Description
Creamy key lime pie bars deliver a tangy tropical escape right from your kitchen counter, bringing zesty citrus sunshine to your dessert plate. These simple squares pack pure Florida flavor that dance across your taste buds with refreshing graham cracker crunch.
Ingredients
Scale
Base:
- 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 pinch salt
Filling:
- 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 4 large egg yolks
- ½ cup fresh lime juice
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon lime zest
Topping:
- 1 serving whipped cream
- 1 serving lime zest
- 1 serving lime slices
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grab an 8×8-inch pan and line it completely with parchment paper, ensuring sides are covered for easy removal.
- Combine 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs, ⅓ cup sugar, and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Pour 6 tablespoons melted butter over the mixture and blend until it resembles wet sand.
- Press the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan, creating an even layer that covers the entire base.
- Slide the pan into the oven and bake the crust for exactly 10 minutes. Remove and let it cool slightly while preparing the filling.
- Separate 4 egg yolks into a mixing bowl. Add 1 tablespoon lime zest and whisk until the mixture looks slightly thickened and pale.
- Pour the entire 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk into the egg mixture. Whisk thoroughly until completely incorporated.
- Add ½ cup fresh lime juice and ¼ cup sour cream to the mixture. Whisk smoothly until the filling looks completely uniform and silky.
- Carefully pour the lime filling over the slightly cooled crust, ensuring an even distribution across the entire surface.
- Return the pan to the 350°F oven and bake for precisely 15 minutes. The filling should look just set but still have a slight jiggle in the center.
- Remove from the oven and let the bars cool completely at room temperature for about 1 hour.
- Transfer the pan to the refrigerator and chill for at least 2 hours to allow the bars to firm up completely.
- Use the parchment paper edges to lift the entire dessert from the pan. Slice into neat squares using a sharp knife.
- Optional: Garnish each bar with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of fresh lime zest before serving.
Notes
- Keep graham cracker crust firmly packed to ensure a solid base that won’t crumble when slicing bars.
- Use fresh lime juice for the brightest, most authentic flavor instead of bottled juice.
- Allow bars to chill completely for clean, neat cutting and the best texture – at least 2 hours in the refrigerator.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute graham cracker crumbs with almond flour or gluten-free cookie crumbs.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 289
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 84 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg