These Easy Key Lime Bars are delicious. The buttery graham cracker crust adds just the right amount of sweetness and crunch, which makes these the perfect dessert! Like my Basil Lemonade recipe, these have the perfect blend of sweet and sour.
The key lime bars are a fantastic dessert for Spring and Summer. They are fruity, tart, and light. They are also extremely simple to make! I'll tell you the truth, I like them better than lemon bars with a shortbread crust. That's right, I said it.
I can't even describe how good these delicious mini desserts are! I took them to my mom's last night for a family get together and they were gone in an instant. Thankfully, I ate three before anyone else could get their little hands on them. Win!
If you love making easy desserts, be sure to check out this Apple and Blackberry Crumble, No Churn Oreo Ice Cream and Heart Thumbprint Cookies.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe:
- It's so easy to make with minimal ingredients
- The recipe is so yummy and combines tart filling with a graham cracker crust
- These bars are so much more fun to eat than a slice of traditional pie
Big on Summer Recipes? Try my Peach Mango Pies, Strawberry Sauce and Blueberry Galette Recipes!
Ingredients for Lime Bars:
Lime Juice: Freshly squeezed for the best tartness we can get
Lime Zest: For additional tart flavor and color
Graham Cracker Crumbs, Butter, and Granulated Sugar: Come together for the buttery base layer and create the ideal crunch
Sweetened Condensed Milk: A rich, thick sweetener
Sour Cream: To add creaminess and tart flavor to the bars
Egg Yolks: Used to help create a thick custard texture in lemon or lime bars
How to Make Easy Key Lime Bars:
Watch the video for a full demo & be sure to SUBSCRIBE (it's free)
Here are the Step by Step Instructions for these Easy Key Lime Pie Bars.
Step 1: Make the Graham Cracker Crust
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8x8 pan and line with parchment paper. In a bowl, add melted butter, granulated sugar and graham cracker crust and mix well to combine. Pack the crust into the pan and really pack it down with your hands or the bottom of a measuring cup. Bake for 10 minutes.
Step 2: Prep the Key Lime Filling
In a large bowl, add in the lime juice, lime zest, sweetened condensed milk, sour cream and egg yolks. Whisk really well until combined.
Step 3: Bake the Lime Bars
Pour the filling over the graham cracker crust and bake for 15 minutes. When you pull it out, give it a wiggle test to make sure the middle looks solid like jello and not like liquid. If it looks too runny, place back into the oven for a few minutes.
Step 4: Cool and Refrigerate & Serve
Allow the bars to cool for at least 45 minutes on the counter. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably 3 hours.
Using a sharp knife, cut the bars into lime squares like brownies, wiping the knife clean with each cut.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving or whipped topping to balance out the tart flavor. Enjoy!
Expert Tips:
Before pulling from the bars from the oven, make sure to wiggle the pan to check out the consistency. You are looking for a jello like texture, not any liquid.
When slicing, use the sharpest knife you have and wipe it with a paper towel or napkin each cut to keep the bars looking fabulous.
Recipe FAQs:
After baking, when you pull the lime bars out of the oven and you wiggle the pan back and forth gently, the center should look almost like jello and jiggle a bit. If it looks too much like liquid, it needs to go back into the oven.
Yes, these must stay in the fridge for at least 2 hours to make sure they are completely set before you slice them.
I prefer to cook them with parchment paper and then slice with a sharp chef's knife, wiping off the knife each slice. If you are using a good pan, be careful when you're cutting as it can scratch the bottom. Sometimes the first bar comes out a little ugly, but after that, you will be good to go.
These easy key lime pie bars have about 10 limes in them and make the perfect dessert choice for those extra limes!
How to Store these Lime Squares:
This dessert does the best made the same day as serving. You can store them in the fridge, but after 24 hours the graham cracker crust begins to get soggy.
More Summer Desserts You'll Love:
If you tried this Key Lime Pie Bar Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
PrintRecipe
Key Lime Bars
- Total Time: 4 hours, 15 minutes
- Yield: 16 servings 1x
Description
These Easy Key Lime Pie Bars are tart and delicious. The buttery graham cracker crust adds just the right amount of sweetness and crunch, which makes these the perfect dessert!
Ingredients
- 1 and ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 8 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 2 (14 ounce) cans of sweetened condensed milk
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ¾ cup fresh lime juice -about 10 limes
- 2 tablespoons lime zest
- 2 egg yolks
- Optional: Powdered sugar for topping and/or whip cream
- You will also need an 8x8 pan and 1 teaspoon vegetable oil or spray to coat pan & piece of parchment paper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8x8 pan and line with parchment paper. In a bowl, add melted butter, granulated sugar and graham cracker crust and mix well to combine. Pack the crust into the pan and really pack it down with your hands or the bottom of a measuring cup. Bake for 10 minutes.
- In a large bowl, add in the lime juice, lime zest, sweetened condensed milk, sour cream and egg yolks. Whisk really well until combined.
- Pour the filling over the graham cracker crust and bake for 15 minutes. When you pull it out, give it a wiggle test to make sure the middle looks solid like jello and not like liquid. If it looks too runny, place back into the oven for a few minutes.
- Once it is finished baking, allow the bars to cool for at least 45 minutes on the countertop. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably 3 hours.
- To serve, use a sharp knife to cut the bars into squares like brownies, wiping the knife clean with each cut. The first bar is the trickiest one to get out, so consider that your treat for baking them. Enjoy!
Notes
You can sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving or squirt a little whipped topping on them to balance out the tart flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cooling Time: 3 hours, 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: desserts
- Method: bake
- Cuisine: american
Keywords: key lime pie bars, lime bars, easy dessert
Mandy
These are absolutely amazing! I made this and before I even baked them I tasted my key lime mix and it was mouth watering 🤤! Definitely recommend everyone trying this recipe!
★★★★★
Tara Smithson
Thanks so much Mandy! You totally made my day. I'm so happy you loved them:)
Karissa
This was my first time making anything keylime flavored. It was amazing! I didn't use powdered sugar or whip cream. I also used turbinado sugar instead of white sugar & it was perfect! The recipe is easy to follow. I shared it with friends and family, everyone loved it. The only adjustment I'll make is to save some time by using a storebought Graham cracker crust, because I want more of a crunchy flavor to my crust.
★★★★★
Tara Smithson
Thanks so much for making it Karissa & for the review! I'm so glad everyone loved it.
Payton, tara's kid
these are the best things ever! and I should know, I've tasted the ones made by the famous Tara, because i'm her kid, Payton.
★★★★★
Tara Smithson
Thanks Payton, you silly rabbit!
Holly
My new favorite dessert!!
★★★★★