Lime Cheesecake (Instant Pot Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between key lime pie and cheesecake? ›

The main difference between key lime pie and cheesecake is the type of filling used. Key lime pie is made with key lime juice and sweetened condensed milk, while the cheesecake is made with cream cheese, sugar, and eggs. This difference in ingredients gives the two desserts a distinct flavor and texture.

TO PREPARE AHEAD

Can be made up to 24 hours ahead-decorating with raspberries and icing sugar before serving. Not suitable for freezing.

Unless you live in the Florida Keys, key limes are near impossible to find. Furthermore, they're so tiny that you'd need to juice at least twenty of them for this recipe. No thank you! Ordinary limes make an exceptional Key lime pie, and they are a much better alternative to bracingly tart bottled Key lime juice.

While the flavor will be significantly different, you can also use regular limes or a combination of lime and lemon juice. Key Lime Zest: If you cannot get fresh key limes, you can substitute regular lime zest. Make-Ahea​​​​d: This pie can be made up to 2 days in advance.

A water bath helps cheesecakes cook evenly, ensuring the edges don't bake faster than the center. The process gently bakes the custard slowly, ensuring a smooth and creamy filling. Otherwise, the dessert may get a rubbery texture. It also prevents cracking along the surface and browning on the top.

Here's why: Cheesecakes Are Egg-Heavy: Eggs need a moist and humid environment to properly rise and avoid drying out or burning. Prevent Cracks in the Surface: The steam from the hot water will lift the cheesecake up slowly and evenly, reducing the risk of cracks on the surface.

A perfect cheesecake has a smooth, flat top, and is creamy at the center and slightly firmer near the crust. Usually, cheesecakes are baked in a bath of warm water to insulate the outer edge so that the center has time to fully cook. But it's not always necessary.

Prepared cheesecake can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, per USDA food safety recommendations. We suggest storage in an airtight container, so it doesnt absorb any fridge odors.

Any kind of cheesecake can be frozen, either whole or as individual slices, and you don't need to adjust the recipe. The denser texture of New York-style cheesecake makes it less likely to separate, but lighter, whipped cheesecakes, as well as no-bake cheesecakes, can also be frozen.

So, while both cheesecake and cream pie are rich and creamy desserts, the main difference lies in their texture, ingredients, and method of preparation. Cheesecake has a denser texture and is made with cream cheese, while cream pie has a custard-like filling thickened with cornstarch or flour.

What is the difference between a cheesecake and a pie? ›

The structure of cheesecake is composed of a somewhat pastry shell with a custard-like filling and sometimes contains fruit. Despite the confusing terminology, cheesecake is by no means a cake. Also, since cheesecake isn't topped with pastry, it cannot be a pie. Cheesecake is, and forever will be, a tart.

Cream cheese pie does not contain eggs, which means it does not need to be baked. Cheesecake, on the other hand, includes eggs and must be baked, which makes it a bit more complex in flavor and preparation.

Persian limes are more acidic than Key limes and thus often have a more tart flavor. Key limes, which are known for being particularly aromatic, are typically sweeter in taste, making them a perfect ingredient for the refreshing pie they're most known for (or for these fun Key lime pie-inspired s'mores).