The Taste Of Summer In Texas Central Texans have already endured recording-breaking temperatures this spring and there's no better way to cool things down than with a refreshing frozen margarita. This no-bake frozen margarita pie takes a tastefully delightful spin on the frozen margarita, which was invented right here in Texas thanks to Mariano Martinez. This pie packs a great taste thanks to the tart of fresh lime juice and a surprisingly salty-'n-sweet crust that you can easily make with pretzels, sugar and butter. Add in your favorite tequila and triple sec and you'll likely throw your hat in the air for another slice of the great taste of summer! This pie is perfect for BBQs, tailgate parties, get-togethers and winning new friendships!
Time To Prepare:
About 30 minutes to make and 5 hours for the pie to set-up in the freezer
Foodie Tips:
This recipe makes one 9-inch pie which can likely serve 8-12 folks, depending on the size of their appetite. For BBQ and outdoor party settings we make individual mini 4-inch pies for the ease of sharing - no slicing involved! This recipe will yield 12 mini pies.
You can experiment by doubling the alcohol for an extra kick. To make this a non-alcoholic kid-friendly pie you can omit the tequila and triple sec. The pie will taste more like a key lime pie and the tasty crust will give it a unique twist.
Love margaritas? Score our spicy margarita recipe and a bit of history of what many consider the official drink of Texas.
For The Crust:
9 Inch Glass Baking Pan
Nonstick Baking Spray
7 Ounces (about 1 ⅔ cup) | Salted Mini Pretzels Or Pretzel Sticks, Crushed
½ Cup + 1 Tablespoon | Brown Sugar
10 Tablespoons | Butter, Melted (I use Falfurrias Brand Butter)
Pie Ingredients: 2 Cups | Heavy Cream 14 Ounce Can | Sweetened Condensed Milk 1 Tablespoon (about 3 Limes) | Lime Zest, Reserved
½ Cup (about 7 limes) | Fresh-Squeezed Lime Juice 1 ½ Tablespoons | Tequila 1 ½ Tablespoons | Triple Sec 1 Drop | Green Food Coloring (Optional)
To Sprinkle On Top | Maldon Sea Salt Flakes
What To Do: Make The Crust
1. Spray the bottom of your glass baking pan with the nonstick spray; this will help the crust release from the pan after it has frozen.
2. Make your pretzels crumbs by placing mini pretzels or sticks in your food processor. Pulse for a few seconds. A few pretzel pieces are OK (see above) but you don't want to pulverize your pretzels to dust. Think of a consistency similar to a graham cracker crust.
3. In a medium bowl mix together the pretzel crumbs, brown sugar and the melted butter. Stir until well-combined. If you find that your crust is too buttery you can add a few more pretzel crumbs to thicken things up.
4. Press the pretzel crust mixture into the bottom and up the sides of your prepared pan (or divide into the mini tins).
5. Set the crust in the fridge to rest while we make the pie!
Pie Preparation
1. Zest then juice your limes. I used about 3 of the limes to yield 1 Tablespoon of zest. If you love zest you can zest all the limes. For me, the more zest the better!
2. In a large bowl stir together until well-combined the sweetened condensed milk, about ⅔ of the lime zest (reserving some to sprinkle on the top of the pie), lime juice, tequila and triple sec. If you want to amp-up the green of the pie you can add a drop or 2 of green food coloring and continue mixing everything.
3. In a large bowl or (or Kitchen Aid) whip the heavy cream until it forms soft peaks - about 2 minutes on high speed.
4. Pour the margarita pie filling (from step 2) into the creamed peaks. Stir the margarita pie filling gently with a spatula to help retain the fluffy cream peaks.
5. Pour the pie filling into the prepared crust and smooth the top gently. Top with the remaining (reserved) lime zest.
6. Freeze for about 5 hours or overnight.
7. To serve: Let the pie rest on the counter to thaw a bit for about 15-20 minutes. Slice with a warm, sharp knife and plate. For those who like their margarita with a salted rim, you can sprinkle some Maldon flake salt on top for added flavor.
Explore and enjoy more of our family-favorite recipes here at HomeStyleAustin.com – your trusted resource for celebrating the best of Central Texas living through the adventures of food, design, and landscape.
Joe Paul Reider
Home Style Austin Founder Austin Realtor® Keller Williams Realty
Email: JoePaul@KW.com Mobile: 512-222-3302 Web: JoePaulReider.KW.com