Introduction & Inspiration: A Citrusy, Salty, Sweet Sensation
This Atlantic Beach Pie is a unique and incredibly delicious dessert! I love its simple, unexpected combination of a salty cracker crust, a tangy citrus filling, and a light whipped cream topping. It’s a refreshing pie.
The inspiration for this recipe comes from a pie made famous by a restaurant in North Carolina. It’s a dessert that’s become a coastal classic. With a surprisingly simple ingredient list.
I wanted to create a recipe that captured the essence of that pie. With its distinctive saltine cracker crust and its bright, citrusy filling. This recipe is my take.
This pie is perfect for summer gatherings, potlucks, or any occasion. When you want a dessert that’s both refreshing and satisfying. It’s a guaranteed conversation starter.
Nostalgic Appeal (with a Coastal Twist)
While Atlantic Beach Pie might not be as widely known as some other classic pies, it has a devoted following. And a unique story that adds to its appeal. It’s a regional specialty.
This recipe taps into the nostalgia of simple, home-baked desserts. And the refreshing flavors of citrus and saltine crackers. It’s a taste of the coast.
There’s something inherently satisfying about the combination of a salty, crunchy crust, a creamy, tangy filling, and a light, airy topping. It’s a flavor and texture combination.
It’s the kind of pie that’s perfect for sharing with friends and family. Or for enjoying all to yourself as a special treat. It’s a taste of summer.
Homemade Focus (and the Simplicity of a No-Fuss Pie)
I’m a strong advocate for homemade desserts, and this Atlantic Beach Pie is a perfect example of why. Making your own pie allows you to control the ingredients and the flavor. It is very rewarding.
Store-bought versions of similar pies often lack the fresh, vibrant flavor and the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and tangy that you can achieve with homemade.
This recipe is particularly appealing because it’s relatively simple to make. The crust requires no rolling, and the filling comes together quickly. It’s a no-fuss pie.
It’s a recipe that I encourage everyone to try. It’s a great way to enjoy a delicious and unique dessert. Without spending hours in the kitchen.
Flavor Goal
The flavor goal of this Atlantic Beach Pie is to achieve a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and tangy flavors. With a creamy, citrusy filling, a crunchy cracker crust, and a light whipped cream topping.
The crust, made with coarsely crushed saltine crackers, melted butter, and sugar. It provides a salty and slightly sweet base that complements the tangy filling perfectly. It’s a unique and delicious crust.
The filling, made with sweetened condensed milk, egg yolks, lemon juice, and lime juice. It is intensely citrusy, creamy, and smooth. It’s the star of the show.
The whipped cream topping, made with heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla extract. It adds a light and airy touch that balances the richness of the filling. The overall effect is refreshing.
Ingredient Insights
Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients. For the Crust:
Saltine crackers, coarsely crushed, form the base of the crust. The saltiness of the crackers is a key element of this pie’s unique flavor profile.
Unsalted butter, melted, binds the cracker crumbs together and adds richness. Granulated sugar adds a touch of sweetness.
For the Filling:
Sweetened condensed milk provides sweetness and creaminess to the filling. It’s a key ingredient in many no-bake desserts.
Large egg yolks add richness and help to create a smooth, creamy texture. Fresh lemon juice and lime juice provide the signature bright, citrusy flavor.
For the Topping:
Heavy cream is whipped to create a light and airy topping. Granulated sugar adds sweetness.
Vanilla extract enhances the flavor.
Lemon and lime slices, for serving (optional), add a decorative touch and an extra burst of citrus flavor.
Essential Equipment
You’ll need a few basic kitchen tools:
A 9-inch pie plate.
A medium bowl: for crust.
Another medium bowl: for filling.
A whisk.
A hand mixer (or a stand mixer) for whipping the cream.
That’s it! This recipe is incredibly simple in terms of equipment. The key is to have a good-quality 9-inch pie plate.
List of Ingredients with Measurements
Here’s the complete list of ingredients, with precise measurements:
For the Crust:
- 6 oz. saltine crackers
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
For the Filling:
- 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
- 4 large egg yolks
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- ¼ cup lime juice
For Serving:
- 2 cups whipped cream or whipped topping
- Lemon and lime slices
These are the quantities from the original recipe.
Remember to use fresh, high-quality ingredients whenever possible, especially the lemons, limes, and heavy cream.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Ready to make a delicious and refreshing Atlantic Beach Pie? Here’s a detailed, step-by-step guide:
1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Crackers:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Coarsely crush the saltine crackers. You should end up with about 2 ¼ cups of crumbs. You can crush them in a food processor or by placing them in a resealable plastic bag and using a rolling pin.
2. Combine Crust Ingredients: Combine the crushed crackers, melted butter, and granulated sugar in a medium bowl.
Stir until well combined and the crumbs hold together when pressed with your fingers.
3. Press Crust into Pie Plate:
Press the crust mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate.
Press firmly to pack the crumbs and make an evenly thick crust.
4. Freeze and Bake the Crust: Place the crust in the freezer for 10 minutes to firm it up slightly.
Bake the crust on the middle rack of the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown.
5. Cool the Crust:
Set the baked crust aside to cool slightly, about 10 minutes.
6. Make the Filling:
While the crust is baking and cooling, make the filling.
Whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, egg yolks, fresh lemon juice, and fresh lime juice in a medium bowl until smooth and well combined.
7. Pour Filling into Crust: Pour the filling into the baked and slightly cooled crust.
8. Bake the Pie: Return the pie to the oven and bake until the center of the filling is just set, about 15 minutes.
9. Cool and Chill: Let the pie cool on a wire rack at room temperature for 1 hour.
Then, refrigerate the pie until it’s completely cold, at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
10. Top and Serve:
Top the chilled pie with whipped cream (or whipped topping) just before serving.
Garnish with lemon and lime slices, if desired.
Slice and serve. Enjoy your delicious and refreshing Atlantic Beach Pie!
Troubleshooting
Even with a simple recipe, issues can occur. Here are a few:
Problem: The crust is too crumbly.
Solution: Make sure you’re using enough melted butter to bind the cracker crumbs together.
Problem: The crust is soggy.
Solution: Make sure you’re baking the crust until it’s golden brown and set.
Problem: The filling is too runny.
Solution: Make sure you’re baking the pie long enough. The center should be just set but still slightly jiggly. Also, make sure you’re chilling the pie for at least 2 hours.
Problem: The whipped cream is too soft. Solution: Make sure to whip to firm peaks.
Problem: The filling is too tart/sweet. Solution: Adjust to your preference.
Tips and Variations
Here are some tips and variations:
Tip: For an even more intense citrus flavor, add the zest of a lemon and a lime to the filling.
Tip: If you don’t have a 9-inch pie plate, you can use an 8-inch or 10-inch pie plate, but you may need to adjust the baking time slightly.
Tip: To save time, you can use a store-bought graham cracker crust, but the saltine cracker crust is a key element of the traditional Atlantic Beach Pie flavor.
Variation: Use different types of citrus juice, such as all lemon juice, all lime juice, or a combination of orange and lemon juice.
Variation: Add a layer of fresh berries, such as raspberries or blueberries, on top of the filling before adding the whipped cream.
Variation: Sprinkle the top of the pie with toasted coconut flakes or chopped nuts.
Variation: Use a different type of cracker.
Serving and Pairing Suggestions
Serving ideas:
Serving Suggestions:
Serve the pie chilled, straight from the refrigerator.
Serve it as a dessert for a summer party, a barbecue, a potluck, or any occasion.
It’s a great make-ahead dessert, as it needs to chill for several hours before serving.
Pairing Suggestions:
This pie pairs well with a variety of beverages.
A glass of cold milk.
Iced tea or lemonade.
Sparkling water with a squeeze of lemon or lime.
A glass of crisp white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio.
A light, refreshing cocktail, such as a margarita or a mojito.
It’s also delicious on its own!
Nutritional Information
Here’s an approximate nutritional breakdown per serving (assuming 12 servings):
- Calories: Approximately 350-450
- Protein: 5-7 grams
- Fat: 20-30 grams (mostly from the butter, egg yolks, cream cheese, and heavy cream)
- Carbohydrates: 35-45 grams
- Fiber: 1-2 grams
This is just a general estimate. This Atlantic Beach Pie is a relatively rich and decadent dessert, due to the butter, sweetened condensed milk, egg yolks, and heavy cream.
It does provide some protein. It’s best enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
You can reduce the fat and calories by using less butter.
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Atlantic Beach Pie
Description
This Atlantic Beach Pie is a unique and incredibly delicious dessert! I love its simple, unexpected combination of a salty cracker crust, a tangy citrus filling, and a light whipped cream topping. It’s a refreshing pie
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 6 oz. saltine crackers
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
For the Filling:
- 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
- 4 large egg yolks
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- ¼ cup lime juice
For Serving:
- 2 cups whipped cream or whipped topping
- Lemon and lime slices
Instructions
1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Crackers:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Coarsely crush the saltine crackers. You should end up with about 2 ¼ cups of crumbs. You can crush them in a food processor or by placing them in a resealable plastic bag and using a rolling pin.
2. Combine Crust Ingredients: Combine the crushed crackers, melted butter, and granulated sugar in a medium bowl.
Stir until well combined and the crumbs hold together when pressed with your fingers.
3. Press Crust into Pie Plate:
Press the crust mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate.
Press firmly to pack the crumbs and make an evenly thick crust.
4. Freeze and Bake the Crust: Place the crust in the freezer for 10 minutes to firm it up slightly.
Bake the crust on the middle rack of the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown.
5. Cool the Crust:
Set the baked crust aside to cool slightly, about 10 minutes.
6. Make the Filling:
While the crust is baking and cooling, make the filling.
Whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, egg yolks, fresh lemon juice, and fresh lime juice in a medium bowl until smooth and well combined.
7. Pour Filling into Crust: Pour the filling into the baked and slightly cooled crust.
8. Bake the Pie: Return the pie to the oven and bake until the center of the filling is just set, about 15 minutes.
9. Cool and Chill: Let the pie cool on a wire rack at room temperature for 1 hour.
Then, refrigerate the pie until it’s completely cold, at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
10. Top and Serve:
Top the chilled pie with whipped cream (or whipped topping) just before serving.
Garnish with lemon and lime slices, if desired.
Slice and serve. Enjoy your delicious and refreshing Atlantic Beach Pie!
Recipe Summary and Q&A
Let’s recap this delicious Atlantic Beach Pie baking adventure!
Summary: This Atlantic Beach Pie is a no-bake dessert featuring a salty and sweet saltine cracker crust, a creamy, tangy citrus filling made with sweetened condensed milk, and a light whipped cream topping. It’s a refreshing and unique pie that’s perfect for summer.
Q&A:
Q: Can I make this pie ahead of time?
A: Yes, this pie is perfect for making ahead of time! In fact, it needs to chill for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight, before serving. You can make it up to 2 days in advance.
Q: Can I freeze this pie?
A: I don’t recommend freezing this pie, as the texture of the filling and the whipped cream may change upon thawing. It’s best enjoyed fresh.
Q: I don’t like saltine crackers. Can I use a different type of crust?
A: Yes, you can use a graham cracker crust or a vanilla wafer crust instead of the saltine cracker crust. However, the saltine cracker crust is a key element.
Q: Can I use store bought whipped topping?
A: You can.
Q: Can I make it in a different size pan? A: Yes, but the thickness of the layers will vary.