed milk and a container of whipped topping. My plan was to create a key lime pie that would be made my own with the addition of a topping made from a mixture of heavy cream and white chocolate. I decided to make a frozen pie because I had no time to work with eggs and I'm not a big fan of gelatin desserts. That made my pie filling simple in the extreme. I mixed bottled lime juice with sweetened condensed milk and whipped topping and added some lime zest for extra flavor. I poured that layer of filling into the graham cracker crust and put the pie in the freezer. I then began to work on the next layer. I melted white chocolate in a bit of cream and brought it to body temperature before folding it into lightly beaten whipped cream. Be forewarned, that the cream will collapse if the chocolate is too warm or you attempt to beat it into the heavy cream. Folding is the prime directive here. I then spread the cream over the lime base and let the pie sit in the freezer while I went to work. About 8 hours later, I cut the pie into serving pieces before transferring it to the refrigerator where it sat for an hour or so before dessert was served. I cut the pie while frozen to assure clean slices. I refrigerated it to allow the filling to soften slightly before my guests had a go at it. Lovers of citrus desserts will adore this, though pipe and horn players should be warned that this is incapacitating and attempts to pucker-up may actually be painful. I do hope that, despite its humble ingredients, you'll give this pie a try. It takes all of 30 minutes to prepare and it is pure ambrosia for tired palates. Here is the recipe.

Frozen Key Lime and White Chocolate Pie
...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
1 graham cracker pie crust
Filling
1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
6 ounces whipped topping
Zest of 2 limes
1/2 cup bottled key lime juice
Lime slices for garnish
Topping
4 ounces white chocolate
1-1/4 cup chilled whipping cream, divided use

Directions:

1) To make filling: Mix condensed milk with whipped topping and beat until well-blended. Add lime zest and juice and blend well. Pour into crust and freeze.
2) To make topping: Combine white chocolate and 1/4 cup cream in a small bowl. Set over simmering water and stir until chocolate melts and is smooth. Remove bowl and allow chocolate to cool to body temperature. Beat reserved 1 cup cream until soft peaks form. Fold in chocolate mixture. Spread over top of lime filling. Return pie to freezer. Freeze for 8 hours.
3) To serve: About 1 hour before serving, remove pie from freezer and cut into serving slices. Place pie in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Garnish with lime slices if desired. Yield: 8 servings.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Key Lime Pie - Chaos in the Kitchen
Key West Lime Bars - One Perfect Bite
Lemon Yogurt Cake - Delish
Meyer Lemon Bars - Tasty Easy Healthy Green
Lemon Tart Brulee - Sticky Gooey Creamy Chewy
Lightened Up Lemon Bars - Half Baked

69 comments :

Tom said...

I need to be more careful about what time I read your blog. Seeing pictures of key lime pie just before going to bed is torture. I'm always amazed at how good your food looks.

Alessandra said...

It look great, even better if it is easy.
Can you tell me what Whipped Topping is? A sort of ready made topping?

ciao

Alessandra

Diane said...

I have a similar type recipe that I use, Everone is always so impressed with it but mine only gets as far as the fridge. I must make one so I can take some photos and put it on the blog. Diane

Sanjeeta kk said...

Love the citrus flavor of this pie. Looks good & delicious. I made a strawberry flavored pie a few days back.

Hayley said...

Awesome pie and pics looks great !

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

This looks so light and airy Mary, perfect New Year food.

My Little Space said...

Mary, I think you've got right into this! My favourite citrus flavour. yummm... Thanks for the recipe. Hope you're having a wonderful weekend.
Cheers, Kristy

Unknown said...

I love this kind of dessert. Simple but very effective. Yours looks wonderful Mary. Thanks for the recipe! I can smell the limes now!!

Priya Suresh said...

Omg, mindblowing pie, feel like having some rite now..

GLENDA CHILDERS said...

Mary, it is hard to say which I like more ~ your fantastic recipes or the great story that goes with it. I love knowing the story behind your recipe.

fondly,
Glenda

ann said...

That is a beautiful pie- so light and airy and delicious looking. The story was also fun to read. Excellent, as usual!

The Blonde Duck said...

I adore any and all type of pies.

Carrie said...

This looks divine.

Rachana said...

I love citrus flavours and this pie looks delicious.

Debbie said...

Wow, this sounds just soooo good. it's going into my "to try" folder! Thanks!

Chele said...

My kind of dessert - what a great creation. I don't think you should be ashamed of it at all!

Julie said...

What delicious looking pie! I love those recipes that are easy but yet we become "famous" for them!

Schnitzel and the Trout said...

Another wonderful story. I am anxious to try this pie. Still debaitng whether to enter the American Pie contest in April in Orlando. Just not as clever as you are in "inviting" recipes. WHy don't you come down and enter? I have judged for 2 years.

Carol said...

I think I would love a slice of that pie! A really big slice!

What's next said...

Going to go by key lime juice and cream today! LOVE anything with lime but the rest of the family isn't a big fan which will be a problem for me... really don't need the whole pie... Thanks for this recipe!

The Food Hound said...

WOW this sounds great!!! So often there's a flavorless topping on key lime pie and this one looks great with the white chocolate!

Unknown said...

I adore the combination of key lime and white chocolate...put it in pie form and it might as well be heaven!! YUM! This is going in my must try file!! Thanks for sharing, Mary!

Kim said...

I'm not a fan of store bought products, but sometimes these can be pretty helpfull! This pie looks really amazing. I like frozen stuffs! Can you tell me how much of juce a can of key lime juce contains??? In Quebec, we cannot find these...

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

Oh Mary, I completely understand your comments that a dessert this easy to make helped build your reputation as a cook - I have a similar recipe that relies on two flavors of instant pudding of all things. I can't tell you how it's devoured by all who taste it.

:)
ButterYum

kitchen flavours said...

I have not tried making key lime pie before and this looks great. Love citrus in almost anything! Thanks for sharing. Have a lovely day.

lena said...

this is certainly a very nice dessert. i think i would love the lime flavour in this. 'not so real items" haha! sometimes we just need that..

Flavia Galasso said...

Next month I'm going to organize a Brunch...and while i was reading this recipe I decided this will be perfect.... THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUUU....hugs and xxxxx, ciao Flavia

From the Kitchen said...

I've been through that period of "everything from scratch" and I'm happy to say that I'm cured! Still very cautious about ingredients but do take some help from a number of prepared foods. I will say that many of those prepared items have improved over the years.

Your recipe and photo sounds and looks like summertime on the porch!

Best,
Bonnie

Leslie said...

Gotta love a pie that only takes 30 minutes to prepare! Looks divine

CaSaundraLeigh said...

I am a huge fan of pie!! I love key lime too because it reminds me of lazy summer days, perfect when you're in the middle of a long and dreadful winter. Yours looks like it could be sold at a bakery--beautiful!

Chef E said...

Mary you are on a role this week! I made your fig cake- only had dates, but it was a keeper recipe!

Everything looks so good, and I have not had a good Key Lime pie in a long long while!

Anonymous said...

Mary, what an absolutely gorgeous and delicious-sounding pie! Key Lime is one of my husband's favourite but you've kicked it up a notch. Way up!

Unknown said...

Oh gosh. The first time I read your blog and you put up a key lime pie recipe??? And one that's easy and uses white chocolate? Oh be still my heart!

June said...

Oh my, oh my what a beautiful pie! Love the addition of white chocolate too - you're definitely on to something fabulous here! I can't wait to make it with our little Mexican limes.

Jeannie said...

Just reading the recipe I know this pie is very good!

Midwest Elle said...

I am saving this recipe for the first warm spring day we get. YUMM!

Eva Flores said...

Hello Mary,
thanks a lot for your comment in my blog.
Yo have amazing recipes like this pie, that must be delicious.

tinyskillet said...

It's on my list! I love key lime anything...and of course being from Florida we always have key limes in the frige or the juice in the freezer! This one looks like a winner!

Lyndas recipe box said...

I've just bookmarked this Mary- my husband will love it!
Always love your stories and pictures too.
Have a wonderful week end!

Vittle me this... said...

this looks so good! makes me think of warm weather!

Emily Malloy said...

That pie looks like perfection!

PeggyR said...

OMG that looks wonderful!

Christo Gonzales said...

what a great sounding my - I am going to enjoy coming to this blog as time goes on...

Foley said...

This is definitely going to be a keeper! Can't think of one think NOT to like..simple, and bursting with flavor!!

Unknown said...

I love it, looks refreshing and I bet it tastes that way too

Ginny Hartzler said...

This looks amazing, I have to try it! I doesn't surprise me that it is a good tasting combination. I love the white chocolate chip lime cookies, and they would have the same flavor.

teresa said...

oh my goodness, pure absolute heaven, this has me just drooling! i love key lime desserts!

Lindsay said...

This looks amazing! Key lime pie is one my favourites and this is a great twist on it.

Katerina said...

Well, sometimes in simple things we find real pleasure. This pie combines sweet for the cocolate and savory from the limes. It is a beautiful combination

Katrina (Betty Ray) said...

Wow, I was totally expecting to find a recipe that was just too much for me, but this is great. I'm sure it tastes just fabulous too. Sometimes simple is just perfect.

Unknown said...

This is great because WE ALL need recipes like this under our sleeve! Looks wonderful for sure!

The Better Baker said...

My goodness! You are a popular gal! This is my first time to visit and you already have 51 comments!?? WOOOW!! Thanks for checking out my blog - I'm sure I can learn plenty from you. Looking forward to being in touch with you in the days ahead. Happy Cooking & Eating too!

Lea Ann said...

I'll take 26 slices please!

Alan Tyson-Carter said...

I'd like to try this, but I live in Germany and have no idea what to replace your "pie crust" with. Can you help me?

Carlos said...

Mary! thank you for your kind words. I like your blog very much. Love your pictures and the fact that the coffee pot is never empty makes you my number one friend!
BTW.. Kenya AA is my favorite coffee!
Keep on cooking, keep on smiling and keep on writing! :)

Janet Marie said...

This look light and delicious. I appreciate quick and simple. :)

Soma said...

Happy New Year to you and your family Mary! Wishing you all the love and happiness.

Michelle said...

Love lime, ran right out to the store on this Friday nite...this desert will be made this weekend! Thanks Mary, lovely as always.

Rhonda said...

Nothing wrong with semi-homemade, especially in a pie that looks as decadent as this one.

Banana Wonder said...

Love limey desserts. Please, may I have a slice?!

grace said...

i've never had a good experience eating key lime pie--it's always a little off for me. that said, involving white chocolate might be the trick that does it--excellent recipe!

Jeffrey and Juli said...

Ooooh, this looks wonderful! Next potluck I go to, this will be the dish I'll bring. Thanks!

Mary Bergfeld said...

Hi Better Baker. I've tried but cannot connect to you blog. I really aprreciate your visit and hope you will come again often. Blessings...Mary

scrambledhenfruit said...

This pie is going into my "I really want to make this" file for summertime. It looks so good! :)

Tasha said...

Key Lime is my very favorite of all desserts, and this holiday season I realized I do have a fondness for white chocolate, so my curiosity is peaked by this combination. I will be hanging on to this for the next time I need an easy to prepare dessert.

Self Sagacity said...

A lot of people like key lime pie, I haven't really found one to like, but man, the white chocolate sure sounds fabulous!

Denise said...

Mary,

I'm SO happy to be back in the blogosphere!! Don't know if anyone noticed me missing for 6 months, but I'm excited to get back to it!!

I absolutely LOVE key lime pie!! This pie looks and sounds like a winner.

I'm glad to see things are still running as usual here at ONE PERFECT BITE! Happy New Year!

Denise @ Creaive Kitchen

sally said...

Thanks for the link! Your pie looks wonderful and is definitely on my list of things to make.

That Girl said...

One of my friends was just asking for key lime recipes. I'll have to pass this along.

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