

His shop offers a large variety of pies, including different flavors, toppings, and styles. One day, the head chef drove off into the sunset, which forced Kermit to look for something new to do in his life.Īfter some consulting with his sister Anita and Anita’s husband, they realized they had a knack for quality (especially in food!), so they decided to open up a shop offering gourmet food called Kermit’s Key Lime Shoppe. Best Key Lime Pie in Key West Kermit’s Key Lime Shoppeįor 29 years, Kermit Carpenter made his living off of selling smoothies in a small stand in front of a restaurant called Papa’s Restaurant in Key West during his tenure as Papa’s bookkeeper. In 1994, the Florida State legislature officially recognized Key Lime Pie as an iconic symbol of the state of Florida. Today, many people use regular milk to make key lime pie (but true lovers know that the sweetened condensed milk makes it so smooth and delicious). Where to find Key Lime Pie in Key West – Key Lime Pie Bakery – marleyPug – ShutterstockĪlong with various other theories on who created the first version of the sweet treat, it wasn’t until the 1930s that the first recipes were written down.Īt that time, there was no fresh milk to use in the recipe for the pie, so many people used sweetened condensed milk as a substitute. Some historians believe that Aunt Sally didn’t necessarily create key lime pie but instead came up with a delicacy that local fishermen enjoyed. It is said that Aunt Sally was the one who created key lime pie in the late 1800s. In the 1800s, a ship salvager named William Curry, also Florida’s first self-made millionaire, had a cook who everyone called Aunt Sally. Unfortunately, no one knows who was the first to come up with the recipe as it was never truly documented. Key lime pie is one of America’s best-loved regional dishes, famous in Key West, Florida, and the other Keys. This dessert has become an icon of the Florida Keys, and you have to try it when there, regardless of whether you’re visiting in winter or summer! The History of Key Lime Pie Since it is made of lime and sugary ingredients, it can taste somewhat more bitter depending on the juice of the lime.
#Kermit key lime pie recipe cracker
It is sometimes baked in either regular pie crust, graham cracker crust, or no crust.

Pretty heavy and calorie dense, but well worth the taste if you ever get a chance to try it out! It is often served without toppings, with a meringue topping made from egg whites, or with whipped cream. So what exactly is key lime pie? Key lime pie is a traditional American dessert made of lime, egg yolks, and sweetened condensed milk that is associated (mostly) with Key West, Florida! We detail where to find delicious key lime pie in Key West as well as the history of each place (and a lot about what is on their menus)! Best key lime pie in Key Westĭid we miss any amazing Key West key lime pie eateries? Let us know your favorite key lime pie spot in the comments. “It helps to lighten the texture and richness of the pie.Are you heading to South Florida soon and searching for the best key lime pie in Key West? This guide has you covered! “The meringue adds a layer of complexity,” he says. Instead of whipped cream, Chef Bobby adds a “fancy” layer of meringue to Marker 88’s Key Lime Baked Alaska to re-create “the pie we grew up on.” Marker 88: Old School with Meringue on Top The chef has been using this recipe for 30 years and counting. Mac’s pie is tarter and denser than most, with a thick vanilla-pudding filling and whipped cream topping. Mac’s in Key Largo, where Key Lime pie is a bestseller.

For pie lovers, how about taste testing along the “Key Lime Pie Trail”? Driving from Key Largo to Key West on the Overseas Highway, make sure to put these places on your pie pilgrimage: Mrs. It’s believed that local sponge fishermen made a crude version to consume on their boats, but in the late 1800s, one woman in Key West created the recipe known today. The origin of Key Lime pie is mired in fact and fiction. “Many restaurants have their own Key Lime trees.” “Key limes are tarter, with a higher acid content than regular limes,” says Chef Bobby Stoky, owner of Marker 88 in Islamorada. Despite a gazillion variations, one ingredient never changes: Key limes. More tart than sweet, the citrusy custard is traditionally made with egg yolks, sweetened condensed milk and Key lime juice, and then baked in a buttery graham cracker crust. From roadside shacks to upscale restaurants, virtually every eatery in the Keys has this dessert on the menu and it’s tempting to try them all. There’s no better place to enjoy Key Lime pie than in the Florida Keys, the birthplace of this favourite American dessert.
