Mini Key Lime Pie Bites Food

MINI KEY LIME PIE BITES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 F
• Spray a 24 count mini muffin tin thoroughly with non-stick cooking spray
• In a mixing bowl, combine crushed graham crackers and melted butter and stir
• Scoop a small spoonful of crumbs into each muffin tin, pressing down until firm with your fingers
• Bake for 8-9 minutes
• In a separate bow, beat cream cheese, egg, sugar, key lime juice + zest and vanilla with a mixer until well combined
• Fill the remainder of the muffin tins with cream cheese mixture and bake for 20-23 minutes
• Remove from oven and carefully run a butter knife around the edges of each pie so that they do not stick
• Remove from muffin tin and allow to cool
• Top each key lime pie with cool whip, graham cracker crumbs and a lime slice and serve chilled
• Enjoy!

MINI KEY LIME PIE BITES

Steps:

• Mix 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs with 1/3 cup sugar, 6 Tablespoons cooled melted butter and ¼ teaspoon kosher salt.
• Line muffin tin with paper or foil muffin cups. Press graham cracker mix into the bottom of the cups. Press with fingers or use the back of a ¼ teaspoon for the mini bites or a thin drinking glass for the regular size muffin tin.
• Bake crust for 5 minutes mini or 8 minutes regular size. Remove from oven and let cool.
• While the crust is cooking, in large bowl mix ½ cup key lime juice, 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk, 3 egg yolks, 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional) and 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice (optional). Whisk well, digging to the bottom of the bowl to make sure the custard is fully mixed and smooth.
• Fill each muffin cup ¾ full. You'll get 24 mini muffins and 12 regular size. You may have some crust and filling left over.
• Pop in preheated 350 degree oven for 12 minutes for mini and 16 minutes for regular size. The key lime pie bites should jiggle a little in the middle but be solid. Similar to pudding or cheesecake. It will not brown.

CRUNCHY KEY LIME PIE BITES ON ICE CREAM

Steps:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

KEY LIME PIE TARTLETS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray 12 cups of a nonstick mini muffin pan with cooking spray.
• For the crust: Place the graham crackers in a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Add the sugar and salt and pulse to combine. With the motor running, drizzle in the butter and process until the mixture resembles damp sand. Divide the mixture evenly among 12 cups of the prepared muffin tin (about 1 1/2 tablespoons for each cup) and use a shot glass or your fingers to press it evenly into the bottom and up the sides. Bake until browned and firm to the touch, about 10 minutes. Set aside while you prepare the filling. (If the crusts fell during baking, you can reform them while they are still hot with a lightly greased shot glass or the back of a lightly greased small spoon.)
• For the filling: Beat together the yolks and lime zest in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until the yolks have lightened in color and thickened slightly, about 1 minute. Add the condensed milk and lime juice and beat until combined. Divide the mixture evenly among the tartlet crusts in the muffin pan, filling just below the top of each crust. Bake just until the filling has set, about 6 minutes. Place the pan on a wire rack to cool for about 30 minutes. Remove tarts from the pan (a small offset spatula works well here) and refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour.
• Just before serving, beat the cream, confectioners' sugar and vanilla in a large bowl with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Dollop the whipped cream on top of the tartlets and sprinkle with the lime zest.