King-Sized Key Lime Pie
(from saymyname’s recipe box)
Source: In 'The Pastry Queen Christmas'
Serves 8 peopleIngredients
- Crust:
- 1 cup macadamia nuts
- 3 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 30 crackers)
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 cup salted butter, melted
- Filling:
- 3 large egg yolks
- 1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lime juice (key lime or regular lime)
- 3 1/2 cups sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tablespoon high-quality light rum (optional)
- Whipped Cream Topping:
- 2 cups cold heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 large lime, scrubbed
Directions
- Make the crust: preheat oven to 300°; coat a 10 by 2 inch tart pan with removable bottom with cooking spray.
- Arrange the macadamia nuts on a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer and toast them in the oven for 7-9 minutes, until golden brown and aromatic.
- Remove from oven and transfer to a bowl, let cool and coarsely chop.
- In a big bowl, stir together the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, butter, and macadamia nuts; press the dough evenly into the bottom and all the way up the sides of the prepared pan; the crust should be 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick throughout.
- Make the filling: in a big bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, lime juice, condensed milk, and rum until well combined.
- Pour into the prepared crust and bake for 30-35 minutes, until the crust is a light golden brown and the filling is partially set.
- Remove from the oven and let cool, then refrigerate the pie overnight so that it sets up thoroughly.
- Make the whipped cream: Using an electric mixer w/ whisk attachment, beat the cream in a big bowl on high speed until soft peaks form.
- Add in powdered sugar and whip until stiff peaks form and the sugar is thoroughly blended inches.
- Spoon half the whipped cream into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip.
- Hold the pastry bag near the edge of the pie and make tight circles with the bag to create 8 evenly spaced rosettes of whipped cream around the edge of the pie; each rosette should be about 2 inches high and 2 1/2 inches wide.
- Cut the lime into 8 thin crosswise slices, then cut each slice from the rind’s edge to the center of the slice (you don’t want to cut the circle in half).
- Pick up the slice and twist each side of the cut in the opposite direction; place a twisted lime slice on top of each whipped cream rosette; refrigerate until ready to serve.