Description
Atlantic Beach Pie is a refreshing and tangy dessert featuring a crunchy saltine cracker crust combined with a luscious key lime and lemon filling. Topped with a cloud of sweet whipped cream and garnished with citrus zest, this pie is perfect for warm weather gatherings or any time you crave a zesty, creamy treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 1½ cups finely crushed saltine crackers
- 6 Tbsp melted unsalted butter
- 3 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 large egg white
Filling
- 1 (14-oz) can sweetened condensed milk
- 4 large egg yolks
- ¼ cup key lime juice
- ¼ cup lemon juice
Topping
- 1½ cups heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Lemon and lime zests (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350ºF to ensure it’s properly heated for baking the crust.
- Make the Crust: In a large bowl, mix the crushed saltine crackers, melted unsalted butter, egg white, and granulated sugar until the mixture is well combined. Press this mixture firmly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate to form the crust, then bake it for 15 minutes to set and lightly brown.
- Prepare the Filling: In a medium bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, egg yolks, key lime juice, and lemon juice until smooth and fully combined.
- Bake the Pie: Pour the lime and lemon filling into the pre-baked crust and bake for 20 minutes. Once baked, place the pie on a wire rack to cool, then cover and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to set the filling.
- Make the Whipped Cream Topping: Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in a large bowl until stiff peaks form, which should take about 2 minutes.
- Assemble and Serve: Spread the freshly whipped cream evenly over the chilled pie. Garnish the pie with lemon and lime zest for an added burst of citrus aroma and flavor before serving.
Notes
- For best results, use fresh key lime juice to achieve the authentic tangy flavor.
- Letting the pie chill thoroughly enhances the texture and flavor melding.
- Be careful not to overbeat the whipped cream to avoid a grainy texture.
- This pie is best served cold, making it ideal for summer months.
- The saltine cracker crust provides a unique salty-sweet balance to the citrus filling.
