This is a pretty bold claim, but I'm gonna say it... this is the absolute BEST KEY LIME PIE FILLING EVER!!! This is the recipe my family has used for many years to make authentic key lime pie, and I am going to show you how to cook the pie filling on the stove to create a filling suitable for filling a cake or cupcakes! Whenever I make a batch, I keep the leftover filling in the refrigerator and scoop out a tiny bit as a sweet dessert and top with leftover edible sand or graham cracker crumbs. It's OH SO GOOD!!

As mentioned above, this recipe is cooked on the stove, so you will need a medium saucepan. Begin by pouring one 14 ounce can of sweetened condensed milk into the saucepan.

Next, pour 1/2 cup (4 ounces) of key lime juice into the saucepan. I'm using Nellie and Joe's Authentic Bottled Key Lime Juice.

Zest 1 lime and pour zest into the saucepan.

Next, add two large egg yolks to the saucepan.
Awww! It looks like a face! How cute! :)

Add 1/2 tablespoon of unsalted butter.

Next, whisk all ingredients together until well blended and creamy.

Turn burner on medium-low heat and stir constantly with the whisk to keep from burning. After 10 minutes, reduce heat to low and cook for about 25 to 35 minutes, until mixture is thick and leaves ribbons when stirred (as seen in photo). Be sure to stir constantly! Remove from heat and allow to cool for 15 minutes.

If your filling isn't thick enough, slightly increase heat and continue cooking until filling has reached desired thickness.

Strain pie filling through a fine mesh strainer into a heat-safe bowl.

Cover bowl with a tight fitting lid and refrigerate or freeze filling until ready to use! I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial! God bless!