Key Lime Cream Cheese Spread Recipes

KEY LIME CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Adjust the oven rack to the center position, with a lower oven rack in place for the water bath described in step 5, and preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).
• If your graham crackers aren't crumbs yet, use a food processor to pulse them into fine crumbs. Pour crumbs into a medium bowl and stir in sugar and melted butter until combined. Mixture will be sandy. Press firmly into the bottom and slightly up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. No need to grease the pan first. I use the bottom of a measuring cup to pack the crust down tightly. Pre-bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow crust to slightly cool as you prepare the filling.
• Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and granulated sugar together on medium-high speed in a large bowl until the mixture is smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the lime juice, sour cream, vanilla extract, and lime zest then beat on medium-high speed until fully combined. On medium speed, add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition until just blended. After the final egg is incorporated into the batter, stop mixing. To help prevent the cheesecake from deflating and cracking as it cools, avoid over-mixing the batter as best you can.
• Pour cheesecake batter into warm crust. Use a rubber spatula or spoon to smooth it into an even layer.
• Boil a kettle or pot of water. You need 1 inch of water in your roasting pan for the water bath, so make sure you boil enough. Place a large metal baking or roasting pan (I usually use a 9×13-inch baking pan-do not use glass) on the bottom rack of the preheated oven. Pour boiling water into pan, about 1 inch deep. Immediately place the cheesecake on the center rack. Close oven to trap the steam inside. This unique water bath adds steam to the oven without having the cheesecake sit inside the water itself, which is the traditional water bath method explained in the recipe Notes.
• (Note: if you notice the cheesecake browning too quickly on top, tent it with aluminum foil halfway through baking.) Bake cheesecake for 55-70 minutes or until the center is almost set. When it's done, the center of the cheesecake will slightly wobble if you gently shake the pan. Turn the oven off and open the oven door slightly. Let the cheesecake sit in the oven as it cools down for 1 hour. Remove from the oven, then cool cheesecake completely at room temperature. Then refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Use a knife to loosen the chilled cheesecake from the rim of the springform pan, then remove the rim. Add optional toppings if desired. I used a piping tip for the pictured whipped cream. Using a clean sharp knife, cut into slices for serving. For neat slices, wipe the knife clean and dip into warm water between each slice.
• Cover and store leftover cheesecake in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

FLORIDA KEY LIME PIE

Steps:

• To Make Lime Filling: In a large mixing bowl, whip cream cheese until fluffy. Add condensed milk, lime juice, lime rind, and salt. Whip until mixture is smooth. Pour into graham cracker crust. Cover with plastic wrap and chill thoroughly.
• To Make Topping: In a medium bowl, whip cream until soft peaks form. Add vanilla or lemon extract and confectioners' sugar. Continue to whip until cream forms stiff peaks. Place topping in a fine-mesh sieve and place sieve over a bowl to catch liquid that drains off. Cover topping tightly with plastic wrap and allow to drain for 2 hours.
• Before serving, discard liquid that has drained from topping. Spread topping over pie.

KEY LIME-CREAM CHEESE CRESCENTS WITH LEMON-RASPBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine cream cheese, sugar, Key lime juice, and vanilla extract in a bowl with an electric mixer.
• Unroll and lay 1/2 of the can of crescent rolls in the bottom of an 8x8-inch baking dish. Spread the cream cheese mixture on top. Unroll and layer remaining crescent rolls over cream cheese. Brush melted butter over the top and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly and slightly browned, about 25 minutes.
• While crescents are baking, crush raspberries in a saucepan and add 1/4 cup water, sugar, apricot jam, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Bring to a simmer. Cook until smooth, adding more water as needed.
• Let crescents cool and serve with sauce.

EASY KEY LIME PIE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Beat in milk and lime juice until blended. Transfer to crust. Refrigerate, covered, at least 4 hours. Just before serving, garnish with whipped topping and, if desired, lime slices.

KEY LIME CREAM CHEESE SPREAD

Steps:

• Mix ingredients until blended.