I think of Key Lime dessert recipes as the kind of dessert that you might spot on a menu at a good restaurant. I never usually think about making Key Lime goodies myself, but maybe that’s because I’m not southern. Good southern restaurants will always offer their best key lime pie on the menu. And if you’re lucky, you might get to try key lime cheesecake too! If not, you can certainly bake it at home using this delicious recipe.
History of Key Lime Pie:
Key Lime Pie (the dessert key limes are best known for) has American roots, and it dates back to the early 20th century in the Key West area of Florida. It’s tough to say who was the originator of the recipe. The first “mention” of Key Lime Pie was by William Curry (Key West’s first millionaire) when his cook made the pie for him. It seems that this pie has been popular ever since!
This recipe comes from a cookbook by Jean Anderson: From a Southern Oven: The Savories, The Sweets. Jean is a loving historian of the South who savors and celebrates old southern, down-home classic recipes. The sweets include things like pies, cobblers and crisps. The savories include deviled eggs, poultry pies, shellfish, stuffed pork chops, vegetables, casseroles and gratins. If you have a passion for Southern cooking, or even if it’s just a region of cooking that you’ve been wanting to try– then you should consider adding this cookbook to your collection. Here are several recipes that I have bookmarked to try. In the savory section: Mushroom Tassies, Oven-Fried Peanuts, Chicken Boudine, Baked Pecan Stuffed Pork Chops, Chesapeake Deviled Crab, Crispy Oven-Fried Scallops, Baked Curried Deviled Eggs, Bourboned Beans, Open-Face Vidalia Pie, Bacon Biscuits and Sweet Potato Cornbread. In the sweet section, I’m eyeing several recipes too. Open-Face Peach Pie, Old Virginia Sweet Potato Pie, Great Smokies Jelly Pie, Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie, Martha Washington Pudding, Muscadine Mystery Cake and Coconut Kisses.
Do I have to have a springform pan for cheesecake?
It’s helpful if you have a springform pan to make cheesecake, but there are a few ideas for substitutions if you don’t have one. If you’re not worried about how pretty it is while serving, you can certainly make the cheesecake in a disposable foil pan or a glass pan. Just dish out servings by cutting or spooning the cheesecake out of the pan. Lining with parchment paper might help with getting it out of the pan more easily.
About key limes:
Key Limes are much smaller limes that have a higher acidity, stronger smell and thinner rind than traditional limes. The key lime originated in Key West Florida, but these days most key limes are grown in Mexico. They have a unique flavor that happens to be delicious when used in sweet desserts. If key limes are not readily available (or it they’re too expensive), look for bottled key lime juice in your market’s juice aisle.
Here are a few more key lime recipes that you might like to try:
Key Lime Fudge Key Lime Pie Coconut Key Lime Crinkle Cookies Key Lime Pie Ice Cream
