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Serves a Crowd

Bill Smith's Atlantic Beach Pie

by:
June 29, 2021
4.4
156 Ratings
Photo by James Ransom
  • Prep time 20 minutes
  • Cook time 20 minutes
  • makes 1 pie
Author Notes

A sweet-salty twist on a classic North Carolina lemon pie that's as lazy and beachy as summer should be. Adapted slightly from Bill Smith of Crook's Corner in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Garnish with freshly whipped cream and coarse salt.

Helpful tools for this recipe:
- Cuisinart Food Processor
- OXO Glass Pie Plate
- Heart Pie Server

—Genius Recipes

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Bill Smith's Atlantic Beach Pie
Ingredients
  • For the crust
  • 1 1/2 sleeves of saltine crackers (about 6 ounces or 60 crackers)
  • 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • For the filling
  • 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1/2 cup lemon or lime juice or a mix of the two
  • Fresh whipped cream, for garnish
  • Coarse sea salt, for garnish
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Crush the crackers finely, but not to dust. You can use a food processor or your hands. Add the sugar, then knead in the butter until the crumbs hold together like dough. Press into an 8-inch pie pan. Chill for 15 minutes, then bake for 18 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
  3. While the crust is cooling (it doesn't need to be cold), beat the egg yolks into the milk, then beat in the citrus juice. It is important to completely combine these ingredients. Pour into the shell and bake for 16 minutes until the filling has set. The pie needs to be completely cold to be sliced. Serve with fresh whipped cream and a sprinkling of sea salt.
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Recipe by: Genius Recipes

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341 Reviews

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Linda D. November 18, 2024
Absolutely delicious! Thanks so much!
Kclare428 July 3, 2024
Love how simple and delicious this pie is to make. I've made it twice now and was a huge hit both times. Only change I make to the recipe is using Ritz crackers instead of saltines. I use a combo of lemon and lime juice too.
Sharyn G. July 5, 2024
Ritz crackers are a great idea!
SailsElan124 June 20, 2024
I have made this recipe, exactly as written, many times. Tonight, for the heck of it, I looked up various other recipes for Atlantic Beach Pie. None of them looked the same so I'm sticking with what I know and I'm making this pie to bring to a luncheon at a friend's house tomorrow. I'm looking forward to enjoying it again and I'm sure the host of the luncheon will be thrilled with my addition!
Robin G. June 10, 2024
Did not change one thing. This pie is perfect AS IS!
Smaug May 31, 2024
Those who like this recipe might look at one called "10 minute lime cracker pie" on Serious Eats (seriouseats.com). It layers the filling with the crackers rather than making a separate crust and uses heavy cream rather than eggs- it is a no cook dessert.
HalfPint May 28, 2024
Made this for Memorial Day bbq. Easy and quick to make. I used Meyer Lemon and a little bit of lime. We loved this pie. The crust is my favorite part. There's a wonderful buttery fragrance from the baked crust that is mouth-watering. Key lime pie is my favorite and this pie has just replaced it. The salt in the saltines complements the tart sweetness of the filling. Next time, I will add more powdered sugar because I thought it was not sweet enough (I don't have a sweet tooth, so that says a lot). This was simply terrific and we'll be making it again soon :)
HalfPint May 28, 2024
Clarification: more powdered sugar to the whipped cream.
Yocsgirl May 27, 2024
Of those who have made it, did you use freshly squeezed juice?
Bernadette May 27, 2024
Yes I did. I'd recommend it. Lemon or lime juice from concentrate would probably make it less tasty.
Cpruitt May 27, 2024
Yes, you really need to use fresh squeezed juices. It gives the pie an all around fresh taste. This pie has become a favorite for our family and friends
Lanier W. May 27, 2024
Yes, only fresh. The refrigerated lemon juice has an aftertaste to me. After squeezing your fresh lemons and after cleaning your kitchen & sink, rub the inside of your sink with the lemons & the oils in the skin will add a wonderful smell to your kitchen.
Bernadette May 27, 2024
My manicurist told me a trick to press your nails in the skin of the lemon. The acidity helps to clean under your nails and keep them more white.
Wishing I. May 27, 2024
Absolutely! Why use anything else?
S D. July 26, 2024
So will any of the fizzing denture cleaners - dangle your finger tips in the mixture for 4 minutes - viola! Fingernail stains are gone.
julie July 30, 2024
yes both lemon and lime
laura T. May 16, 2024
Made this tonight for a crew that usually requires chocolate in their desserts, myself included.. But needed a more beachy, tropical themed dessert and MAN is this good!! Everyone raved about the crust, I followed the instructions exactly and no issues with it crumbling. I used a 10 inch pie plate because that's all I had and didnt change the recipe at all, and it was perfectly fine. Will definitely be keeping this recipe handy!
Smaug May 27, 2024
I have no idea what "beachy" is supposed to mean (the author used it too) but Atlantic Beach is the name of a town in North Carolina. The beach is a poor place to bake, and a "beachy" flavor sounds like a lot of salt and grit, with maybe an occasional sea lion fin thrown in.
Wishing I. August 31, 2023
I made this a couple months back for my girlfriend’s mother who adores all things lemon. It was a big hit! I then made it for friends but substituted Schar table crackers for the saltines. Like the crackers, my friends are gluten free. I was imagining that it was going to be an absolute dud but it was just as good if not better. Since, I have told a few friends about this game changing pie and they have all made it. They couldn’t wait to tell me how good it was. For the folks who are underwhelmed, I think maybe you’re not following directions properly? This really is an incredibly easy and absolutely delicious pie. Thank you!
Mmcgraw12 September 5, 2024
Thank you for the GF recommendation! I was wondering what kind to buy
LynnaG July 29, 2023
Delicious pie. Easy recipe…. Plan ahead to prepare it the night before. Crust worked perfectly fine… weighed the crackers to 6 oz. Used soft butter but not melted. Added 1 teaspoon each of lemon and lime olive oil to enhance the flavor…. I didn’t have fresh squeezed juice. Tasty flavor with tart and salt perfect for hot summer.
Kmpollock July 24, 2023
This was amazing both times I’ve made it. So simple. If you have extra lemons and they’re starting to get tired, juice them and freeze in small containers. Perfect for this pie (lemon pasta, sidecar cocktail etc). It is great with graham cracker crust too:)
clayshapes July 11, 2023
Really delicious, and so easy. I followed directions exactly - came out exactly as expected. Love the crunchiness and unusualness of the saltine crust. I wondered if it would come out crumbly, and not hold when slicing - but - it makes a really great crust - the saltiness really balances the sweetness of the curd - and billowy whipped cream balances it all perfectly. I might even try this once with a meringe topping instead - as the egg whites are just sitting there, waiting to be whipped!
Lanier W. July 8, 2023
I’ve made this several times and about to make again. I never seem to have leftovers; a thin slice every once in a while would be nice! The grandkids help with this one, easy for them to do with quick results. Enjoy!
linda July 2, 2023
IF there are leftovers, should it be refrigerated?
Elizabeth D. July 2, 2023
The pie has dairy and eggs, to be safe, I would refrigerate any leftovers (if there are any). Food poisoning is no fun.
eloisemeissner June 16, 2023
Maybe it was beginners luck, but I made this for the first time and it came out perfect! The crust pressed in nicely to the pie plate and the lemon filling was delicious. The pie was easy to cut as well. The lemon filling was so smooth and had a wonderful little pucker to the taste. I followed the directions exactly as written. I will be making it again for sure!
Yolanda M. March 9, 2023
The filling was dull / needed some grated rind and the taste of the evaporated milk was not great. The crust - meh.
Will not redo.
Rethyevy March 11, 2023
The recipe calls for sweetened condensed milk and not evaporated milk which is much different. Perhaps that's what made it...meh?
Zusie July 17, 2023
This recipe doesn’t specify the amount of whipped cream or adding salt or sugar to the cream. I topped the entire pie with cream as shown in the picture and it really filled the flavor. When I put the cream on the side I can actually taste the filling.
Zusie July 17, 2023
*dulled the flavor
MarcellaH March 7, 2023
This is so easy to make and DELICIOUS!!! I know I’ll be making this over and over!
plevee March 4, 2023
The first time Imade this it came together easily and was great. This time making and baking the crust has been nerve racking. It was too crumbly to hold together to line th pan. I added extra butter with not much improvement. Some cracker crust recipes use melted butter - maybe this would be easier?
NCdana May 24, 2023
Make sure you knead with your hands. Your body heat will almost melt the butter!
gingerroot January 16, 2023
This is a pie of my dreams. So easy and such a big reward. Highly recommend adding fresh lilikoi (passionfruit) if you have access to these fruits. I did half lemon juice and half fresh lilikoi. So fragrant and delicious.
Veronica January 17, 2023
It's become "my pie" too, everyone keeps asking for it at every special occasion. I will definitely try your version next time.

my tip: instead of cream I use the four egg whites to do a meringue on top ;)
CrystalFeder December 23, 2022
The most incredible pie. It's a showstopper. Hardest thing is the crust and it all comes together quite simply after that.