Chocolate Key Lime Pie
Fancy a twist on the classic key lime pie? Chocolate key lime pie is a decadent and delicious dessert that combines a rich chocolate crust with a creamy, zippy lime filling. Lime and chocolate go together surprisingly well. Try this egg-free and no-bake recipe and find out for yourself. It’s quite easy to make.
If you’ve been following me, you’ll know I recently received a basket of limes. As I had so many, I reckoned it was finally time to make a key lime pie. As a key lime pie newbie it was just a question of whose recipe was going to inspire me.
New to key lime pie? Yes, really. I don’t know how I’ve managed it, but in all my years of cooking I had not only never made one, but I’d never eaten one either.
What Is Key Lime Pie?
As the name suggests, key lime pie is made with key limes. It’s a classic American dessert and originated in the Florida Keys in the nineteenth century.
Key limes are tarter than ordinary limes, so the pie is both sweet and tart. You can make the crust with biscuits or pastry and the filling is usually a mix of egg yolks, condensed milk and key limes.
There was a recipe in my new book Scandilicious Baking by Signe Johansen which I was keen to try; there was a fabulous sounding one in Tea with Bea using 13 limes; I had a cheesecake version from Eric Lanlard in Home Bake and two versions from Nigella in How to Be a Domestic Goddess. Not one of them had a chocolate version. Well really!
With all my limes, it would have been a good opportunity to make Bea’s version, but in the end the Forever Nigella challenge won me over and it was one of Nigella’s recipes I adapted.
As key limes are hard to come by here in the UK, I’ve made my chocolate key lime pie with ordinary limes.
Chocolate Key Lime Pie and Mini Pies
Unusually for a key lime pie, mine is a no-bake one. I swapped the eggs for cream, so all you need to do is chill it rather than bake it first. It may not be authentic, but it sure is delicious.
As it happened the silicone tart mould that I used was quite shallow, so I had enough base and topping mixtures to make four little tarts as well as the main chocolate key lime pie. Next time, I’ll use a less shallow tart tin.
As is always the case at this time of year, my kitchen is cold, so I don’t need to use a fridge to set anything. This is just as well as I never seem to have any room in my fridge for things like this.
In any case, whether you put yours in the fridge or not, the key lime pie will need to go somewhere cool to firm up.
Ooh my, is this key lime pie scrumptious or is it scrumptious? It’s rich, creamy and oh so zippy. The limes balance out the sweetness of the condensed milk most beautifully. The chocolate base contrasts well with the white filling and complements it wonderfully well.
Nothing more to be said, except I will not be leaving it quite so long before I make one again.
Other Chocolate Lime Recipes You Might Like
- Chilli, chocolate & lime bread
- Chocolate lime biscuits
- Chocolate lime cake
- Double delight bundt cake
- Mascarpone, chocolate & lime curd tarts
- Victoria chocolate sandwich with lime curd
Chocolate Key Lime Pie. PIN IT.
Chocolate Key Lime Pie And Mini Pies
Ingredients
Chocolate Base
- 50 g unsalted butter
- 100 g dark chocolate (I used Green & Blacks 70%)
- 300 g digestive biscuits
Lime Filling
- 300 ml double cream (heavy cream)
- 4 unwaxed limes zest and juice – scrubbed
- 397 ml condensed milk (1 tin)
- dark chocolate to decorate
Instructions
Chocolate Base
- Melt the butter and chocolate in a small pan over a very low heat. Alternatively place them in a bowl suspended over a pan of hot, but not boiling water.50 g unsalted butter, 100 g dark chocolate
- Whiz the biscuits in a food processor until they’re fine crumbs. You can also bash them in a bowl with the end of a rolling pin, but it will take quite a bit longer.300 g digestive biscuits
- Add the chocolate mixture and whiz some more until everything is well mixed.
- Press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 23 cm (9 inch) loose-bottomed tart tin or silicone tart mould. The back of a spoon is good for this. I used a silicone tart mould which wasn't quite tall enough so I also made four 10 cm (4 inch) tartlet cases.
- Leave in a cool place to set for an hour or so.
Lime Filling
- Whisk the cream with electric beaters until it starts to thicken. You can do this with a hand whisk, but it takes quite a bit of effort.300 ml double cream (heavy cream)
- Grate in the zest of the four limes and beat a bit more.
- Add in the condensed milk and beat a little more.397 ml condensed milk
- Add the lime juice and beat for about a minute until the mixture is thick and forms firm peaks.
- Spoon onto the biscuit base. Level and smooth off, then decorate with strips of lime zest and shavings of dark chocolate.dark chocolate
- Leave in a cool place to firm up for an hour or so, then remove the pie from the tin and place on a serving plate.
Notes
Nutrition Estimate
Sharing
The theme for Forever Nigella this month is Nostalgic Nigella. Well, I may have never made or eaten a key lime pie before, but I first heard about these American beauties many years ago.
Having spent my first year of life in New York, they somehow make me feel nostalgic for the American childhood I never had. I bet key lime pie would have been a staple in our brownstone apartment.
Forever Nigella is hosted this month by the The Botanical Baker. It’s home is with Maison Cupcake.
I knew that would look amazing, just from the name.
Have never tasted a Key Lime Pie but will be sure to try the recipe in the future
I tried to make key lime pie once but i think i put too much lime in it. I followed the recipe too, will probably have to try it again see how it turns out.
This looks so yummy. The prefect match of dark chocolate and citrus flavours.
Thank you for sharing this in my nostalgia challenge. You did rather make me chuckle with the american childhood you never had. between this and the elvis sandwiches from susan I could quite happily have been an american kid!
Love key lime pie and chocolate so this would be great for me!
I love the colours on this. I’ve maybe had one key lime pie before, but I do love citrus so should definitlely try and make one of these myself. Your adapted version looks right up my street too, what with the added chocolate!
oh My! This pie is die for!! So delicious with chocolate & lime! Lovely combo! 😉
I love the look of that large pie, although I wouldn’t say no to an individual one either! I don’t think I’ve ever had (key) lime pie either. It’s obviously something I need to rectify sooner rather than later.
This looks awesome. I love key lime pie and adding chocolate can only make it better!
I’ve never been much of a key lime pie person because it doesn’t have chocolate, and I have a hard time being interested in anything without chocolate. Well, you completely solved that problem! I don’t know why I never thought of it before. Sounds divine!
Haha, you’ve made my day – so pleased someone approved of my addition 🙂
I too am joining the chorus of ‘never made before’ and similarly very keen to rectify this appalling situation!
I have unwittingly, it seems, uncovered a truly shocking state of affairs Kate.
I’ve never had a key lime pie before either, feeling a bit left out! Love the look of the mini ones in particular, the chocolate base frames them beautifully
I’m so glad there are other Key Lime Pie novices out there – I thought I must be the only one. But sounds like it’s time to make one Jo.
Oh oh, wow! That is some really lovely looking lime pie. I wouldn’t reject a piece or two.
Well, I’m very glad to hear it Chris. I might get a bit cross if you did.
Another Key Lime Pie novice here – mostly because the Mr doesn’t like citrusy desserts. I reckon the chocolate addition might be enough to sway him on this one though, thanks for the inspiration! x
The Pantry Door
You’re welcome Victoria. Not like citrusy desserts? That’s terrible. Mind you, they are something I’ve come to later in life – I hated lemon meringue pie when I was little.
Oooooh I do love key lime pie! (Though like you until recently, I’d never actually MADE one!) A chocolate version sounds heavenly though. I think when I do eventually give it a go, a chocolate base will be in order 🙂
Yes, do go for a chocolate base Emmy, it complemented the cream and lime so very well.
wowzers, what a beauty!… I have never made key lime pie either but your words are very persuasive and your beautiful pictures even more so… they just look superb!
Thanks Dom. Trouble is, once you’ve made it, you get hooked and just want more and more and more …….
I do love key lime pie. One day I will try it with real key limes!
Yes, I guess that is the next step for me too.