Key Lime Pie Gelato Recipe (2024)

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Key Lime Pie Gelato Recipe (1)

While I am enjoying some summer playtime with my family, several of my favorite food bloggers are sharing their talents with you. Please welcome Shaina of Food for My Family. Shaina is the mother of four little ones, nicknamed Kiwi, Kola Nut, Kumquat and Kidney Bean on her blog. She writes about her family adventures and the meals she prepares to keep all of them fueled and happy. I know I would be one happy kumquat if my mum fed me this gorgeous Key Lime Pie Gelato. I had the opportunity to meet Shaina at a BlogHer conference and am happy to report that she is just as adorable and down-to-earth as she appears on her blog.

You can also find Shaina on Twitter, Facebook, at Babble.com's Family Kitchen and at Lifetime Moms, where she is the food editor. And now, let's hand things over to Shaina.

Each summer I get on an "ice cream" kick, where I only want to make cold substances that slide down easily and cool me off. It's that midsummer slide, I think, when I'm not quite inspired to can anything other than jam and doing something other than grillables for dinner seems like the worst idea I've had in a long time.

Adding to my love for all things frozen and making it significantly worse – though I don't really consider a penchant for frozen desserts a bad thing – is the heat wave that's been rolling across the continent, sucking the life and motivation out of everyone it touches. It's hard to be motivated to do things like family bike rides or picnics in the park when the air is hanging so thick and heavy you'd swear you were drinking glasses of warm water with every breath.

So the dessert fairies have landed, and they're bringing with them flavors kicked with some of our favorite desserts, like Key lime pie, complete with graham cracker crust. It's the cure for the midweek summer blues, the pick-me-up as you head into the weekend, a way to celebrate both victories and games well played but still lost on the soccer or baseball field.

Key Lime Pie Gelato Recipe (2)

The great thing about ice cream is the ability to prepare it ahead and have it ready and waiting for when the urge to indulge strikes. I store mine in a plastic-wrap- or parchment-lined container to prevent any sort of freezer burn from hitting the surface of the ice cream, just like the old block-style cartons that had that thin layer of film. Then simply press the layer of protection down after scooping out a serving before returning it back to the freezer to keep ice cream fresh for longer.

Key Lime Pie Gelato Recipe (3)

Head over to my giveaway blog for a chance to win a $100 gift card to Best Buy.

Printable Recipe

Key Lime Pie Gelato Recipe (4)

Key Lime Pie Gelato

Take your favorite key lime dessert and turn it into an amazing gelato recipe, complete with graham cracker crust.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Desserts

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Frozen Desserts

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Freezing Time: 4 hours hours

Total Time: 4 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 Servings

Calories: 269kcal

Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck

Ingredients

  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • cup sugar
  • 3 tablespoons Key lime juice fresh or bottled like Nellie and Joe's
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons grated lime zest
  • ¾ cup crushed graham crackers frozen

Instructions

  • In a medium saucepan, combine milk and cream and heat over medium-low heat until small bubbles start to form around the outer edge of the pan, stirring occasionally. While the milk and cream are heating, whisk together egg yolks and then add in sugar, continue to beat until pale yellow.

  • When the milk and cream have reached 170º F temper the egg yolks by adding a cup or two of the hot cream to them and slowly while constantly whisking. Add the mixture to the pan, pouring slowly and whisking. Heat over low heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture is thick enough to cover the back of a wooden spoon and reaches 185º F, without allowing it to boil.

  • Strain the mixture through a mesh strainer to remove any possible lumps. Slowly add in lime juice, vanilla extract and lime zest. Cool slowly to room temperature, stirring every so often, and then cover and refrigerate until cold.

  • Once the gelato mix is cold, freeze it in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's directions. Stir in frozen graham cracker crumbs and transfer immediately to an airtight container. Freeze until firm and serve.

Notes

From the kitchen of Food for My Family. Adapted from Ciao Bella Book of Gelato and Sorbetto.

Nutrition

Calories: 269kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 139mg | Sodium: 78mg | Sugar: 23g

Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I'll be sure to find it.

Key Lime Pie Gelato Recipe (5)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Comment

  1. Matt

    Made this last night and it was a huge hit. Thanks for the great recipe.

    Reply

  2. Janie

    I made this and it was wonderful. Thank you.

    Reply

  3. Darla @ Bakingdom

    Lime is one of my favorite flavors ever. Love the idea of mixing it into some yummy gelato.

    Reply

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Key Lime Pie Gelato Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is key lime pie made of? ›

Traditional Key Lime Pie Recipe. Quick and easy key lime pie recipe starts with a graham cracker crust and filling of egg yolks, sweetened condensed milk, key lime juice & zest.

What makes key lime pie thicken? ›

Here's the science: The acid in the key lime juice reacts with the proteins in the milk to thicken the mixture. That's why you don't need to bake it. To be fair, there are lots of fancier key lime pie recipes out there.

Why is my key lime pie runny? ›

While whole key limes can be hard to find, bottled key lime juice is more readily available in grocery stores and online. Why does key lime pie get runny? The biggest culprit of a runny key lime pie is not letting it chill for long enough.

Is custard key lime pie and ice cream made from egg whites or egg yolks? ›

The filling in a Key lime pie is typically yellow because of the egg yolks. The filling is made similarly to a Magic Lemon cream pie, by simply mixing the ingredients without cooking: the proteins of the egg yolks and condensed milk and the acidic lime juice curdle, thickening the mixture without baking.

Can I use regular lime juice instead of key lime juice for a key lime pie? ›

Unless you live in the Florida Keys, key limes are near impossible to find. Furthermore, they're so tiny that you'd need to juice at least twenty of them for this recipe. No thank you! Ordinary limes make an exceptional Key lime pie, and they are a much better alternative to bracingly tart bottled Key lime juice.

What is the difference between key lime pie and lime pie? ›

In terms of taste, key limes have a higher acidity, making them a little more tart than what we consider "regular limes." This makes them ideal for pairing with sweeter ingredients, hence the ever-popular Key lime pie.

Why isn t my Key lime pie green? ›

People expected their authentic Key lime pies to be green, matching the bright green lime color of the Persian limes they saw in their grocery stores. Key lime pie filling, however, takes its yellow color from the egg yolks used in its production.

Why is my Key lime pie yellow? ›

“Key lime juice has no color.” The genuine pie gets its yellow color, she added, from the egg yolks that are used in it. Key lime pie has long had a place in Key West lore.

Why is my Key lime pie crust soggy? ›

Chill Your Pie Shell

Chill the pie shell until firm before placing it in the oven, whether it's empty or filled. Cold pastry going into a hot oven is key to a flaky crust, and a chilled empty pie shell is less likely to slip down as it bakes.

How long is homemade Key lime pie good for? ›

Homemade Key Lime Pie: If you've prepared a homemade key lime pie, it will typically last around 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator. The freshness and quality of the ingredients, as well as the hygiene of the preparation process, play a significant role in determining its shelf life.

Can I use regular limes in place of Key limes? ›

If you don't use key limes it won't BE Key Lime Pie and it won't taste like it either. They have a different taste than most limes.

What happens if you leave Key lime pie out overnight? ›

If your Key lime pie has been sitting out on the counter for over two hours (or for over an hour in 90 degrees F temperatures), throw it away to eliminate the possibility of foodborne illness, per guidance on food safety from the USDA.

Who made the original Key lime pie? ›

However, the dessert wasn't created in the Sunshine State, but by the Borden condensed milk company in New York City. Thanks to a wave of advertising by the condensed milk company, the recipe for Magic Lemon Cream Pie most likely made its way to Florida sometime in the 1930s and '40s.

Is Key lime pie a Southern thing? ›

key lime pie, an American dessert that consists of a graham-cracker or pastry crust, a yellow custard (primarily egg yolks, sweetened condensed milk, and key lime juice), and a topping of either whipped cream or meringue. The sweet and tart pie reportedly originated in Key West, Florida, in the late 19th century.

What is a fun fact about Key lime pie? ›

The Key lime pie has been traced back to the early 20th century in the Key West, Florida area. Its exact origins are unknown, but the first formal mention of Key lime pie as a recipe may have been made by William Curry and Key West's first millionaire; his cook, "Aunt Sally", made the pie for him.

What does key lime contain? ›

Key lime nutrition is similar to Persian lime, even though it's a smaller fruit. It contains a healthy serving of vitamin C and fiber, with few calories. It also provides health-boosting metabolites, including: alkaloids.

What's Key lime pie taste like? ›

What does key lime pie taste like? Citrusy, sweet, and tart are the three words that come to mind when I think of key lime pie. Traditional key lime pie filling contains key lime juice, sweetened condensed milk, and egg yolks giving it a sweet and slightly bitter flavor.

How would you describe a Key lime pie? ›

key lime pie, an American dessert that consists of a graham-cracker or pastry crust, a yellow custard (primarily egg yolks, sweetened condensed milk, and key lime juice), and a topping of either whipped cream or meringue. The sweet and tart pie reportedly originated in Key West, Florida, in the late 19th century.

Why is it called a key lime? ›

The Key lime has thinner rind and is smaller, seedier, more acidic and more aromatic than the Persian lime (Citrus × latifolia). It is valued for its characteristic flavor. The name comes from its association with the Florida Keys, where it is best known as the flavoring ingredient in Key lime pie.

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