TRIPLE DECKER KEY LIME PIE

Triple Decker Key Lime Pie

Serves: 12 to 14 from a 10 Inch Spring Form Pan Cooking Time: 2 to 3 Hours total cooking and chilling

INGREDIENTS

• CINNAMON BROWN SUGAR CRUST
• 2 1/2 Cups of Graham Crackers Crumbs
• 1/4 cup of Dark Brown Sugar
• 2 Teaspoons of Cinnamon or to taste
• 1 Stick of Melted Butter
• 1 to 2 Tablespoons of Eggs Whites, room temp
• LAYER 1: THE BAKED LAYER
• 2 14 ounce cans of Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1 Cup of KEY Lime Juice
• 8 Eggs Yolks, room temp
• 1/2 Cup of Sour Cream, room temp
• LAYER 2: THE CHILLED LAYER (see notes)
• 8 ounces of Cream Cheese, soften
• 1/2 Cup of Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1/4 Cup of Key Lime Juice
• 1/4 Cup of Sour Cream, room temp
• 2 Tablespoons of Granulated Sugar
• LAYER 3: KEY LIME WHIPPED CREAM
• 1 1/2 Cups of Heavy Cream, very cold
• 2 Tablespoons of Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons of Key Lime Juice

INSTRUCTIONS

1

This recipe is for a 9 or 10-inch spring form pan. If making in a 9 inch pan, just note you will have taller layers.

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STEP 1: PREPARE the SPRING FORM PAN

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Place parchment paper on the bottom of the spring form pan. Set the "ring" of the spring form on top of the parchment paper and close to seal around the bottom of the spring form. Trim the parchment paper on the outside as close to the pan as you can get. This will ensure that you can lift the pie off the bottom of the spring from pan with ease.

4

Wrap the outside of the spring from pan in aluminum foil to prevent any leakage during baking.

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STEP 2: MAKE the CRUST

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A quick note on the construction of the crust. Your kitchen climate will affect the amounts of the liquid you need. If you have a more humid kitchen, you will use less than if you are in a drier climate. If you can pinch the mixture together and it stays together, you are ready. The egg whites in this mixture, help the crust's stability and do not effect taste.

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Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

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In a very large bowl, combine and toss the graham crackers, dark brown sugar and cinnamon.

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Make a well in the middle of the dry mixture.

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Start adding the melted butter into the well and with either a wooden spoon or by hand incorporate the melted butter into the dry mixture. Add butter until you can pinch the dry mix together and it will hold together.

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Add the egg whites to the mixture and mix well. Once the egg whites are added, you need to work quickly to move the prepared crust mixture in to the spring form and form the crust or the mixture will start to dry out.

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Working from the bottom of the spring form, move the crust mixture around to cover the bottom first. Work the crust mixture up the sides of the spring form all the way to the edge of the ring.

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Use either the bottom of a glass or dry measure cup to press down on the bottom, sides and especially where the bottom of the pan and sides come together. This will help you achieve a nice even and packed crust.

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Move to the oven and bake for 15 minutes.

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STEP 3: THE BAKED LAYER

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Add the 8 egg yolks to a large glass bowl. Using a wire whisk, whisk the yolks for about a minute. You will want the yolks nice and creamy with some air incorporated into them. No need to break out the mixer for this step. Just some good ole whisking by hand will do.

17

Add the 2 cans of sweetened condensed milk to the mixture and continue to whisk until well blended.

18

Add the room temperature sour cream (1/2 cup) to the mixture and whisk. The sour cream, if not at room temperature will clump, so make sure this and all ingredients are at room temp.

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Pour the key lime juice into the mixture and continue to whisk. You will notice that the mixture will begin to slightly thicken. This is the reaction of the acid in the key lime juice and the sweetened condensed milk. Whisk the mixture until well blended. You will see lots of air bubbles and that’s okay too.

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Pour this mixture into the crust that is just coming out of the oven and with either a spatula or the back of a spoon spread evenly over the bottom of the spring form.

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Bake in the 350-degree oven for 20 minutes. The baked layer will set up and be set all the way thru to the center.

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Remove from the oven and cool completely before adding the chilled layer. Do Not refrigerate until the baked layer has completely cooled or you will introduce moisture to the crust and cause it to separate.

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STEP 4: THE CHILLED LAYER

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Using a mixer (stand or hand), cream the 8 ounces of cream cheese and 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar until fluffy.

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Add the room temperature 1/4 cup of sour cream. Remember cold sour cream will make lumps! Mix well.

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Add the 1/2 cup of sweetened condensed milk and mix well.

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Add the 1/4 cup of key lime juice and mix well.

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Move to the completely baked and cooled baked layer. Use a spatula or spoon to smooth over layer one. Be sure to leave room for the Key lime whipped topping, the chilled layer should only come up to about 3/4 to the top.

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Chill in the refrigerator while you make the Key Lime whipped cream

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STEP 5: Key Lime Whipped Cream

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Add the whipping cream to a clean and preferably chilled bowl for mixing. I chill both the bowl and the beaters when making whipped cream.

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Add sugar and whip until you have soft to medium soft peaks. Do not whip to stiff peaks.

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Begin adding the key lime juice, this will cause the mixture to thicken. Very much like the reaction in the baked layer. Also, the reason to not mix to stiff peaks because the key lime juice with naturally thicken. Add the key lime juice a little at a time to get the consistency you prefer.

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If you want to get real fancy, load a pipping bag with a 1D Tip and rosette the top of the pie. Scooping and spreading the key lime whipped cream works just as well!

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Congratulations! You have assembled the Triple Decker Key Lime Pie: The Sweet IRB Version

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Remember to keep this pie very well chilled.

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Now go grab a plate, knife and fork and dig in.

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Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Who are we kidding, the pie will not last that long.

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This recipe make a very large pie, so if you need to freeze just flash freeze then wrap in plastic. Store in a sealed container for up to 6 months.

NOTES

Almost 95% of the time I use the Nellie and Joe's Key lime Juice. If you use fresh key lime, just keep in mind, that the ripeness, tartness and quality of your limes will effect the taste. Recipe updated 3/27/17. I converted the cup measurements in Layer 1 to cans to make it easier to measure, no effect to the texture or taste. Layer 2 measurements were adjusted so there would not be extra layer 2. The previous measure was about double what was needed for the recipe. The middle layer should come up to about 1 inch from the top to leave room for the key lime whipped cream. Also, added that this can be made in a 10" or 9 " spring pan