The $9.99 Publix Pie That Started A Mother-Daughter Tradition

That’s it. I’m done gatekeeping. If you haven’t tried the key lime pie from Publix, now is the time. Even my devout baker of a mother, who for most of my childhood swore by the decree “homemade, best made,” is a convert. A Tennessean through and through, she always prided herself on fixing desserts from scratch. She’d diligently follow the instructions in my grandmother's waterlogged, dog-eared church cookbook that survived moves from Knoxville to Tullahoma and Memphis, then back to Knoxville, and so on.

The First Taste

In fact, it was with my mother that I (we) first encountered the whipped wonder that is Publix’s key lime pie. Here’s what happened. When we both lived in Charleston, South Carolina, we had a little tradition of enjoying Saturday afternoon barbecue together. We’d start out with a walk on Folly Beach to work up our appetites, and afterward, sun-tired and peckish, we’d swing by Melvin’s BBQ on James Island. We’d sit in the warm, sandy car savoring our sandwiches, the comfortable silence only interrupted by the slurping of our lemonades.

At this point, I don’t recall why my mother slipped into the Publix next door, but when she returned, she had one of her rambunctious smiles, typically reserved for gag gifts and surprise birthday parties. In her hands was a key lime pie. Store-bought. A first for the woman who resorted to taping the binding of my grandmother’s old cookbook. She had enough foresight to grab a couple of forks.

We dug in. Saccharine ecstasy tore across her face. “It tastes like the real thing!” She exclaimed between bites. She couldn't believe it. She didn't even have to pull out a measuring cup. I had to see what all the fuss was about. Tangy, smooth, not-too-sweet lime hit my tastebuds. Whipped cream, gentle and thick, soothed the initial burst of flavor. The crust was the perfect balance of crumbly and firm, enough to carry the ultimate bite.

A Saturday Tradition

After that first Saturday, and pretty much every Saturday onward, Publix key lime pie was part of our weekend tradition. One of us would leap from the car as we waited for the Melvin’s takeout line to inch forward while the other careened into Publix as if in a heist movie, rushing back to the car with just enough time to pick up our order. Then, parked under a towering oak tree, we feasted.

It didn’t matter if it was the tenth or hundredth pie; each time, my mother would close her eyes in pure delight, marveling with that first bite, “It tastes like the real thing!” She could never believe her luck in finding this affordable, store-bought pie. As my mother's health wanes like the sun setting over the sea, I carry on our little tradition. Now, when I bring that pie to parties or barbecues, or even for a little summertime treat at home, I proudly liberate the pie from its plastic container and say to anyone who will listen, “Trust me, it tastes like the real thing.”

How to Best Enjoy It

Pie-curious? Consider adding this to the menu for any of your end-of-summer parties and plans. If you’re hosting, save yourself time and grab one of these instead of tackling one from scratch. They’re best day-of and will most impress your guests if it’s wielded out of the fridge just a few minutes before serving. I like my key lime pies on the firm side, but if you prefer a softer custard, go ahead and pull it out 30 minutes before it's time for dessert. These do especially well after a seafood boil or, as mentioned, any type of barbecue. Pro tip: Mini versions exist (coming in around $6), and they can be just the thing when you need a midweek pick-me-up.