Key Lime Bars
User Reviews
4.5
Key Lime Bars
Description
The Key Lime Bars recipe starts with a crust created from processed animal crackers mixed with brown sugar, salt, and melted butter, pressed and baked until golden. This forms a crisp, flavorful base with a hint of caramel from the brown sugar. The filling combines softened cream cheese, fresh lime zest, sweetened condensed milk, an egg yolk, and fresh lime juice stirred together until smooth and poured over the warm crust.
Baking the bars sets the filling so it holds together but remains creamy, showcasing a bright lime flavor with a mellow richness from the cream cheese and condensed milk. The contrast between the crunchy base and creamy topping defines the texture profile. To add another flavor and texture dimension, toasted shredded coconut can be sprinkled on top as a garnish.
These bars provide a sweet-tart dessert that is suitable for serving chilled. They are convenient for gatherings or as a standalone treat, delivering a balance of acidity and creaminess typical of lime desserts.
Ingredients
Crust:
- 5 ounces animal crackers about 2 1/2 cups animal crackers
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar packed
- Pinch salt
- 4 tablespoons butter melted
Filling:
- 2 ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 1 tbsp lime zest from about 2 limes, grated, fresh
- 1 (14-ounce) (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- Pinch salt
- 1 large egg yolk
- ½ cup lime juice from about 3-4 regular limes or 20 Key limes, fresh
Garnish:
- ¾ cup coconut toasted (optional, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F, adjusting an oven rack to the middle position. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil, letting two opposing edges hang over at least an inch or so. Grease the foil with cooking spray.
- For the crust, process the animal crackers, sugar and salt together to fine crumbs in a blender or food processor. Drizzle the melted butter over the crumbs and pulse to incorporate (or stir together in a bowl with a fork). Sprinkle the mixture into the prepared pan and press the crumbs into an even layer. Bake the crust until fragrant and golden, about 15-18 minutes.
- For the filling, while crust bakes, in a medium bowl, stir the cream cheese, lime zest and salt together until combined. Whisk in the sweetened condensed milk until smooth (you can use a handheld electric mixer, if you want). Whisk in the egg yolk and lime juice until combined.
- Pour the filling evenly over the crust. Bake the bars until the filling is set and the edges just slightly begin to pull away from the sides of the pan, 15-17 minutes.
- Let the bars cool completely in the pan set on a wire rack, about 2 hours. Then cover the pan with foil and refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours. Remove the bars from the pan using the foil overhang and cut into squares. Sprinkle with toasted coconut if desired.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 16bars
Amount Per Serving
Calories 212 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 Bar | |
| Calories | 212kcal | 11% |
| Carbohydrates | 29g | 10% |
| Protein | 4g | 8% |
| Fat | 9g | 14% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Cholesterol | 31mg | 10% |
| Sodium | 173mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 21g | 42% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.5
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