To be honest, I’m not a big Key Lime Pie fan.
When Allie requested a smoothie version, I cringed a bit. She was the inspiration for the Oatmeal Cookie Dough Shake, which is one of the most popular I’ve made… so I trusted her idea and set my mind to filling her request.
My problem with key lime pies in the past is that the balance of tart and sweet is not right. Have you ever taken a huge bite of a too-green-to-be-real pie and nearly spit it out because it’s too sour, or so sweet that your teeth hurt? One bad experience can ruin you.
My dad would order a slice anywhere we went, and after one such achingly sweet bite I decided I would forever stick to my usual chocolate dessert orders. Tragic, I tell you.
I guarantee that this smoothie won’t end in such a tragedy. The lime is balanced with the natural sweetness of banana and a bit of stevia. Hints of vanilla and almond give it more depth of flavor, also helping to balance the lime. The key lime green color is all-natural from spinach, rather than the neon glow of food coloring. One of my favorite features is the creaminess. The banana gives it a great texture, and – if you use the Guar Gum – it will further enhance the decadent smoothness.
Of course everyone’s favorite part of pie is the crust. Rather than the usual buttery calorie bomb, I rimmed my glass in a mix of crushed cereal and sugar-free maple syrup. Crunchy goodness with each sip!
Whipped cream topping is standard on many pies. A drinkable version shouldn’t lack that finishing touch! For this shake, I made a quick cream from coconut flour and vanilla almond milk.
The fluff floated atop my pie-drink and you better believe I hoarded that deliciousness until the last drop was gone.
Key Lime Pie Protein Shake
- 1 C spinach
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (I use Growing Naturals)
- 1/2 banana
- 1/4 C unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 4-5 T fresh lime juice (or 1/4 small lime if you have a Vitamix)
- 1 T ground flax
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- 1/4 tsp Guar Gum (optional)
- 7-8 drops liquid stevia (or other sweetener)
- Ice, to taste
For “Crust”
- 2 T cereal crumbs
- Sugar-fee maple syrup
- 1 tsp coconut flour
- 2 tsp water
- 1 drop liquid stevia
Combine all smoothie ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.
For the “crust,” lightly coat the rim of your glass with maple syrup and dunk in cereal crumbs – it’s just like rimming a margarita glass with salt.
For the “cream,” mix all ingredients in a small bowl. Adjust liquid as needed.
Carefully pour your smoothie into the rimmed glass and top with cream.
Enjoy!
***
I leave you with my favorite pie quote from Jack Handy: “When you die, if you get a choice between going to regular heaven or pie heaven, choose pie heaven. It might be a trick, but if it’s not, mmmmmmmm, boy.”
What is your favorite pie?
If you had a choice, what kind of food-related heaven would you choose?
and now i know what i’m making for breakfast.
not this particular smoothie. i don’t have the ingredients.
but a smoothie nonetheless. 😉
I wish I liked key lime, because this smoothie sounds & looks delicious!!
Trust me – if I liked this, anyone would. I used to hate the pie. 🙂
I don’t have a favorite pie. I just love pie. All pie. Key lime is a great one when it’s done well. I like the super tart ones that kind of slump down a bit when you cut into them – not sweet ones that stand up like cheesecake. I have a really good recipe I’d send you, but it’s not in the least bit healthy. Condensed milk heaven.
You are a smoothie genius! And you even put whipped cream on top! How perfect! I am not a huge fan of pie but I do love a good smoothie!
I would totally choose oatmeal or apple heaven! Yeah, I was a horse in a former life. I’ve never been a fan of key lime pie. I’m with you, the balance of sweet and tart is off for me. Maybe the tang…I don’t know. This smoothie sounds delicious though. The addition of the “coconut cream” (that’s what I call that topping when I make it) sounds perfect!
How about apple oatmeal heaven? 😉
I haven’t had it much (ok only once), but Kentucky Derby Pie is amazing! The chocolate and pecans and touch of bourbon – heaven!
OMG – that is my all-time favorite. I make it every Christmas… and always pour in extra bourbon. 😉
Key Lime pie is the only lime-flavored thing I like – I can’t even stand mojitos. This looks super fancy! 🙂
how do you come up with these amazing flavors? I just seriously keep getting blown away. (ps. my monthly goals involve YOU as an inspiration!)
Awwww… thanks Alex! I have to credit Allie for this smoothie idea!
YES AND MORE YES. I’d write this entire comment in all caps, but I suppose that might get a little annoying. I might even be able to stomach spinach in a smoothie for this cause! I’m swinging by the grocery store after work so I can have everything ready to go for my morning smoothie tomorrow. I AM HAPPY. Oh wait, I said no more caps lock. BUT YOU MADE MY DAY! Yet again 🙂
And cookie heaven for me, of course. If I have to be more specific, oatmeal raisin cookie heaven. Although I would like a good chocolate chip one thrown in from time to time too, just to shake things up. And my favorite pie is pumpkin, but pumpkin smoothies are all over the place already. I loved mincemeat pie as a kid (man, I continue to reflect on how weird I was as a kid), but I have a feeling that one isn’t smoothie-fiable.
Your comment made MY day! 🙂
I do have a pumpkin smoothie and a pumpkin frapp. Anything else? I draw the line at minced meat, my friend.
That’s probably a pretty smart line to draw 😉 I’ll keep my thinking cap on for more smoothie ideas…
I like Key Lime Pie. And lemon merengue. Yum pie.
Hmmmm… lemon meringue smoothie…
Oh my! This looks beyond delicious! definitely giving this a try soon!!! 🙂
I would totally go to spicy food heaven.
My favorite type of pie is pecan or pumpkin. I love them both equally.
I agree with you on the key lime thing, it’s a tricky combination to get right. And what exactly makes it key?
This is absolutely gorgeous! I love the color. I have been browsing your recent posts all morning, and wow you have been busy. The stripper heels sound like a nightmare…but they will be worth it. A small evil part of an AWESOME goal.
Thank you!!! I want you to post MORE! 😉
Well it isn’t crab topped tomato gazpacho…but I suppose it will do 🙂
I do like pie, although I don’t eat it very often, pecan is my favorite (always has been, I suspect always will be).
I had no idea we could place smoothie recipe requests…how about a pecan pie one when you get around to it 🙂
As for the heaven I would go with the pie heaven, if there were savory pies…to much sweet is a tummy ache and I would hate to have one of those for eternity.
On a separate note I am making socca this weekend. I made my own chickpea flour (in today’s post) and I will be rocking your socca pizza on Saturday (hopefully it doesn’t get stuck to the pan).
LOL! You were out voted. 🙂 Tuesday it is!
Pecan, huh? There has been some talk of a Kentucky derby Pie…
Can’t wait to hear about the socca!!!
I have to agree I am not a huge fan of key lime pie, but my dad LOVES it. I think I will give this a shot because I do really enjoy lime
It must be a dad thing.
i could go for a good old glob of coconut cream right about now – it’s a dang good thing i’ve got half a bag of coconut flour open at home. woo hoo – now the only problem is that i’m at work..
I agree about key lime pie. I’ve had a good one a time or two but most of them are awful. Good lookin’ smoothie though!
I prefer custardy pies, and my food heaven would certainly be filled with creme brulee where every morning I could start my day by cracking a huge dish of it all over with a spoon.
Amen to that – the first crack is the best part. Breakfast brulee… that would work…
I’m like you…I’m NOT a key lime pie fan because of the tart flavor. My dad, too, loves this pie and I’d much prefer anything chocolate. My FAVORITE pie of all time is definitely pumpkin. 🙂
I’m not a huge lime fan, but you manage to make this look pretty darn good!
I love coconut cream, I usually make it with almond milk. So delicious!!! I swear I can put that stuff on anything.
You could use milk for sure I bet coconut milk would be awesome too.
Yum! I had a key lime martini once and it was the best drink I’ve ever had 🙂
Mmm banana cream pie, hands down my fave!
Now THAT’S a good smoothie idea!
Ahhhhahahahah I love that pie quote!! My favorite pie has to be pumpkin, hands down, but I do love me an apple pie as well. As far as food heaven… it would be crab legs. I know that sounds weird but they’re so darn good AND they keep you entertained.. favorite food ever. Now I’m dreaming about wearing a plastic bib and walking into a place filled with long tables just filled with steamed crab legs….
I’m too squeamish for the legs still, but the meat I got from YDFM is heavenly.
That smoothie sounds seriously amazing. I looove Jack Handy!
I’ve never been a big fan of key lime pie either…probably just never tried a good version!
That being said, maybe I will prefer it in smoothie form. 🙂
this looks amaaazing! I have never really been a fan of key lime pie, but I love the idea of “lining the rim of the glass like you would a margarita”..haha. genious. I am ravenous today and this just totally takes being hungry to a whole new level, ha.
Don’t you love the ravenous days? It’s a sure sign of a good workout!
Lime juice…what a great idea!
This smoothie looks amazing!
YUMMM! I LOVE lime stuff. This looks awesome.
And I agree-I actually don’t like pie b/c I think pie crust is gross, and the custard stuff is allll the wrong texture, but whaetevr. I love LIME flavor!
Hold the phone. You think the crust is gross?! That’s the best part! 😉
What an interesting cream topping idea!
I don’t like key lime pie, but this sounds delish!! Can you move in and cook for me?
LOL! Sure. 🙂
we love key lime! we have made a few puddings and desserts with using lime. we love the mix of tart and sweetness!
favorite pie is the classic pumpkin 🙂
Pumpkin is my favorite smoothie AND favorite overnight oat flavor!
It’s kinda cool, but still looks like green goo. 😉
SIS! This looks amazing! I AM SO IMPRESSED. I’m with you, though. Key lime pie? I never order that. Never. Just not my thing. I was never a big pie person, but if I did have pie I had pumpkin. When I was young I had a thing about warm fruit. I thought it was disgusting. In the summer time, my grandma would always bring fresh apple pies everywhere with her and serve them to my family and relatives, but she knew I hated warm apples, so she’d always bring out a pumpkin pie for me too 🙂 HAHA!
Food heaven? SEAFOOD HEAVEN!
Love you!
This is so funny – I never liked warm fruit either! Couldn’t stand the cooked apples my mom used to make. 🙂
You would have LOVED the lobster roll I had tonight – definite heaven meal.
Love you too!
This. Looks. Heavenly. I cannot WAIT to make! What a gorgeous color 🙂
From the moment I saw the picture of this, it has been in my mind (I really need to get better about commenting sooner…but, I’m sure you don’t mind my comment bombs! ;)) Girl, this is absolutely GORGEOUS! I have NEVER liked key lime pie (or lemon pie for that matter…not a big tangy/sweet lover) but I have to say, I’m thinking about trying this one…especially now that I know it has almond extract and banana in it! Banana to calm the citrus punch and almond…well, almond extract just makes anything 100x better, doesn’t it? Love the coconut cream on top…the perfect touch to keep with the exotic flavors and still give your mind that “cream” look! I bow to your geniusness!
My favorite pie has always and WILL ALWAYS be pumpkin…though I have to say since I’ve cut out my sweets over the last year or so, I’ve yet to find a “healthy” one that satisfied my tastes! How do you do it with your cheat days? I see you have these amazing desserts that look so rich and decadent, but if I have even just a bite of something like that, I swear I feel my blood sugar immediately increase! I’ve even gotten dizzy off ONE bite of dessert!
And finally, without even thinking, I know EXACTLY what I’d chose: NUT BUTTER HEAVEN!!! Where you never get full and the flavors/combos are limitless! 😀 Ahhhhh!
I LOVE your comment bombs. 🙂
Have you done pumpkin smoothies? If you add a ton of pumpkin, it’s not toooooo far from the pie. I also like tofu pumpkin pies with xylitol rather than sugar.
Dessert is my weakness. while I eat minimal sugar all week, I can DOWN a full-sugared treat with no problems. It’s like my body was built for it. LOL!
Nut butter heaven indeed!!! I could bathe in #nuttybutter.
I don’t normally love key lime pie either, for the same reasons. Too sour or too sweet! Also, I don’t really like smoothies. BUT! You and Allie have me convinced, so I’m going to try this. Plus the pictures look like too much fun!
Oh, good! You have to report back. 🙂
This. Looks. Amazing. I love keylime pie!!
Key Lime anything is SO refreshing and yummy in the summer time 🙂 I’ve never made a citrus-y protein shake but this looks delish!
Thank you! I love the citrus twist in the warm months.