Lemon-Lime Atlantic Beach Pie with Saltine Crust

Atlantic Beach Pie is a truly Southern beach pie. With a signature Saltine cracker crust and zesty citrus filling, this pie is the perfect combination of tangy and sweet. Whether you’re enjoying it at the beach, or at home with your favorite seafood recipe, it’s the perfect summer dessert.

This recipe for Atlantic Beach Pie is sweet and salty and as beautiful as every summer dessert should be. No pastry crust needed; this easy homemade lemon pie with condensed milk uses a Saltine cracker crust, more dense and creamy than a lemon chiffon pie but just as amazing!

It’s a no-fail recipe that even a beginner baker can master.

With a crispy saltine cracker crust and a creamy, lemon-lime filling, it’s no wonder that it’s a beach favorite. This from-scratch pie recipe is perfect for summer evenings with a glass of iced tea or a cup of coffee. Top your pie with a dollop of fresh whipped cream and serve up this famous recipe for your next family dinner or summer party. 

This pie is traditionally served after seafood dinners all along the East Coast. You’ll see some version of it on most seafood restaurant menus. Because it’s light and creamy, it’s easy to eat a slice, even after a feast like a seafood boil, and the citrusy flavors are scrumptious after a seafood pasta dinner.

If you don’t want to turn on the oven, then try a creamy no-bake strawberry pie, also great for summer dinners.

What is Atlantic Beach Pie?

Atlantic Beach Pie is a classic Southern pie recipe that’s served all along the East Coast, particularly the North Carolina Coast, primarily at seafood restaurants. This recipe was invented by Bill Smith, the chef of a restaurant called Crook’s Corner in Chapel Hill, NC. He wanted a pie recipe that reminded him of the pie he enjoyed as a kid when dining out with his family.

This pie is light with a perfect hint of lemon-lime, making it a beautiful compliment to a dinner of shrimp, scallops, or crawfish. Instead of a pastry crust, Atlantic Beach Pie uses Saltine crackers for a salty crunch. Instead of a lemon pie filling there’s a hefty amount of lime juice, making it perfectly sweet and tart. 

What’s the difference between Atlantic Beach Pie and key lime pie recipe?

Both Atlantic Beach Pie and key lime pie are made with a tart filling, but in most ways, these two pies are quite different.

The crust – Key lime pie uses a graham crumbs crust (or sometimes a pastry crust). Atlantic Beach Pie is made using crushed Saltine crackers as a base.

The filling – Key lime pie has a heavier, less creamy filling that tastes like lime. Atlantic Beach Pie has a creamy filling that’s a mixture of lemon and lime for a flavorful citrus punch.

While these two pies do share some similarities, they taste very different.

Reasons You’ll Love This Southern Pie Recipe

This pie is a unique-tasting dessert, similar to a lemon pie with condensed milk in the filling, but the combination of fresh lemon juice and lime juice along with the salty crust elevates. this pie. It’s perfect for summer evenings but can be served for any occasion. Here are a few reasons why you’ll love this recipe:

• It’s easy to make – It requires only a few simple ingredients, and you can be in and out of the kitchen in an hour.
• It’s unique – The salty crust and tangy filling make this dessert stand out from other pies. Plus, away from the East Coast, it’s uncommon, making it an interesting and memorable dessert to serve at a party.
• It’s versatile – Atlantic Beach Pie is a great dessert to serve on any occasion, whether it’s a casual backyard barbecue or a fancy dinner party.
• It’s not too sweet – even though it has sweetened condensed milk, it’s not overly sweet.
• Lemons & Limes are always available – it’s a great pie to make when there is no fresh fruit to use.

Pro Tip: You’ll need lots of juice for this pie, so learn some helpful tips for getting the most juice out of your lemons and limes.

Why does this recipe use egg yolks?

Recipes with homemade fillings often use egg yolks instead of whole eggs. This is because egg yolk help to thicken a filling and give it a creamy texture, but the recipe doesn’t require the excess moisture the egg whites would provide.

To make Atlantic Beach Pie, the egg yolks are whisked together with the condensed milk and the lemon and lime juices to make a custard-like filling that sets up light and creamy when it’s baked.

Atlantic Beach Pie Recipe Ingredients

• Saltine Crackers – You can use any brand you want. Unsalted saltines won’t taste nearly as good. If you want, you can substitute the saltines for Ritz crackers. The flavor will be slightly different, however.
  
• Eggs – You’ll need to separate your eggs so you end up with 4 yolks and 1 white.
  
• Sweetened Condensed Milk – This isn’t the same as evaporated milk, so make sure you get sweetened condensed milk, usually found in the baking aisle.
  
• Lemons and Limes – Choose large, slightly squishy lemons and limes without brown spots or imperfections.
  
• Pantry Staples – butter, sugar, powdered sugar, heavy cream

Pro Tip: To help get a pie out of a cracker crust, spray it first with cooking spray.

How To Make lemon-lime Pie

Step 1: Prepare the saltine crust.

Put all your crackers in a Ziploc bag and use a rolling pin to crush them. Pour in the melted butter and sugar, and mix it together. Then, add the egg white and mix again. Press it into the pie pan and freeze it, then bake until it browns. 

Step 2: Prepare the filling.

Meanwhile, make the filling by whisking together the condensed milk and egg yolks. Then, add the lime and lemon juice. Pour it into the crust.

Step 3: Bake the pie.

Bake your pie for 15 minutes. The center should be set and no longer jiggly. Let it cool, then refrigerate it for at least 2 hours before you serve it.

Step 4: Make the whipped cream.

To make homemade whipped cream for the topping, whip the cream with the powdered sugar until pillowy peaks form. Just before serving, dollop some whipped cream on top of the slices of pie along with some lime and lemon zest.

Tips for Making Perfect Atlantic Beach Pie

• For a crust with the best texture, you can use a food processor to finely crush the crackers and mix them with the butter.
• Use the bottom of a flat glass to press the crust mixture down into the pan. The tighter you press it, the better it will hold together when it’s baked.
• Whisk the filling really well. This will help give it the best texture and make sure there are no lumps and the flavors are fully dispersed.
• If you’re not going to eat the entire pie, don’t top the whole pie with whipped cream. Instead, keep the whipped cream in a bowl in the fridge and top each individual slice before serving.

How to Store Lemon Pie with Condensed Milk

It’s important to store this pie covered in the fridge. It needs to stay cold so don’t leave it on the counter. If you keep in in the fridge, it should last for about 4 days. Keep the whipped cream on the side in a separate covered container.

Can I freeze this pie recipe?

Yes, you can freeze Atlantic Beach Pie. Let it cool completely first then flash freeze it. Once frozen, cover in plastic wrap then foil or place in an airtight container. Thaw the pie in the fridge overnight and keep it cold until you’re ready to serve it.

Wait to add the whipped cream until right before serving.

Questions That Get Asked About Pie

Can I use a different type of citrus juice in the filling?

Yes, you can experiment with different types of citrus. Try key lime juice, grapefruit juice, orange, or others you think may taste good. Always squeeze your juice fresh, however. 

Can I use bottled lime or lemon juice instead of fresh?

Bottled lime and lemon juice are not going to give you the same fresh flavor, and may even make your dessert taste sour. I don’t recommend it. Pick up a few fresh lemons and limes for this recipe.

Will the crust get soggy in the refrigerator?

You would think the crust would get soggy after a day, but since it’s baked, teh crust will stay crisp for 2-3 days.

What can I use instead of Saltine crackers?

You can use Ritz buttery cracker, or use a graham cracker crust or try a cookie crust using bourdeaux cookies.

More Irresistible Summer Pie Recipes to Love

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