Skip to main content

Crunchy, Creamy Key Lime Pie Bites on Ice Cream

4.8

(4)

A bowl of vanilla ice cream topped with key lime cubes.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton

Basically, these little bites are like Key lime pie bars, but with opposite proportions of salty graham cracker crust and tangy lime custard. We put them on soft-serve when we opened Turkey and the Wolf and they’re awesome. A pint of your favorite ice cream works too.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 2 to 8

Ingredients

For the Key lime pie bites

One 14.4-oz. box graham crackers (ground to fine breadcrumb-size)
2 sticks (16 Tbsp.) plus 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
½ cup white sugar
1 Tbsp. kosher salt (Diamond Crystal or about half as much Morton), or more if you like
¾ cup plus 2 Tbsp. sweetened condensed milk
¼ cup bottled Key lime juice (like Nellie and Joe’s)
2 egg yolks

For serving

2 pints vanilla, coconut, or Creole cream cheese (a Louisiana thing) ice cream 
Flaky sea salt

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    To make the Key lime pie bites: Get your oven to 350°F. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, butter, sugar, and kosher salt and mix it with your hands until it’s all like wet sand.

    Step 2

    Line a loaf pan with parchment paper so the paper hangs over the sides by an inch or two. Put the graham sand in there and give it a firm press onto the bottom so you have an even packed layer that’s a smidge more than an inch. Bake, rotating the pan once, until the edges start to darken a shade but the center isn’t quite done, 12 to 15 minutes.

    Step 3

    While you’re waiting, whisk together the condensed milk, Key lime juice, and egg yolks so they’re well mixed. When the crust is done, pour on the lime mixture, give the pan a couple of taps on the counter so the lime stuff settles evenly, then bake again until the lime mixture is just barely set in the center, 10 to 12 minutes.

    Step 4

    Let this bad boy come to room temperature, then pop it in the fridge until it’s cold and it’s good to go. It keeps, covered, in the fridge for a week or the freezer for two.

    Step 5

    To serve: Run a knife along the edges of the pan, then use the parchment paper to lift out and cut the bars into roughly 1-inch crunchy Key lime pie babies. Scoop the ice cream into bowls (or just leave in the carton), top with the Key lime pie bites, and garnish with a pinch of flaky salt. Eat.

Image may contain: Burger, Food, and Sandwich
Reprinted with permission from Turkey and The Wolf by Mason Hereford with JJ Goode, copyright (c) 2022. Published by Ten Speed Press, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC. Buy the full book from Penguin Random House or Amazon.
Read More
The only thing better than a silky, tart Key lime pie? A graham cracker crust that doesn't fall apart when you serve it.
Using two entire lemons—pith, skin, and all—cranks up the citrus flavor in this classic dessert.
With a crisp crust, garlicky mayo, and a juicy slice of tomato.
This sheetcake version of Italian cassata houses a booze-soaked spongecake and sweet ricotta under a blanket of green marzipan dotted with candied fruit.
These cheesy biscuits are a dream savory breakfast. Or pile them in a basket to round out any dinner.
With dramatic choux layers and fruit-rippled cream, it’s the drag queen of Polish desserts.
This summery cake from Bake Club just happens to be gluten-free.
These pinwheel-style swirls pair classic sugar cookie dough with cranberry and red wine jam. They’re equally at home on a cheese plate and served as dessert.