Sugar Buzz: Key Lime Cheesecake Tarts

I've never been crazy for Key lime pie, unlike my brother and father who hail it as the King of All Desserts. (What can I say? I'm a chocolate girl.) But because of my family's affection for the tart and sweet treat, I've made quite a few Key lime pies over the years. Key Lime Cheesecake Tarts are a nice departure from the classic pie, imparting similar flavors in a creamy filling. The tarts' small size and simple-but-sweet presentation make them ideal for showers and tea parties.

Preparation: The prep work takes a good chunk of time, but everything is simple. I used Archer Farms Key Lime Cookie Straws ($2.99 at Target) to make a crunchy crust. You could also use graham cracker crumbs or even a vanilla wafer -- but at $2.99, it's worth getting the cookies. Just pick up a box or two the next time you're at Target (which, for me, is once a week). After crushing the cookies and combining them with melted butter, spoon about a tablespoon of crumbs into mini muffin cups coated with baking spray. I pressed down the crumbs with the top of a honey bear, which worked great. I had some extra crumbs, too, so feel free to snack on a few cookies before crushing them.

If you're looking to cut calories, there's potential to do so here. Decrease the crust's butter or use a butter substitute. Use reduced-fat or fat-free cream cheese. Replace sugar with Splenda, and the whipped cream with fat-free whipped topping.

Taste: This Sugar Buzz divided my taste testers. Some were like my brother and father -- Key lime lovers -- and others weren't so into it. A few wanted a stronger lime flavor, while others liked the tarts' subtlety. Some enjoyed the lime zest sprinkled on top, and some deplored it. People were all over the place on this one. I enjoyed the tarts, but it's not something I would make to impress a crowd. But I would certainly make them for a shower or small party.

The bottom line: Key Lime Cheesecake Tarts are tasty and a nice variation of Key lime pie, but they're not for everyone.

Hannah's rating: 3.5 stars

Hannah H. Carroll is the assistant features editor for The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette, and enjoys making desserts for her family and friends.

Key Lime Cheesecake Tarts

Makes: 24 tarts

1 (6 ounce) box of Archer Farms Key Lime Cookie Straws, available at Target (alternatives: graham

cracker crumbs or vanilla wafers)

⅓ stick butter

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 egg

½ cup sugar

2 tablespoons Key lime juice

1 teaspoon lime zest

Whipped cream

Lime zest, for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Pour cookies into zip-top bag. Crush into crumbs with rolling pin. Melt butter. In small bowl, combine cookie crumbs and butter.

Fill 1 (24-muffin) mini muffin tin with paper cups and spray cups with baking spray. Add about a tablespoon of crust crumbs to each cup. Press down with thumbs or small bottle top.

Beat together cream cheese, egg, sugar, lime juice and zest until well mixed. Fill the cups to the top. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove tarts to cool.

When completely cool, fit a star tip in a pastry bag and fill with whipped cream. Pipe whipped cream on top of tarts. If you don't have a pastry bag, gently spoon whipped cream onto tarts. Garnish with lime zest.