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Sometimes simple is best. Why add cream cheese or, heaven forbid, cardamon to a recipe that has already reached perfection. Key lime pie deconstructed from Patricia Artman’s 1946 ‘Florida Keys Cooking’ published in 1946. You can’t get more authentic or delicious than this, enjoy!

Ingredients

Crust

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Filling

3 large eggs, separated

1 large egg, lightly beaten

One 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

1/3 cup fresh lime juice, preferably made from Key limes

1/2 teaspoon finely grated lime zest, plus more for garnish

Sweetened whipped cream, for serving

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325°. In a medium bowl, mix the graham cracker crumbs and melted butter. Press the crumbs evenly over the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch glass pie plate. Bake the crust for about 15 minutes, or until firm. Let cool.

In a large bowl, whisk the 3 egg yolks with the lightly beaten whole egg until thickened. Beat in the condensed milk, then beat in the lime juice and zest.

In a large stainless steel bowl, beat the egg whites until firm peaks form. Fold one-third of the beaten whites into the custard, then fold in the remaining whites. Pour the custard into the pie crust and bake for 15 minutes, or until barely set. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely, then refrigerate over-night. Serve with sweetened whipped cream and garnish with lime zest.

This key lime pie is almost as good as a girls’ trip to the Florida Keys, so whip this up if you’re craving Florida Key time and can’t get there anytime soon.