Instructions

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  1. Select a pie pan whose inside top dimension is at least 9", and whose height is at least 1 1/4". Preheat the oven to 325°F.

  2. Make the crust by stirring together all of the crust ingredients, mixing until thoroughly combined.

  3. Press the crumbs into the bottom and up the sides of the pie pan.

  4. Bake the pie crust for 15 minutes; it'll start to darken in color a bit. Remove it from the oven, and place it on a rack to cool while you make the filling.

  5. Whisk the lime zest and egg yolks at high speed of an electric mixer for about 4 minutes. The mixture will lighten in color and thicken somewhat, looking kind of like Hollandaise sauce.

  6. Stir in the sweetened condensed milk, mixing till smooth. Beat at high speed for 3 minutes; the filling will become slightly thicker, and gain a bit of volume.

  7. Add the lime juice, stirring just to combine. The mixture will thicken. Add lime oil to taste.

  8. Pour the mixture into the crust, and return the pie to the oven. Bake for about 25 minutes, until it appears set around the edges, though still a bit wobbly in the center. The center should read about 145°F.

  9. Remove the pie from the oven, and cool to room temperature. Refrigerate for several hours before serving. Slice and serve each piece with a lightly sweetened dollop of whipped cream, if desired.

Tips from our Bakers

  • Lime oil (1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon) enhances the lime flavor of this filling. Keep in mind that bottled Key Lime juice is quite strong and "lime-y," requiring only the smaller amount of lime oil; while freshly squeezed juice from Persian limes is less strong, and could use the boost offered by the larger amount of lime oil.
  • If you're making your own whipped cream from heavy or whipping cream, it can be confusing to know how much to start with. FYI, 1 cup of whipping cream yields about 2 1/2 cups of whipped cream. So, for an 8-slice pie, with 1/4 cup whipped cream on each slice, you'd want to start with about 3/4 cup of whipping cream. And how much sugar? Completely up to you. Just add granulated or confectioners' sugar a spoonful at a time, to taste.