Classic Key Lime Pie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between a key lime pie and a Florida key lime pie? ›

The main difference is that it requires more aromatic Key lime juice to make the famous pie sing. It is worth the elbow grease to get that authentic floral Key lime flavor—unless you can't find Key limes. Then swap them out for whatever you see at the grocery store and dig in.

Rather, the key to perfecting the Publix key lime pie is a simple ingredient added to the graham cracker crust. It's not the graham crackers themselves that make the crust special, but rather the unique addition of crushed toasted almonds.

A widely reported story claims that William Curry's cook Aunt Sally invented it in the late 19th century.

Unless you live in the Florida Keys, key limes are near impossible to find. Furthermore, they're so tiny that you'd need to juice at least twenty of them for this recipe. No thank you! Ordinary limes make an exceptional Key lime pie, and they are a much better alternative to bracingly tart bottled Key lime juice.

The sweet and tart pie reportedly originated in Key West, Florida, in the late 19th century. The use of sweetened condensed milk, an essential ingredient, is probably because fresh milk and refrigeration were uncommon in the isolated Florida Keys until the 1930s.

The Key lime pie has been traced back to the early 20th century in the Key West, Florida area. Its exact origins are unknown, but the first formal mention of Key lime pie as a recipe may have been made by William Curry and Key West's first millionaire; his cook, "Aunt Sally", made the pie for him.

Key lime pie, the state pie of Florida, may have originated in NYC. Miami Herald.

They're from the Florida Keys, where they now grow wild. They are smaller and more tart than our standard Persian limes, and they have yellow centers and rinds. If you, like me, live nowhere near Florida, you can easily make key lime pie with regular limes.

The biggest culprit of a runny key lime pie is not letting it chill for long enough. Since this is one of those summer pie recipes that's not baked, chilling the pie helps it set and prevents it from being runny. Be sure to chill it for at least 12 hours!

- Move over, key lime pie. Florida has another state dessert – strawberry shortcake. Gov. DeSantis recently signed SB 1006, which designated the fluffy dessert and all of its strawberry and whipped cream goodness, as the official state dessert, which went into effect on July 1, 2022.

Why is key lime pie so popular in Key West? ›

The dish you'd likely name Florida's state food, the pride of the Keys, more American than apple pie, got its start as a way to prevent scurvy. Back in the 1800s, Key West sponge fishermen, called “hookers” by the locals, kept limes on board simply to prevent sickness.

15.052 Official state pie. —Key lime pie is designated as the official Florida state pie.

The sweet and tart pie reportedly originated in Key West, Florida, in the late 19th century. The use of sweetened condensed milk, an essential ingredient, is probably because fresh milk and refrigeration were uncommon in the isolated Florida Keys until the 1930s.

The Florida State Legislature made the key lime pie the official state pie of Florida on July 1, 2006. This was after many years of debate between pecan pie and key lime pie.

They say key lime pie originated in Key West some time toward the end of the 1800s. As the story goes, one William Curry, a prominent Key West resident and Bahamian-born immigrant who became Florida's first millionaire, had a cook called “Aunt Sally” who concocted the first pie from key limes.

The dish you'd likely name Florida's state food, the pride of the Keys, more American than apple pie, got its start as a way to prevent scurvy. Back in the 1800s, Key West sponge fishermen, called “hookers” by the locals, kept limes on board simply to prevent sickness.