With a title like the one posted above, I bet you couldn’t wait to click over here and see what it was all about.
Today is PI DAY or п Day. Pi, the mathematical constant whose value is the ratio of any circle’s circumfrence to its diameter…a decimal representation that never ends or repeats. When a circle’s diameter is 1, its circumfrence is Pi (п).
However, if you are a food blogger, it means literally, YOU MAKE PIE. So I did.
I made Cheater’s Key Lime Pie. It seemed so fitting as I’m sure math is cheated on the most in school.
However, as Wikipedia claims…”fascination with the number (п) has even carried over into non-mathematical culture”. Is food blogging one of the cultures they are referring to?
Anyway, as I wrote about in my quest for a juicer, squeezing Key Limes can be tedius. Most pie recipes require anywhere from a half-a-cup to a cup of Key Lime juice. It’s a lot. My Key Lime Cupcakes require only a couple tablespoons of the juice which is completely doable. But a cup…it’s a lot. However, there really is no substitution for the freshly squeezed juice so it basically comes down to how much time you want to spend squeezing.
As a result of being short on time, I consulted Real Simple Magazine’s, Fake It Don’t Bake It, section. Low and behold, Key Lime Pie. Perfect. No squeezing. Whew.
However, I did make my own graham cracker crust, but you could easily buy one to make this even quicker.
So, Happy Pi Day. Make sure you get out and eat a giant slice, or make this one, it won’t take long.
Let’s make this together…
Here’s what you will need: Graham cracker crumbs, butter, granulated sugar, heavy cream, limeade concentrate, sweetened condensed milk and and lime zest.
In a medium sized bowl combine, 1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs, 6 Tablespoons melted butter and 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Press the mixture into the bottom and sides of a 9″ pie plate with the bottom of a glass. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes. Cool completely.
Place condensed milk, limeade concentrate, lime zest and heavy cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat until fluffy and soft peaks form.
Pour the filling into the pie crust and smooth the top. Refrigerate until chilled and loosely set, about 4-6 hours or overnight.
Garnish with slices of lime and more zest.
The best part.
If you are like me, you can’t wait for a pie to chill and then you have pie ooze.
It still tastes good.
Cheater’s Key Lime Pie
Inspired by Real Simple
1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup granulated sugar
6 Tablespoons butter, melted
14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
6- ounce can frozen limeade concentrate (not thawed)
1 cup heavy cream
Zest of one lime or several key limes, more for garnish
Lime slices, for garnish
In a medium sized bowl combine, graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar. Press the mixture into the bottom and sides of a 9″ pie plate with the bottom of a glass. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes. Cool completely.
Place condensed milk, limeade concentrate, lime zest and heavy cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat until fluffy and soft peaks form.
Pour the filling into the pie crust and smooth the top. Refrigerate until chilled and loosely set, about 4-6 hours or overnight.
Garnish with slices of lime and more zest.
What I Was Cooking One Year Ago Today: Whiskey Glazed Corned Beef
Hilary says
Hi Cathy .. looks absolutely delicious & for my waist & hips … I’m so glad it’s not in front of me .. as I’d be guzzling it right down ..
Thanks – my mouth is watering .. Hilary: Be Positive Be Happy
Rosa says
That pie looks to die for!! Really tempting! I’m drooling now…
Cheers,
Rosa
Shawn says
Oh, I’ve always wanted an easy key lime pie recipe that actually tastes like it and I think this one just might. I love the homemade graham crust also.
Thanks Cathy!
HoneyB says
Looks yummy and easy!
Marlene says
I made peach pie with a french crumb top and home-made vanilla (Thomas Jefferson’s Recipe) ice cream.
I may have to make this one today too.
Donna-FFW says
Pie OOOZE.. I love it.. How funny are you. What a pretty picture to wake up to this morning, this pie!! Yum factor is huge here, gargantuan!
T says
I love your site!
I will be back often.
Blond Duck says
I’d love to have some pie on PI day!
Donald says
I love the ooze! This looks delicious.
Doreen Frost says
This looks scrumptious! I am definitely going to make this..I’m headed to the grocery store later..and lime juice is now on the list….that’s the only thing I don’t have or I would be making this now!
:)Thanks for sharing
Doreen
ntsc says
Pi is not a decimal number whose digits never repeat, but rather a number that can not be represented as a ratio of two integers, thus an irrational number.
Your definition while not wrong is not complete as there is an implication that if written in another number base perhaps the digits do repeat.
And as everybody knows it is not ‘Pi r squared’ because everbody knows ‘Pi r round’.
Barbie with a T says
I am reading this first thing in the morning, and my mouth is watering for that tangy fresh lime juicy bite of pie. Your pictures say 1000 words…YUM, YUM, YUM.
Julen says
Delicious and delightful! Only a true foodie would ever take Pi Day so literally as you have. I like that one can use limeade for the juice, too. Very convenient!
Melynda says
anything lime and I am there! This is on my list to make.
Steph says
That pie looks amazing!! I love key lime pies and I’m sure I would love this one… it’s so rich
Natasha - 5 Star Foodie says
The key lime pie looks insanely good! Yum!
Jennifer says
Happy Pi Day to you as well! That pie is so pretty with all the zest sprinkled on top of it.
Culinarywannabe says
What a nice way to celebrate! And the limes are fitting for the green holiday coming up!
Egghead says
I will find any excuse just to make and eat pie…so PI Day? Yeah, Pie Day.
Cheryl says
My son just came to the table hungry for breakfast (where I am typing) and I asked what he wanted to eat. He pointed to the Cheater’s Pie pictures and said, “THAT!”
Don’t blame him a bit… 😉
Trisha says
Okay – does it mean I am a geek if I actually got your title before you explained it?
That pie looks fabulous – thanks for the recipe!
gfe-gluten free easily says
It looks absolutely delish, Cathy! Sometimes cheating does no harm and is preferable to the alternative … along the white lies can be acceptable line of thinking. LOL I will have to make a gluten-free variation of this to share with my MIL (she is a key lime anything devotee). As soon as my oven is back in commission …
Thanks,
Shirley
Cathy at Wives with Knives says
You sure got my attention. Beautiful pie and terrific photos as always.
Suzette says
Key lime pie! My absolute favorite dessert! I ate my way through the Florida Keys on key lime pie once. I’ll probably never make the cheater’s version, because I get some sort of satisfaction out of squeezing all those limes. But, thanks for the reminder that this would be a great thing to bring to the office on Tuesday – and much easier than those iced shamrock cookies I was thinking about.
Spruce Hill says
That looks really good. When I make key lime pie I use the bottle key lime juice it’s easier than using the real limes 🙂
Fencepost says
I am so gonna have to try this one. I love key lime pie!
Asthmagirl says
I forgot it was pie day! Last year I baked for Evil Chef Mom’s pie day!
I wouldn’t be able to wait to eat it either! I love key lime pie!
Claire says
Oh, this post makes me happy! I love Key Lime pie, & I’ve also been known to throw back a Key Lime martini or 2.
Those pictures make my mouth water…
Noble Pig says
Yes, and because it is an irrational number cannot be expressed exactly as a fraction which is why its decimal representation never ends or repeats.
It’s also a transcendental number, meaning no finite sequence of algebraic operations on integers (powers, roots, sums) can be equal to its value.
But there is a reason I didn’t get into all that….it’s a bit Geek-sta for this site
dawn says
I love Key Lime Pie too but yes it can be tedious. We all need a quick version sometimes, okay all the time.
Awesome photos too.
Happy Pi Day.
Alisa says
I’ve never been a key lime person, but you could easily fix that!
Made your chow mein last night. Husband almost loves you more than he loves me now.
Thanks for all the great food!
Flea says
Oh yum! Again!
My youngest came downstairs this morning and wished me happy pi day. 🙂
elra says
Oh, this is a favorite and very popular pie among my family. I think I’d cheat for this pie too.
Cheers,
elra
Julia says
This looks like a pie full of sunshine! Considering how craptastic the weather is lately, this would be a great way to brighten things up.
Happy Pi Day!
Elyse says
This recipe looks dangerously good!! Key lime pie is a perfect pie in my book, so tangy yet creamy. Oh man, and that graham cracker crust is just delicious, too! Perfect Pi Day celebration!
april says
I usually use Nelly and Joe’s lime juice for my key lime pie, but I may have to try this. My husband adores key lime pie, but truthfully he only trusts key lime pie if it has a greenish tint so I’ve resorted to green food coloring so he can really enjoy his pie.
Susan at Sticky,Gooey,Creamy,Chewy says
That’s beautiful Key lime pie, Cathy! It looks just as delicious as any I’ve seen in the Keys (and I’ve seen a lot)! Don’t know if you’re aware of this, but you can buy bottled Key lime juice, which is a very good sub for fresh. Nellie & Joe’s is a good brand. I usually squeeze a few fresh ones and then use the bottled juice for the rest.
Lisa says
Great Pie! I made a Key Lime Pie last year and it was bitter. Cheating sounds like a better way to go!
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) says
Happy Pi Day — and what a great pie to celebrate with. My husband is a Key Lime Pie fan and he’ll love this easier version.
Sara says
I wouldn’t be able to wait for it to chill either, it looks so delicious! I love key limes.
grace says
well, you did a lot better than me in preparing pie for pi day. and what a terrific holiday it is. 🙂
Laurie says
Oh yeah! Love the key lime – and I don’t even mind squeezing all that juice. This looks perfectly scrumptious.
Fun House Jennifer says
That looks so good! I like pie better than Pi!!
Rebel says
Key Lime Pie is one of my favorites. Thanks for the great recipe.
lo says
Pi day, huh?
I love a good key lime pie — and if it’s quick & easy all the better! 🙂 Think it has the power to cure the common cold?
pigpigscorner says
Looks amazing! love the colours.
imom says
That pie looks so pretty and refreshing!
Marjie says
I’m good with pie ooze! I believe I also mentioned that we’re celebrating Pi Day, with pizza pie and then real pie. Pizza, of course, is a good excuse for me to make everyone else assemble their own dinner, then I bake it, and everyone tells me what an awesome cook I am!
Paula says
That’s my tried and true key lime recipe!! I usually can’t wait till it sets either!!
dawn says
I could easily eat this with a spoon, no need to slice it. The hell with chilling it!
Katie says
I missed pi day 🙁 too busy baking cupcakes for the school fair. That key lime pie looks wonderful, I too could eat it with a spoon happily!
Mary says
Great results for such little work. Really nice, Cathy.
Tanya Schroeder says
I’m the only baker who didn’t make pie today (I made cupcakes). I didn’t even notice today was March 14th! I just want to say though that I LOVE you for not adding green food coloring to your Key Lime pie.
Julie says
Looking at this pie makes me wish I was in the Florida Keys wearing flip flops and listening to Jimmy Buffett songs. I’m usually wishing that anyway, but this just intensifies it 🙂
stinkypaw says
Oooh, this looks too good… yummy!
ntsc says
I got into a major argument with my 7-8th grade math teacher on that subject. He insisted it was 3-1/7.
He was wrong, not even knowing what an irrational number was. He was also the shop teacher and very good at it. His course was the sum total of my training in carpentry or drafting.
As an aside Carl Sagan wrote a novel, Contact, in which it is discovered that millions of digits into Pi it becomes something else.
kayola says
I ♥ KEY LIME PIE! I’m puckering just thinking about it!
Marcy says
ooh that looks yummy, and you alwasy present stuff so prettily!
Liz C. says
Absolute Heaven!
nina says
I’m OK with cheating…in cooking of course!! Looks light and decadent..just the way I like it!!!
Hélène says
Oh my! you have me drooling over here.
Woman in a window says
Now, that looks delectable!
Kate says
Be still my heart. Oh, for joy.
Louise says
Pi day and Square Root day in the same month is such sheer joy!
phillygirl64 says
Actually National Pie Day is January 23rd…
easy as pie
easy as 1 / 2 3
Marguerite says
I LOVE lime! That looks delicious!
The Duo Dishes says
Oh yes yes yes!
Christine says
Wow! I love key lime pie. This one looks fabulous!
Mrs. L says
Did anyone ever suggest getting the juicer attachment to the Kitchenaide mixer?
This cheaters pie sounds right up my alley!
Pavlina says
This is the same cheaters pie I make. 🙂
Christina says
Oh, thanks for sharing! We love key lime pie – but I agree, getting your hands on key limes sometimes can be tricky. Great substitute!
wow characters says
Alchemedis pronounced al-kem-e-d-es. I was debating on a male name like that for the neopolitan mastiff I was going to get. Almost any of the god names will achieve that. Even a name like revolution. I found this site if you want to take a look.
Melanie says
What did you do with all the limes in your photos? I hope you didn’t throw them away…
Cathy says
Cocktails!