Happy almost Cinco de Mayo, friends! I’ve got one more offering for you. Starting Wednesday, I’ll be all about Mother’s Day. Gotta love the warm holiday season!
Seriously, can we get more holidays like this into the books? I love Cinco de Mayo. It’s just great food and great weather and friends. Mother’s Day is also pretty cool. But first things first. Who can resist a margarita?
I still remember discovering margaritas. There was a restaurant a few blocks away from my D.C. apartment, and they had a brilliant sales plan. In order to keep people waiting for tables happy (and there was always a huge wait on weekends, up to two hours), they’d keep the margarita slushy machines moving with frozen margaritas. Some were plain, some strawberry, and the best ones (my favorite) were swirly. Swirled margaritas are just a true pleasure. They came in tall beer mugs with plenty of salt.
Oh, those irresponsible days, slurping away and eating chips with queso dip, enjoying warm spring nights. Now if I drink a margarita, I pay for it when somebody small wakes me up way too early the next morning. So while I still indulge occasionally I can’t do it much. Instead, I’ve incorporated non-alcoholic margarita flavors into this awesome custard pie.
Recently, Edy’s (they’re called Dreyer’s in other states) premiered a frozen custard line. The second I saw a container in the freezer section, the light bulbs started going off everywhere in my brain.
One of the first things I wanted to do with the custard was incorporate it into a frozen pie. And what better way to begin than with margarita? Now, there is no margarita in here. I mean, no tequila, no margarita. That simple. But the sentiment is there!
You begin with my tricked-out graham cracker crust, which has white chocolate chips melted into the base. Plenty of lime zest, lime juice, and custard later, you’re ready to roll.
This custard softens quickly, which makes it an ideal base for the pie. It’s as basic as baking gets. The lime zest and lime juice play against the sweet custard perfectly, and the graham cracker base provides the same addictive crunch that those little cookie pieces in the best ice cream cakes incorporate.
There are so many options for Cinco de Mayo, but it should be a holiday that comes with ease and sunshine, not hard work and hours in a hot kitchen. This recipe is easy, cool and quick. When you’re done, you might even have time for a real frozen margarita.
And if you can’t get your margaritas the traditional way, there’s always frozen custard. In hot weather, it’s just as good, if not better. Have a great holiday, and I’ll be back Wednesday with a super easy Mother’s Day recipe that anyone, even a child, can bake. And it’s impressive! How’s that for a cliffhanger?
Ingredients
Instructions
Welcome back to Thanksgiving Pie Week on Just About Baked! I’ve been having way too much fun with this, everyone. I’m getting my pastry chef alter ego out and dusting her off!
Today’s pie is really a tart, and I’m feeling rather European because it’s a Linzer tart. Translation: it’s got an almond base and there’s raspberry involved. I also worked in some dark chocolate for good measure. Can’t hurt, right?
Many of my friends in life have come and gone, and I guess it’s sad, but that’s the way the overbaked cookie crumbles. The very best ones stick around, though, and I express my appreciation the best way I know how: rampant consumerism.
Do I buy most of my friends? Heavens, no. But two of my pals, good old Ben and Jerry, like it when I spend my hard-earned cash on them. So I try to be a loyal buddy.
Over the years, Ben and Jerry’s flavors have gone through quite a rotation. They’ve taken away some of my absolute favorites, and I’ve been very vocal on their website about bringing those flavors back. But thank the powers above that my very favorite is still in existence. It’s known as Everything But The…
No, I didn’t cut off in the middle of the sentence. That’s the flavor. But we all know that expression ends with the words “kitchen sink.” In baking, that’s a term we use to describe the scientific process by which we take all the leftover crap in the house, dump it into a batch of whatever, and call it a night.
There’s a bakery chain in the DC area called Firehook. They sell a lot of good stuff, to put it mildly. I used to pop in for soothing cups of tea and baked goods on long cold walks from my condo to grad school. I was not a fan of grad school, and it seems like sugar always helped me out with that.
In those long-ago days, I pretty much always hoped to find a big chocolate chip cookie behind the glass cases at Firehook. They were good. And don’t get me wrong. I still love those big cookies! But one day, I saw a big bar wrapped in plastic. It was called a seven-layer bar, and I’d never heard of that before. Don’t think I’m oblivious. It was like thirteen years ago!
When I tried the bar, I couldn’t believe all the fun packed into that one square! Coconuts and pecans and chocolate chips, all atop a fantastic graham cracker crust. I later learned that this concoction is also known as a Hello Dolly or a Magic Bar, and you know, I preferred the latter name. Those bars taste like magic!
Oh what a great idea, Mir! I actually just bought some of that frozen custard this weekend, but I bought the peanut butter pie kind. This margarita pie looks amazing! Absolutely love this!
Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…Raspberry Crumb Bars
Oooh, now I’ve got to get the PB kind! Thanks, Gayle!
Mir – This is my kind of dessert. I can’t pass up the opportunity for lime flavored anything. Margaritas are on my top favorite drinks list. I have a feeling that I’ll be drinking a few on Tuesday. 🙂
Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg recently posted…Lane Cake Truffles
I hope you do, Erin! Today is the day to drink margaritas! And eat pie. 🙂
Love margaritas! This pie is so easy to make Mir! Awesome idea! Pinned to try it! Perfect for the coming holidays and summer!
mira recently posted…Tequila Lime Chicken Tacos
Thanks for pinning, Mira! I’m big into ice cream pie from here through August!
This just looks amazing! My mouth is watering for pie at 8am haha. It’s going to be a hot week down south so this is a perfect way to cool those hot temperatures. Who’s ready for summer?! Great recipe!
Heather – Butter & Burlap recently posted…Original Homemade Guacamole
Thanks, Heather! I always want pie. It’s a great way to start the day! 😉
Now this looks amazing! Margarita in pie form = a winner! I so wish I had a slice of this for breakfast right about now 😉
Danielle recently posted…Strawberry Sweet Rolls
Thanks, Danielle! I’m trying to avoid the freezer…
Mir, I love your photos!!! that shot of the lime zest is gorgeous!!! and I love this! what a great idea! And you’re right . . Cinco de Mayo recipes should be relatively easy. . and one should always have a margarita in hand while cooking. Cinco de Mayo rules. 🙂 Hope you have a great one tomorrow!!!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom recently posted…Fried Eggs with Kale and Mushrooms #BrunchWeek
Thanks so much, Alice! I am very flattered, because your pics are jaw-dropping. I wish I had a margarita in hand while cooking always! Though it might make for stranger outcomes…
Delicious! Love this custard pie. Easy recipes for the win! YAY! 😀
Manali @ CookWithManali recently posted…Mini Fruit Tarts
Thanks, Manali! Easy is good!
I love margaritas in any form, Mir! This pie looks so gorgeous and refreshing! I haven’t seen the Ed’s custard yet, but I sure will be looking for it now! Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks recently posted…Peanut Butter Cheesecake
It’s very creamy and seriously good, Rachelle! You have to go get some!
Oh my gosh I love that you made this frozen. AMAZING!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust recently posted…Oatmeal Scotchie Brookies
Thanks, Dorothy! It’s not like a margarita unless it’s frozen!
Yayyyy no bake! This looks awesome and sooo tropical… ahem, is it summer break yet? APs can just leave, thanks!
Medha @ Whisk & Shout recently posted…Mexican Hot Chocolate Toffee Crack
APs can totally leave, Medha. But I’m an AP teacher, so feeling done with it! I need summer break, stat. This helps!
This is such a great idea, although I think a little tequila would go really well in this 😉
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy recently posted…Comment on Fish Tacos with Mango Jalapeño Slaw by Dannii
This looks amazing!!! Yum! Love that you made it in a pie for and I love all that lime zest!! Gotta make this asap! 🙂
Cyndi – My Kitchen Craze recently posted…Tropical Slushie
Thanks, Cyndi! Lime zest makes everything better!
I love how much fresh lime zest you put in here. I bet the flavor really pops!
Erin@WellPlated recently posted…Blueberry Coconut French Toast Bake
The more zest, the better! It plays really well against the sweet custard. Thanks, Erin!