Name: Icebox Key Lime Pie
Total time: 4 h 30 min
Ingredients: 8 whole graham crackers , broken into smaller pieces; 2 tablespoons sugar; 5 tablespoons unsalted butter , melted; 1/4 cup (1¾ ounces/50 grams) sugar; 1 tablespoon grated lime zest; 8 ounces (227 grams) cream cheese , softened; 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk; 1/3 cup instant vanilla pudding mix; 1 1/4 teaspoons unflavored gelatin; 1 cup fresh lime juice from 6 to 8 limes; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Why This Recipe Works

Authentic Key lime pie recipes use to be simple and uncooked—but they contained raw eggs, a no-no in modern times. We wanted to develop an eggless Icebox Key Lime Pie recipe as bright and custardy as the original. In lieu of using egg yolks, we found the right ratio of instant vanilla pudding, gelatin, and cream cheese thickened our Key Lime Pie’s filling into a perfect, smooth consistency. A full cup of fresh lime juice produced a pie with bracing lime flavor, while bottled lime juice made it taste artificial. Lime zest added another layer of flavor, and processing the zest with a little sugar offset its sourness and eliminated the annoying chewy bits.

Before You Begin

Be sure to use instant pudding that requires no stovetop cooking for this recipe. We use regular supermarket (Persian) limes-tasters thought bottled lime juice lacked depth of flavor. We much prefer our easy homemade crust to store- bought versions.

Instructions

For the crust: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Pulse crackers and sugar in food processor until finely ground. Add melted butter in steady stream while pulsing until crumbs resemble damp sand. Using bottom of dry measuring cup, press crumbs firmly into bottom and sides of 9-inch pie plate. Bake until fragrant and browned around edges, 12 to 14 minutes. Cool completely.

For the filling: Process sugar and zest in food processor until sugar turns bright green, about 30 seconds. Add cream cheese and process until combined, about 30 seconds. Add condensed milk and pudding mix and process until smooth, about 30 seconds. Scrape down sides of bowl. Stir gelatin and 2 tablespoons lime juice in small bowl. Heat in microwave for 15 seconds; stir until dissolved. With machine running, pour gelatin mixture, remaining lime juice, and vanilla through feed tube and mix until thoroughly combined, about 30 seconds.

Pour filling into cooled crust, cover with plastic, and refrigerate at least 3 hours or up to 2 days. To serve, let pie sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before slicing.