Have you ever heard of chocolate covered key lime pie? We hadn’t either until we were on our Caribbean cruise last year. We had three ports of call and Key West was our final (and favorite) stop. I am a planner and I had researched each port we stopped at prior to leaving for our cruise, and I read that you can’t go to Key West without getting a slice of chocolate covered key lime pie. My husband and I love key lime pie, so we knew this would be a must.
First I have to say that Key West is awesome! We went on the cruise with four other couples and had a blast, but Key West was definitely the best stop. Our favorite picture of us from the trip was right before we went on a two hour jet ski tour. I also was still blonde back then. I’m thinking of switching back. Anyway, back on track… After our jet ski tour, we found the shop that everyone was talking about.
The tourist sites were not lying when they said this chocolate confection was amazing. It was all I could do to get my husband to share with me! I miss that trip and someday I hope that we will go back. In the meantime, I decided that we could relive at least a part of that day by making these delicious treats at home.
Our favorite key lime pie recipe is one I saw on the local morning news show several years ago. It’s an Italian key lime pie that uses mascarpone cheese. It’s delicious as is, but to crank it up a notch, cut the slices of pie and place the individual slices on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Place them in the freezer for about an hour. After they are slightly hardened, grab some popsicle sticks and a sharp pointed knife. Stick the knife through the back of the pie crust to basically make a pilot hole for the popsicle stick to be inserted. Do this for each slice of pie and then return them to the freezer for several hours or overnight. Don’t worry if the pie crust cracks a little when you insert the popsicle stick. Once they are frozen, they will be fine.
Once the pie slices are completely frozen, melt some semi-sweet (or whatever you like) chocolate chips with some shortening. The shortening makes the chocolate a bit softer to bite into. The amount of chocolate you need will depend on how many pieces of pie you plan to dip. Since we also like eating the pie au natuale, I only froze 6 slices. I melted one bag of chocolate chips and 2 tbsp of shortening together in a narrow container at 30 second intervals until it was completely melted.
Grab the slices of pie out of the freezer and dip them into the melted chocolate. Gently bump your dipping hand with the other to knock off any excess chocolate and place them on a fresh parchment-lined pan. Once all of the slices are dipped, place them back in the freezer to harden the chocolate. You can either serve them to guests or wrap them individually in plastic wrap.
This is an excellent alternative to your traditional chocolate dipped strawberries for Valentine’s day. I hope you enjoy!
~Katie
- 1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/2 stick unsalted butter (melted)
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 cans sweetened condensed milk
- 8 oz. mascarpone cheese at room temp
- 6 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup key lime juice
- Preheat over to 300 degrees
- Combine graham cracker crumbs with melted butter and sugar to make crust. Pack tightly into a pie shell or large tart pan, then set aside.
- In a mixer with a whisk attachment on low speed, combine eggs, mascarpone cheese and condensed milk until smooth. Then slowly add the key lime juice and mix well. Pour mixture into shell.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and set on pie rack to cool for 30 minutes. Place in refrigerator for at least 2 to 3 hours or overnight.
- Depending on the size pie or tart pan you use, there may be extra pie filling. We like our pie on the tart side, so I always add a few extra tablespoons of lime juice.
Wow. Wow. Wow. Key lime pie and chocolate are two of my favorite things! Together?! Mind blown. Pinning!
Tasha @ Designer Trapped in a Lawyer’s Body recently posted…DIY Photo Canvas Tutorial {with a secret tip to create REAL canvas texture}!
Thanks Tasha! It’s quite the combination:)
YUMMY! I just pinned! Key lime pie is Mike’s favorite and he will be so excited! Can’t wait to devour these 🙂
Angela (Life in Velvet) recently posted…Valentine Mailbox
Thanks Angela! I hope he likes it!
Wow. This looks divine. I love key lime pie and I live for chocolate. Yum!!
AManda Michelle recently posted…Industrial Pipe Bookcase
Thanks Amanda! I hope you had a great weekend!
Everything is better dipped in chocolate! I have never been to Key West though. Looks beautiful!
Gingermommy recently posted…Working with Competing Brands
It is so beautiful. And fun! Thanks for stopping by!
Wow. These look outstanding. I seriously can almost taste them by looking at them!! Incredible! I’m not very good in the kitchen, but I would love to give these a shot! 🙂 Stopping by from SITS comment love!!
katie recently posted…Me: A Miserable, Cranky, Human Being
They’re super easy! Thanks!
Holy Moly these look incredible!! I’m thinking I need these for my birthday next week!
#SITSBlogging
Julie recently posted…You Are Loved {and a Giveaway}
Thanks! I hope you enjoy them!
oh my gosh, I love key lime pie, and love chocolate even more. Pinning so I can it make soon! -SITS love
Kelly @SewCraftyCat recently posted…Valentine’s Day Sun Catcher
Oh my god, these look so delicious! I have to try these out on my holiday next week. Thanks for sharing 🙂 I’ll stick around, your blog is very interesting.
Kat recently posted…Laskettelua Rukalla / Skiing in Ruka
Thanks for stopping by, Kat!
This looks amazing! #sitsblogging
kara recently posted…I Don’t Cry Anymore on My Birthday: How Not Getting What I Want Has Shaped My Life for the Better
Thanks Kara!
I don’t think I’ve ever had key lime pie. It doesn’t look so hard so maybe I will make it.
Katrina @ Enchanted Savings recently posted…Disney Frozen Sparkle Elsa Doll on Amazon
It’s very easy to make and so good!
OMG! That looks amazing! My mouth is watering even as I type! Now I want to go to Key West inthe worst way. Thanks for sharing an amazing reciper and fun vacation photos. Sharing the comment love from Sits.
KIm recently posted…Oh Hearts of Mine!
Thank you! Key West is definitely a blast! Thanks for stopping by!
We went to that place too. We had a cruise for our honeymoon and I looked up the place online. I have been trying to make it ever since, with no luck. Thanks so much. I will be trying this out soon!
Yes! The chocolate covered key lime pie there was amazing! Key West is so much fun!
Hi! I was wondering..what do you mean with two cans of sweetened condensed milk? Whats the exact measurement?
Thanks