Macadamia Key Lime Pie

Name: Macadamia Key Lime Pie
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients: ¾ cup (175 mL) graham cracker crumbs; ¼ cup (60 mL) macadamia nuts, finely chopped; 4 tbsp (60 mL) butter (½ stick); 2 tbsp (30 mL) sugar; 2 large limes, zested and juiced, plus additional slices for garnish; 4 oz. (125 g) cream cheese, softened; ½ can (7 oz./200 g) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk); 3-4 drops green and yellow food coloring (optional); ½ container (4 oz./125 g) frozen whipped topping, thawed, plus additional for garnish

Guests will delight in this cool and refreshing pie. Buttery-rich macadamia nuts give the crust added flavor and crunch.

Ingredients

¾ cup (175 mL) graham cracker crumbs
¼ cup (60 mL) macadamia nuts, finely chopped
4 tbsp (60 mL) butter (½ stick)
2 tbsp (30 mL) sugar

2 large limes, zested and juiced, plus additional slices for garnish
4 oz. (125 g) cream cheese, softened
½ can (7 oz./200 g) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)
3-4 drops green and yellow food coloring (optional)
½ container (4 oz./125 g) frozen whipped topping, thawed, plus additional for garnish

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C). In a large bowl, mix together the crust ingredients. Press evenly into the Half Pie Pan. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from the oven and cool completely.
For the filling, combine the lime juice and zest, cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk and food coloring (if using) in a medium mixing bowl; whisk until smooth. Fold in the whipped topping. Pour mixture into crust. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
Garnish top of pie with remaining whipped topping and lime slices, if desired.

Yield:

8 servings

Nutrients per serving:

Calories 640, Total Fat 38 g, Saturated Fat 22 g, Cholesterol 60 mg, Carbohydrate 63 g, Protein 9 g, Sodium 270 mg, Fiber 1 g

Cook's Tips:

Persian limes are the most common limes available in the supermarket and provide excellent results in this recipe. Fresh Key limes are grown in Florida and the Caribbean and are not available in most areas of the country, but can be substituted for the Persian limes, if you like. Bottled Key lime juice can be used as well, but don't omit lime zest. Key limes are smaller, rounder and tarter than Persian limes and have a yellow tint to the peel and flesh.

Wash and dry limes before removing zest. Limes will release the most juice if they are at room temperature. You can warm refrigerated limes in the microwave for about 10 seconds before juicing.