Key Lime Mousse Tart

Name: Key Lime Mousse Tart
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 180 min
Ingredients: 2 cups NILLA Wafers; 1/4 cup sugar; 5 tablespoons butter (melted); 1/2 cup flaked coconut (sweetened); 1 15-oz can sweetened condensed milk; 1/2 cup lime juice (use key limes if available); 2 teaspoon gelatin; 2 tablespoon water; 2 cups heavy cream; 5 tablespoons sugar; 1 cup whipped cream (reserved); 1/2 cup flaked coconut (lightly toasted (optional)); lime (sliced thin (optional))

Since we are well into Spring and Easter is almost upon us, I thought I should showcase a seasonal dessert! Something light, refreshing, tangy and sweet all at the same time. Maybe with a tropical nod. Key Lime Mousse Tart! The best part about this is that it can be served like a light fluffy cloud of key lime mousse-ness OR a melty-frozen confectioned semifreddo. You choose.

Living in South Florida, I’ve had my fair share of key lime pie and I love it! But sometimes I want to switch it up. For this Key Lime Mousse Tart, my changes start with the crust. Instead of graham — I used NILLA Wafers and flaked coconut.

NILLA Wafers remind me of my childhood. They were the one cookie that I could always coax my mother into buying. She’d shake her head over anything creme filled, or chip-laden, but NILLA Wafers — she approved of.

Back to the tart… To make the crust, whiz the cookies in a food processor with a little sugar.

Then add melted butter and sweetened flaked coconut to the cookie crumbs.

The crust comes together in about 5 minutes from start to finish. Then just press the crust into a tart shell with a removable bottom and bake it for 8-10 minutes, until its golden brown and set.

I have to say, when I took this shell from the oven, I started to question my sanity. Why do I struggle making pastry — when this type of mix and press pie shell is so easy. Seriously – what have I been thinking?

Table of Contents

1 Ingredients For Key Lime Mousse Tart Filling:
2 Key Lime Mousse Tart
3 Pin “Key Lime Mousse Tart” For Later!
4 More Heavenly Spring Tarts:

Ingredients For Key Lime Mousse Tart Filling:

Key Lime Juice
Sweetened Condensed Milk
Water
Gelatin
Heavy Cream
Sugar

The key lime mousse filling starts with sweetened condensed milk and key lime juice. They sell key limes by the bag here in Florida, but if you can’t find them, look for bottled key lime juice or just use regular persian limes.

There are no eggs in this recipe because you don’t bake the filling — and you don’t want to mess with that whole “raw egg” thing. Besides, the key lime mousse filling is going to be folded into a whole lot of whipped cream!

Whipped cream is an ethereal thing, but it has a shelf life. If you want your tart to hold up for a few days, I recommend stabilizing the whipped cream. It sounds technical, but it’s pretty easy to do! It starts with plain gelatin. Bloom the gelatin for a few minutes with water, then nuke it in 10 second bursts until it dissolves. Usually 2-3 nukes. Then let it cool — but not “set”.

While the gelatin cools, whip the cream for a minute, and then very slowly start adding the sugar. Check that the gelatin has cooled but is still pourable and add it to the cream. Continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Ta-da! Stabilized whipped cream. Reserve about 1 cup of whipped cream for garnish– just stick it in the fridge until you’re ready for it.

Stir a little whipped cream into the custard to lighten it before folding in the rest.

Spread the filling into the cooled tart shell.

Pipe the reserved whipped topping over the tart.

I like to garnish with thin half moons of key lime and toasted coconut. Now here comes the tough part… Deciding what kind of tart you want… Light, fluffy mousse-like or a creamy, semi-frozen confection (also known as a semi-freddo)?

For the former, refrigerate the tart for at least two hours. If you prefer the latter, freeze it for two hours!

When refrigerating the key lime mousse tart, you can expect a sweet, cloud-like filling — and I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like that. The semifreddo version is incredible on a warm day. I served it at a holiday luncheon for the family and there wasn’t a scrap left.

If you go with the frozen tart — let it rest on the counter for 10 or 15 minutes before slicing. It will still be firm, but not rock solid — and that’s what you’re looking for.

This tangy, sweet tart would be a perfect dessert for Easter or Mother’s Day.

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