Make this Atlantic Beach Pie to give your guests a taste of a different type of dessert. This pie is the perfect mixture of a Key Lime Pie and a Lemon Meringue Pie. Join me on a culinary journey as we dive into the depths of this tangy, smooth, and citrusy pie that’s sure to leave you craving a taste of the beach.
Food Critics say that an Atlantic Beach Pie is like Key Lime Pie and Lemon Meringue Pie if they had a baby. This pie came directly from the pie extraordinaire Bill Smith. When Bill Smith was younger, he’d enjoy a similar pie from local seafood restaurants.
He wanted to recreate what he knew and loved. With this pie, you’ll get a very sweet and savory mixture of crushed saltine crackers, butter, and sugar. The saltine cracker crust is a hit every time! The filling itself is created with sugar, yolk, and lemon juice.
So, let’s get started on recreating this delicious pie!
Why You’ll Love North Carolina Lemon Pie
- Easy to make: One of the best reasons you should make this Atlantic Beach Pie is that it’s so easy to make.
- Impressive dessert: This is a pie that is so impressive yet doesn’t require anything too complicated to make it.
- Everyone loves it: If you want to make a pie that will be the talk of the town, then give this recipe a try!
Why a Saltine Cracker Crust?
Yeah, this may seem a bit odd for a crust, BUT the filling is super sweet and tart, which means you need a little bit of a saltier crust! Let’s not forget the topping, which is made out of heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt.
Atlantic Beach Pie Recipe Ingredients
Keep in mind that these ingredients are just for the topping. The crust and the topping ingredients are listed below in the recipe card!
- Sugar – To make this pie, you’ll need granulated sugar.
- Egg yolks – You can’t make the filling without delicious egg yolks!
- Lemon juice – The lemon juice in this filling really helps bring the flavor to life.
- Lime juice – A little lime juice goes a long way in this filling recipe.
- Salt – You can’t make a filling to a pie without a pinch of salt.
- Sweetened condensed milk – The ingredient that brings everything together is sweetened condensed milk, which helps make the filling have sustenance.
FAQs for Atlantic Pie
What if I don’t have saltine crackers?
If you don’t have saltine crackers, the one substitution you could make is to use crushed graham crackers. With the graham crackers, the crust is going to taste a little sweeter
What’s the flavor of Atlantic Beach Pie?
The crust is buttery, lightly sweet, with a hint of saltiness coming from the saltine crackers. With a thick layer of creamy, sweet, smooth, rich lemon lime filling that is packed with a zesty punch. Topped with a sweet and fluffy whipped cream topping. Finished off with lemon and lime zest and slices for added flare.
Can I make this pie ahead of time?
Yes, you can make this pie in advance. Follow the directions and store the pie in the fridge. The only thing that should be made right before serving is the topping. This pie is best served chilled, especially the topping.
Do I have to use the topping recipe?
You don’t have to use the topping recipe, but it is delicious! You can play around with the ingredients and add what you’d like to the topping. This Atlantic Beach Pie not only has history, but it tastes delicious! The first time you make this dessert, everyone will love it and ask you to continue to make it for each gathering. What’s your favorite part of Atlantic Beach Pie?
Whether you’re lucky enough to visit Atlantic Beach or simply craving a taste of holiday memories, this pie is sure to transport you to the welcoming shores where it all began. So why not give it a try and let your taste buds embark on a delectable journey to the Atlantic coastline?
This recipe is inspired by the lemon pie that served at the seafood restaurants in North Carolina, Atlantic Beach Pie is a super-simple citrus pie thats packed full of lemon and lime flavors from the creamy filling thats exploding with citrus flavor, a crust made from crushed Saltine crackers that gives a subtle hint of salt and topped with a smooth, whipped cream! If you’re a fan of lemon pie or key lime pie you’ll love this dessert.
Everything about Atlantic Beach Pie screams summertime paradise. Its classic cracker crust provides a firm and buttery foundation for the zesty, creamy filling. The heart of this tangy dessert filled with fresh lemon juice & lemon zest!
More Recipes You Will Love!
Atlantic Beach Pie
Ingredients
Crust:
- 1 2⁄3 cups crushed saltine crackers
- 1⁄4 cup sugar
- 3⁄4 cup melted butter
Filling:
- 1⁄2 cup sugar
- 5 egg yolks
- 1⁄3 cup lemon juice
- 1⁄3 cup lime juice
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
Topping:
- 1 1⁄2 cup heavy cream
- 3⁄4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
Crust:
- 1 – Preheat the oven to 350°. Spray a 9” pie pan with baking spray. In a medium sized mixing bowl combine saltine crackers and sugar. Add in the melted butter and mix until well coated. Transfer the crust mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan, then place into the preheated oven on the center rack. Bake for 10 minutes, until set.
Filling:
- 1 – Keep the oven heated to 350°. In a large mixing bowl combine sugar and egg yolks. Whisk together by hand until smooth and frothy, about 2 minutes. Add in the lemon juice, lime juice and salt and mix to combine. Next, add in the sweetened condensed milk and mix until incorporated.
- 2 – Pour the filling mixture onto the prebaked pie crust and smooth it out. Place the pan into the preheated oven on the center rack. Bake for 20 minutes, until set. Once baked, remove from the oven and place onto a wire cooling rack and let cool completely. Once completely cooled, cover with plastic wrap and place into the fridge for 2 hours to chill.
Topping:
- 1 – In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment combine heavy cream, powdered sugar, vanilla and salt. Whip together on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes, until stiff. Spoon the topping onto the chilled pie. You may top with lemon and lime zest and add slices of each if desired.
Storage:
- Pie may be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Did you make this recipe?
Make sure to follow on Pinterest for more recipes!
Comments & Reviews
Lillian says
The pie sounds delicious.
Shery Sullivan says
Excited to try this easy pie. Never heard of it til today. Thank you