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Key Lime Pie with Brown Butter Graham Crust

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  • Author: Erin Thomas
  • Prep Time: 15-20 Minutes
  • Cook Time: 28-32 Minutes
  • Total Time: About 1 Hour + Chilling Time
  • Yield: One 9-Inch Pie (8 Servings) 1x

Ingredients

Scale

For Brown Butter Graham Crust:

11/2 c. graham cracker crumbs

3 T. light brown sugar

1 tsp. salt (table, kosher or sea)

10 T. unsalted butter, melted and browned

For Key Lime Pie Filling:

4 large egg yolks

214 oz. cans sweetened condensed milk

3/4 c. Key lime juice

3 T. lime juice, freshly squeezed**

Zest of 1 lime (about 23 tsp.)**

1/21 tsp. Key lime oil, optional**

Instructions

To Make Crust:

Preheat oven to 350 degree F.  Spray a 9-inch pie pan with nonstick cooking spray.  Set aside.  In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat stirring often for 5-8 minutes.  Watch carefully and stir often as butter begins to show brown flecks on the bottom of the pan.  Butter will begin to pop and develop a nutty smell. Butter is done when it develops a golden color, but not amber or burnt.  Remove from heat.  

Stir together crumbs, brown sugar and salt in a bowl.  Stir in browned butter until evenly moistened and combined.  Be sure to scrape in the browned butter bits on the bottom of the pan.  Lightly press crust into bottom and sides of prepared pie pan.  Bake for 8-10 minutes or until set.  Remove from oven to a wire rack to cool while you prepare pie filling. 

To Prepare Filling: 

In a large bowl, whisk together egg yolks and sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Add lime juices, zest and Key lime oil (if using).  Whisk immediately.  Mixture will thicken up.  Pour all into prepared pie crust, smooth out, and bake for 28-32 minutes. The filling will be done when it appears set, but still may have a soft center spot.  Remove to a wire rack to cool before placing into the refrigerator to chill for several hours (or overnight) before serving.  Garnish with sweetened whipped cream if desired.

Notes

**Fresh lime juice adds a bright taste to the pie; but if you don’t have fresh limes, bottled juice works in a pinch.  The same goes for the lime zest and Key lime oil.  Key lime oil increases the pucker factor of your filling, The oil isn’t necessary for this recipe, although it can be purchased at Kermit’s Key Lime Pie shop.