Are you ready for St. Patrick's Day? It's coming up this Sunday, March 17th. What to wear? Something green, of course. What to cook? Now that is a real question. There are all kinds of Irish and green foods to choose from. There is American Irish Soda Bread which would be great for breakfast. That leaves figuring out what to make for snacks, lunch, dinner, and dessert. How does Key Lime Pie Ice Cream sound? Pretty good if you ask me.
I spotted key limes at the grocery store. It is the first time I've seen them there. I had to go to an International Farmer's Market to get them before. Even then it was hit or miss. I'm so glad there are more of those fruits available; like meyer lemons and blood oranges. Anyway, as soon as I saw the key limes I craved a pie. The craving turned to ice cream and so a recipe search began.
My key lime pie ice cream recipe search wasn't so successful. There were lots with the ingredients of lime juice, sweetened condensed milk, and cream - but no egg yolks. I wanted my ice cream to be as much like the traditional pie recipe as possible. I decided to adapt my vanilla bean ice cream for it. Because of the egg yolks, a little cooking is involved to be more food safe. The result is a sweet/tart ice cream that tastes just like the pie. I serve it with graham crackers to complete the experience. My husband put the ice cream between graham crackers to make an ice cream sandwich. Great idea! (Now why didn't I take a photo of that??)
How about more recipes for St. Patrick's Day? I was asked to participate in an event hosted by Jen of Jen's Favorite Cookies. It's an honor to be a part of this fun and tasty celebration. There are 14 blogs participating and sharing St. Pat's recipes. Take a look at the scrumptious line-up:
Here is the list of recipes:
- Key Lime Pound Cake by Joan at Chocolate, Chocolate and More
- Mini Banoffee Pie Tarts by Kelly at Kelly Bakes
- Chocolate Bailey's Mousse Tart by Nancy at Gotta Get Baked
- Irish Carbomb Cupcakes by Susan at The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
- Pistachio Caramel Cookies by Jen at Jen's Favorite Cookies
- Guinness Stout Mini Bundt Cakes Shanna at Pineapple and Coconut
- Irish Cheese and Bacon Cheesecake with Walnut Crust by Carla at Chocolate Moosey
- Bailey's Irish Cream Cheese Trifle by Anita at Hungry Couple
- Key Lime Pie Ice Cream by Renee at Magnolia Days
- Pistachio Mousse Cups by Kim at Cravings of a Lunatic
- Irish Eggs Benedict by Isabelle at Crumb
- Cookie Stacks by Angie at Big Bear's Wife
- Guinness Chocolate Cake by Jen at Juanita's Cocina
- Irish Potato-Oatmeal Bread by Sarah at What Smells So Good?
Now that should get your ready for St. Pat's for sure! There are plenty of choices of recipes to make. Join me in visiting each one of these wonderful blogs. They are only a click away...
What is your favorite thing to do for St. Patrick's Day? It is sipping green beer or pinching those who forgot to wear green? Or could it be cooking, baking, and sharing the goods with family and friends? I'm sure you can figure out which one I like to do. Now where's my green shirt? I don't want to get pinched...
Key Lime Pie Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup half-and-half
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk 14 ounces
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup key lime juice
- Graham crackers for serving and garnish
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium heat, add the heavy cream and half-and-half and cook until it reaches 120 degrees F.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks until slightly lighter in color. Use a ladel to add a little of the cream to the egg yolks and whisk to combine. Do this slowly and in small amounts to temper the egg yolks. Too much hot liquid at one time will cook/scramble the yolks. Continue adding cream until at least half has been mixed with the yolks. Add the yolks/cream mixture back to the pan and whisk to combine.
- Over medium heat, cook the mixture until it thickens, stirring constantly. Pour the mixture through a strainer into a medium bowl. If very thick, push through the strainer with a silicone spatula. Add the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, and key lime juice. Stir or whisk to combine. Cover the mixture directly on top with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming. Cool to room temperature. Once it has cooled, place it in the refrigerator to chill overnight.
- Pour chilled mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. Transfer ice cream to a container and place it in the freezer for at least one hour or overnight. Garnish and serve with graham crackers. Enjoy!
Gorgeous, Renee! Key Lime is one of my favorite pies; I've never thought to put it in ice cream, but this sounds just perfect for any season. And frankly, your husband is a genius for making ice cream sandwiches out of it! Happy St. Paddy's Day!
Thanks Kelly! Yes, my husband is quite the genius. I need to check with him for more ideas for the blog.
Renee, this sounds fabulous! I adore Key Lime Pie but like you, I can never find the limes in my local stores. I was thrilled when I found Key Lime Juice, right next to the Lemon Juice. I can't wait to try this out!
Thanks Joan! I'm sure it will be great with the bottled key lime juice. I was lucky to find them in my local store.
Let me tell you it sounds amazing! I definitely want to try this one, and limes are very common here, since we drink a LOT of caipirinhas, the cocktail. I have a thirty year old recipe from a condensed milk add, and the original recipe for ice cream has 3 egg yolks among the ingredients. I guess they took them out after the no raw egg mania began. I even have all the ingredients already! Love this Renee!
Now you have me craving a caipirinha - I love that drink.
Mmm... I love key lime flavored things. Ice cream...cake...cocktails... 😉
Thanks Anita!
Key lime ice cream??? It's like my favorite flavors all in one little bowl!
Thanks Jen! And next time it might be lemon pie ice cream just for you, my citrus-loving friend.
Key lime pie is my favorite thing in the world. It was the filling to my wedding cake! I need to try this once key limes are truly in season. I have a stash of juice left in the freezer from last year that I need for my key lime pie bars, but you can bet this summer I will be all over this ice cream.
That must have been one delicious wedding cake. I hope you do enjoy the ice cream with the in-season key limes.
such beautiful photos! I love the flavor of keylime! I can only imagine how great this must be!
Thanks Angie!
Ooh, I love the ice cream sandwich idea! This sounds so refreshing. Thanks for being part of our St. Patrick's Day Recipe Party!
Thank you Jen for inviting me to participate in such a fun event!
Oh yum, key lime ice cream sounds so delicious! I really want to try this recipe 🙂
Thanks Rosie
Love this! I'm a total sucker for citrus, and key limes are no exception... and I just love a rich, creamy homemade ice cream. I bet this would make a wicked good filling for a frozen key lime pie on a hot summer day!
Great idea Isabelle about making this into a frozen pie!
This looks and sounds so good! Love that your husband made ice cream sandwiches out of it too!
My husband did have a great idea and it made it fun to eat. No spoons or bowls required.
that sound right up my alley!
Since my kids are huge key lime pie fans they will be thrilled if I make this for them. Great ice-cream flavor idea, Renee. So refreshing:)
Thanks Lora! I'm sure it would be a hit with your kids.
I've been living in Florida for 4 years now and I have to say that there is nothing quite like a fresh key lime. I am definitely going to try this if there are still bags of the little guys being sold at the farmer's market this weekend. I really hope so because I soooo want to eat this!
How fortunate you live in an area where you can get fresh key limes. They don't grow so well here in Georgia.
Okay woman you know me and ice cream. This is fabulous. I must try this. Or hop on a plane and come eat yours. lol
Kim, my sweet friend, you are welcome here anytime for ice cream or whatever reason.
Yummy! I love tart ice creams, so this is right up my alley!
Thanks Tiffany! It is a nice change from sweet ice cream.
Love this ice and your gorgeous photos, Renee! It looks so incredibly creamy and luscious, in other words: perfect! And I like the way your hubby thinks. Making ice cream sammiches with this is brilliant.
Thanks so much Nancy!
I have got to get out my ice cream maker.Your Key Lime Pie Ice Cream looks and sounds sooo good. My step-mom and father live in Florida so I am well aware of the delectable flavor. Thank you for the inspiration, Renee.
You will have to get them to send some fresh picked key limes to you. What a great treat it would be.
Your husband is a very smart man! I would also be keen to pair some graham crackers with this lovely ice cream!
Yes, he is very smart and I love him dearly and one of the reasons is he has such great ideas.
This looks so delicious!!!
Thanks Katherine!
I love how refreshing key lime anything is, even if it's full of cream and condensed milk haha! Looks delicious!
Thanks Sarah! It is okay to splurge on a little cream and condensed milk occasionally.
This sounds so light and refreshing. Gorgeous photos too!
Thanks Laura!
Now this is a great way to get into Spring and celebrate St. Paddy's Day at the same time! Very pretty photos, and the ice cream sounds divine.
Thank you Colleen! I agree the ice cream is a great way to kick off spring.
This sounds dangerous...dangerously awesome! What a lovely combo and it's been warm in SF, so I have an excuse to make this for St. Patty.
Warm or not, any reason is a good one to make this ice cream. (wink)
Not sure if I've ever had key lime pie before, let alone ice cream. Can't wait to try it!
It is hard for me to believe you have not had key lime pie or ice cream. You should since you like citrus so much.
This recipe sounds great but I don't have an ice cream maker. Is there any way to make this without one?
I have not made ice cream without an ice cream maker so I am not much help. I've seen various how-to's but have never tried them so I cannot confirm.