Description
Creamy key lime icebox cake blends zesty citrus with graham cracker layers, creating a refreshing summer dessert. Cool Miami-inspired treats invite cool relaxation and sweet indulgence on warm afternoons.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cans (14 oz/396 g) sweetened condensed milk
- 3 ¾ cups (890 mL) cold heavy whipping cream, divided
- 27 full graham crackers
- ½ cup (120 mL) Key lime juice
- 6 tablespoons (75 g) sugar
- 2 tablespoons lime zest
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
Instructions
- Lime Base Preparation: Whisk condensed milk with lime juice and zest in a large bowl, creating a vibrant, tangy foundation that will define the dessert’s character.
- Cream Transformation: Employ an electric mixer to whip heavy cream and vanilla until soft peaks emerge, establishing a luxurious, airy texture essential to the dessert’s structure.
- Flavor Integration: Delicately fold the whipped cream into the lime mixture in thirds, ensuring a harmonious blend that preserves the mixture’s ethereal lightness.
- Layer Construction: Carefully arrange graham crackers across the bottom of a rectangular dish, strategically fitting pieces to create a uniform, sturdy base that will support the creamy layers.
- First Cream Application: Spread half of the lime cream evenly over the graham cracker foundation, ensuring complete coverage and a consistent flavor profile throughout the dessert.
- Secondary Layer Formation: Position a second graham cracker layer, then lavishly distribute the remaining lime cream, creating a rich, indulgent intermediate stratum that promises decadent complexity.
- Cream Topping Finalization: Whip remaining cream with sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form, then meticulously spread across the top layer to create a smooth, inviting finish.
- Chilling and Melding: Seal the dessert with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, allowing the layers to intermingle and graham crackers to absorb the creamy essence, transforming the dessert into a cohesive, sublime experience.
Notes
- Zest Like a Pro: Use fresh, organic limes for maximum flavor impact and grate zest carefully to avoid bitter white pith.
- Whipping Wisdom: Chill mixing bowl and beaters beforehand for faster, fluffier whipped cream with stable peaks.
- Layering Technique: Work swiftly when assembling to prevent graham crackers from becoming overly soggy and maintain textural contrast.
- Chilling Magic: Minimum 8-hour refrigeration is crucial for flavor development and achieving the perfect cake-like texture.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: None
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 26 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg