Key Lime Pie w/ Rice Krispie Crust

I’ve never been a big dessert person, but there’s just something about key lime pie. Once upon a time, it was a high-protein indulgence, but now it’s a PKU-friendly treat. …At the 2018 NPKUA conference, they served key lime pie to the non-PKUers, and it got me thinking: there had to be a way! …Years ago I had a slice at a vegan restaurant in Berkeley called “Cafe Gratitude” that was made primarily from avocado, but full of nuts; it was the inspiration for my filling. And for the crust, I can only say, what’s better than a rice krispie treat? This is one wacky dessert, but as it turns out, pretty close to the real thing. Hope you enjoy!

Phe Count:

112 mg phe / slice
Yield: 8 slices

Ingredients:

For the crust:
5 C Rice Krispies
¼ C butter
1 bag mini marshmallows

For the filling:
1 C key lime segments (peeled & seeded)
2 C avocado
¾ C coconut oil
½ C agave
3 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp lime zest
A pinch of sea salt

Note: fresh key limes can be hard to find. You can substitute for standard limes, but always use fresh fruit. The key lime juice you find in stores is highly processed and has a much different (artificial) flavor.

Topping:
1 C of cool whip or So Delicious “Coco Whip” (optional)

Directions:

Prepare the crust like you would a rice krispie treat: Melt the butter in the bottom of a large saucepan, over medium heat. Add the marshmallows and stir until they are completely melted. Then, turn off the heat and add the Rice Krispies cereal, stirring until they’re evenly coated in marshmallow.
To form the crust, spoon your mixture into a springform pan and use a wooden spoon (and your fingers) to push the Rice Krispies down and compact a solid layer at the base and on the sides. You might have to work at this a bit to make sure all sides of the crust are even. But don’t skimp! ...a lot of the pie’s sweetness comes from the crust.
To prepare the filling, simply put all ingredients into a food processor and blend until completely smooth. There should be no lumps of avocado and the filling should be the texture of a thick pudding.
Scoop the filling into your prepared Rice Krispie crust and smooth it out with a wooden spoon until it’s even.
Place in the refrigerator to set overnight.
Before serving, top the pie with your choice of whipped topping.

IMPORTANT TIP**
Before placing your filling into the crust, taste it. This pie is pretty tart and you can add more agave (or your preferred sweetener) to adjust to your liking.