Key Lime Bars give you all the flavor of key lime pie with less effort.  These key lime bars are fresh and delicious to bring to a dinner party, potluck, or for a special birthday dessert. My dad’s favorite pie is key lime pie, but his birthday often fell at the time that lots of extended family was visiting. Rather than make 2 or 3 pies to feed everyone, we started making a large pan of this Key Lime Bar recipe. The lime and light whipped cream combination is perfect for hot summer months, or around the holidays when everyone is sick of chocolate.

Simple Classic Key Lime Bars

As my children get older*, I realize that they will be eventually leaving my house. And I’d like them to develop a love for a lower-sugar, real-butter versions of ‘regular’ recipes rather than have their first taste of banana bread be soaked in corn syrup and Crisco, or develop a taste for brownies that are made with rancid oils and waxy chocolate. This recipe is this mom’s way of saying, “I know you’re not going to always eat how I eat, but here, let me show you how GOOD banana bread made with real cinnamon and butter and loads of banana flavor tastes. *My daughter is on keto for medical reasons and she remains on the keto diet. She is happy to help make and share these recipes, even though she cannot eat them right now.

Classic Key Lime Bars

Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 159 kcal
Author: Cara

While I usually post recipes for the GAPS and Keto diets, I do still enjoy baking for friends and family with wheat flour. This is part of a baking series as I show my children how to bake classic recipes from scratch - this recipe is adapted from my mom's Key Lime Pie recipe.  When adapting recipes, typically  I reduce the sugar and change the directions so that both the wet and dry ingredients are done in the same bowl to save dishes. 

We always use folic-acid-free flour

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup plus 2 1/2 tablespoons finely ground graham cracker crumbs
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • 3 large egg yolks
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest
  • 2/3 cup fresh Key lime juice about 23 Key limes total
  • For the 'sweetened condensed milk' without the can
  • 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream for the topping
  • 2 Key limes thinly sliced into half-moons

Instructions

  1. Make crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter in a small bowl. Press evenly onto bottom of an 8-inch square glass baking dish. Bake until dry and golden brown, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack. (Leave oven on.)
  2. Make filling: Put egg yolks and lime zest in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Mix on high speed until very thick, about 5 minutes. Reduce speed to medium. Add condensed milk in a slow, steady stream, mixing constantly. Raise speed to high; mix until thick, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to low. Add lime juice; mix until just combined.
  3. Spread filling evenly over crust using a spatula. Bake, rotating dish halfway through, until filling is just set, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Refrigerate at least 4 hours (or overnight).

  4. Put cream in the clean bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the clean whisk attachment. Mix on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form.

  5. Cut into 16 bars. Garnish bars with a slice of lime.

To Make Sweetened Condensed Milk

  1. Combine 3/4 cup heavy cream, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla in a small saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved. Cool to room temperature before adding to recipes.

Recipe Notes

The bars will keep, wrapped in plastic, in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Nutrition Facts
Classic Key Lime Bars
Amount Per Serving (1 key lime bar)
Calories 159 Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 6g30%
Cholesterol 66mg22%
Sodium 43mg2%
Potassium 36mg1%
Carbohydrates 16g5%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 12g13%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 382IU8%
Vitamin C 3mg4%
Calcium 21mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
 

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