Ben & Jerry's Key Lime Pie A Limited Edition Ice Cream Review

At first I was afraid, I was petrified

Kept thinkin' I didnt want that Key Lime Pie by my side;

But then I spent so many nights thinkin' how I might be wrong

And I grew strong and I learned how to get along

And now you're back from freezer space

I just scooped in to find you there with that tasty look upon your face

Oh, alright, I'll stop

(but I'm so tempted to go on)

So we've got Ben & Jerry's Limited Edition Key Lime Pie that has been out since June. It's Lime (yes Lime) ice cream with a Tangy Lime Twist, Fluffy Meringue Swirl & Pie Crust Pieces. I was sure that I wouldn't waste my money on it, but the other day it was just sitting on that shelf saying "come on, I'm only three bucks". So I brought him home. I figure worst case I take a few bites and then try to pawn it off on the family.

Well, I can admit that I was wrong, so very wrong about this flavor. Yes it's strong, but the lime, the meringue, and the crust come together so well that I feel plain old silly for not having tried this when it came out. I should have trusted Ben & Jerry's, but I let my own fear of tart get in the way.

Let's get more specific: I am downright shocked at how strong the crust flavor is. I love crust, it's the crunchy part of any good pie that ties everything together and some how B&J's has got that flavor in every bite. I pretty much always complain that there's never enough crust in a flavor, but not here, no no, this one is done perfectly. It's a true crust flavor, complete with grit and just ties this whole pint together bite by bite.

Next we've got the very distinct meringue flavor. It's that white goo swirled all about in the photo above. It's strong, soft, and again, it's in every bite. It's not a hint, it's not an undertone, it's a big fluffy topping and it's there again and again and again. Awesome.

The crust and meringue would be nothing without the lime base to tie it all together. It is strong? yes. It is tart? at times, yes - probably when you hit the little streaks of lime "twist". Is this strong, tart, prevalent lime flavor bugging me? Surprisingly, no, it's not. I've never actually had key lime pie, but I've had lemon meringue pie on several occasions and this very much reminds me of a top notch LM pie. (It also kind of reminds me of this tasty lime jell-o mold my mom use to make, but that's another story).

You know, I bet if you blindfolded someone and gave this too them, they would be like "hey, did you freeze your key lime pie?". Well, that's what they would say between inhaling this excellent flavor.

I really really like this one because it does such a good job of bringing pie to life. I could easily go for a second small helping of it (I did on the second scoop actually). This one is pie first and that's such a nice contrast to the failed Boston Cream Pie flavor. I can't say it enough, every bite is a wonderful balance of all three flavors. Nice job Ben & Jerry's.

You know, this blog has never been just about eating ice cream. It's about finding (and sharing) the courage to try new things. I have tried hundreds of treats but that doesn't mean I still don't have my preconceived notions about what something should or will taste like. Key Lime Pie is a classic example of being afraid of something that is quite tasty. If you are afraid to spend $5 to try it, then find a place where it's on sale. If you are afraid you'll waste it, find someone to share it with. Yes, be happy with your favorites, but remember to try something new now and then.

Go on now, go walk out the door 

(and buy this flavor before it's gone)

I will survive! 

(but this flavor won't)

Verdict?  A Pie flavor done right!
Buy Again?  Sure!

Note: My intro was just my homage to a classic song, all rights retained by Gloria Gaynor

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1/2 cup (102g) Servings Per Container   4
Amount Per Serving
Calories  270	from Fat  120
	% Daily Value*
Total Fat  13g	20%
- Sat Fat  6g	30%
Cholesterol  60mg	20%
Sodium  120mg	5%
Total Carbohydrate  35g	12%
- Dietary Fiber   0g
- Sugars  20g
Protein  4g
Vitamin A   8%	Vitamin C   0%
Calcium   8%	Iron   2%