Key lime pie facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Key lime pie

Cut-away view of a Key lime pie
Type	Pie
Course	Dessert
Place of origin	United States
Region or state	Key West, Florida
Main ingredients	Shortcrust pie shell, Key lime juice, egg yolks, sweetened condensed milk
Variations	Graham cracker pie shell

Key lime pie is a yummy American dessert pie. It's made with special Key lime juice, egg yolks, and sweetened condensed milk inside a pie crust. Some people, especially those from the Florida Keys (called "Conchs"), add a fluffy meringue topping made from egg whites. This pie gets its name from tiny Key limes (Citrus aurantifolia 'Swingle'). These limes grow naturally all over the Florida Keys.

Key limes are much more sour and smell stronger than the regular green limes you see in stores. Key lime juice is a light yellow color, not green. That's why the pie filling is also yellow, mostly because of the egg yolks.

When you mix the ingredients, something cool happens! The egg yolks, condensed milk, and lime juice react together. This chemical reaction makes the filling thick all by itself, without needing to be baked. Old recipes for Key lime pie didn't even require baking. Today, because eating raw eggs can be risky, these pies are usually baked for a short time. Baking also makes the pie even thicker.

On July 1, 2006, the state of Florida made Key lime pie its official state pie. Both the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate agreed on this special honor.

The History of Key Lime Pie

Florida Key Lime Pie

Key lime pie has a long history, going back to the early 1900s. It started in the Key West, Florida area. We don't know exactly who invented it. Some say the first recipe was made by "Aunt Sally," who was the cook for William Curry. He was Key West's first millionaire.

Key Lime Pie

However, it's also possible that Aunt Sally learned the recipe from local sponge fishermen. These fishermen spent many days at sea on their boats. They stored food that wouldn't spoil without a fridge, like canned milk, limes, and eggs. Fresh milk was hard to get in the Florida Keys back then. Since fishermen on boats didn't have ovens, the first Key lime pie recipes didn't require baking.

Aunt Sally's Original Key Lime Pie Recipe

Slice of key lime pie

Key lime pie

Here's a recipe similar to what Aunt Sally might have used:

• Ingredients:
  • 4 eggs, separated (yolks and whites apart)
  • ½ cup Key Lime Juice
  • 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon Cream of Tartar
  • 1 8-inch Graham Cracker Crust

• Instructions:
  • Beat the egg yolks until they are light and thick.
  • Mix in the lime juice, then the condensed milk. Stir until the mixture gets thick.
  • Pour this mixture into your pie crust.
  • Beat the egg whites with cream of tartar until they are stiff.
  • Slowly add the sugar while beating, until the egg whites look shiny and form peaks.
  • Spread the egg whites over the pie, all the way to the edge of the crust.
  • Bake in an oven at 350°F (about 175°C) until the topping is golden brown, usually around 20 minutes.
  • Chill the pie in the refrigerator before you serve it.

Key Lime Festival

The annual Key Lime Festival began in Key West, Florida in 2002. It happens every year around the July 4th holiday weekend. This festival celebrates everything about Key limes! You can find them in food, drinks, and all sorts of cultural events.

Images for kids

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  Key limes

See also

In Spanish: Tarta de lima de los Cayos para niños