Frozen Key Lime Pops

Frozen Key Lime Pops—because summer isn’t over yet!

I was 7 years old the first time I had Key Lime Pie. It was actually in the Keys—Marathon, to be exact—when my family + 2 other Augusta families (6 adults + 7 kids) squeezed into ONE deluxe-ish Winnebago for a vacation to Florida, fishing boat in tow. (Meanwhile the boat trailer lost a wheel somewhere around woodsy Millen, Georgia, never to be recovered). Thirteen people + Winnebago + 1,400 miles round trip. Sounds crazy, right?  Yes, but it was one of the BEST vacations ever.

Amidst the crowdedness and having to share one bathroom while on the road (god forbid we should stop), we played a lot of Car Bingo, Crazy 8s and Old Maid, and we read + sang + laughed + napped. For hours. Anything to pass the time. Does anyone even take road trips like that anymore? Oh, did I mention we didn’t run the AC because the dads were trying to save money? I mean seriously, does ANYONE even do that anymore??

Like I said, it was one of the BEST vacations ever.

Kids, this is the way vacations used to be done.

When we reached Aunt Dotty’s home, she offered the moms carte blanche access to her key lime tree. I remember they picked, zested and squeezed dozens of those diminutive limes to infuse the maximum flavor into two pies. Well, maybe not dozens, but it sure felt like a lot. 

And when the pies were finally chilled enough to eat them? O.M.G. I became woozy + light-headed. Once that cool + sweet + tangy + creamy pie hit my tongue, I was 100% absolutely positively sure this was one of the BEST vacations ever. Period. 

My second trip to the Florida Keys was during college spring break. It was to Key West, but I don’t recall much more than that. I traveled once again to Key West last summer. That’s when I discovered Key Lime Pie now comes in frozen form and (wait for it)…coated in chocolate. A popsicle stick shoved into a slice of pie and then dipped in chocolate.

Let that sink in a moment. 

The world has gone mad, I tell ya. (In a good way, of course.)

So while I am not providing you a recipe for Key Lime Popsicles dipped in chocolate, I am humbly offering this amazing naked Frozen Key Lime Pop which does not disappoint. At. All. (The chocolate-covered recipe is in the works, though. Hang tight.)

Here’s a bit of excitement–these Frozen Key Lime Pops don’t even require popsicle molds. Simply use 3-ounce or 5-ounce disposable cups, depending on how greedy you are.  After about an hour, insert a popsicle stick and you’ll be licking your way to heaven in a matter of time. Use lime wheels not only for decoration but also hold your popsicle sticks in place.

Now get to licking!

Enjoy!

XXOO

AB

If you make these Frozen Key Lime Pops, I’d love to hear about it. Leave a comment below, tag #nakedepicurean on Instagram, and Pin this recipe to your board so we can celebrate together!

Frozen Key Lime Pops

(for 10  3-ounce pops or 6 5-ounce pops)

INGREDIENTS

• 12 tablespoons lime juice (5 large regular limes or 6-8 key limes or 12 tablespoons Nellie & Joes: Key West Lime Juice)
• 1  14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup half-and-half (or ½  cup heavy cream + ½ cup milk)
• pinch of salt
• 1 cup crushed graham crackers 
• 6-10 lime wheels with small slits cut into center

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Zest enough lime to yield 2 teaspoons. Place in a medium bowl. Add lime juice, condensed milk, half-and-half and salt to zest and whisk together until thoroughly combined. Pour into popsicle molds. Top each with a lime wheel.

2.  Freeze 5 hours or until completely frozen. If using cups as molds: freeze for about 1 hour, then insert popsicle sticks. Return to freezer for 4 more hours.

When ready to eat: run under lukewarm water for 10 seconds to unmold each popsicle. Then press and roll pops into crushed cookie crumbs, coating bottom completely.