Vegan (Key) Lime Pie

Even though this Key Lime Pie looks like a not-so-complicated pie, it took much longer to make than I thought in the beginning. First, the cream wasn't solid, then too greasy, then I used the wrong oil and the wrong plant-based milk until finally, everything fits. But you can finally find the final recipe here! But what exactly is a Key Lime Pie all about?

Originally, the Key Lime Pie comes from Key West, the southernmost point of Florida. Correct, hence the name! The pie is made with Key Limes, and they're from the Keys (the chain of islands south of Florida) or Mexico. Key limes are much smaller than the limes we know from the supermarket. Since there're no Key Limes to buy in Germany, we can't actually prepare a Key Lime Pie in theory (hence the brackets in the recipe name), but who wants to miss out on a delicious lime pie? So consider this recipe a take on the original Key Lime Pie, whose filling is also usually made with condensed milk, eggs, sometimes sour cream, and limes.

In my first two attempts, I also tried making vegan condensed milk. The preparation was no problem. However, the consistency behaved quite differently during further processing than one is used to from animal condensed milk. Therefore, I opted for a mixture of plant-based cream, sugar, and flour, which in the end also gives a thick, sweet cream, just like thickened condensed milk. Because of the flour, the sweet vegan cream thickens quite wonderfully and doesn't need to be baked with it. Regarding the toppings, you are, of course, free. I've decorated the pie quite classically with whipped vegan cream and lime.