Description

A portable, mess-free dessert featuring a dense, creamy citrus filling on a crumbly buttery crust. These bars offer concentrated key lime flavor without the hassle of a traditional pie crust.

Ingredients

Scale

1 ½ cups (150g) graham cracker crumbs
6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons (25g) granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup (120ml) key lime juice
1 tablespoon lime zest
1 can (14oz / 397g) sweetened condensed milk
1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
3 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the long sides, and grease lightly.
In a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar, and salt. Stir until it resembles wet sand.
Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 8-10 minutes until lightly golden. Remove and let cool.
In a large bowl, whip heavy cream until soft peaks form. Set aside.
In a separate large bowl, whisk together sweetened condensed milk, key lime juice, lime zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until smooth.
Whisk in eggs one at a time, mixing just until combined.
Gently fold the whipped cream into the lime mixture until fully incorporated.
Pour the filling over the cooled crust and smooth the top.
Bake for 45-50 minutes until edges are set and the center has a slight jiggle.
Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight before slicing.

Notes

For clean cuts, use a sharp knife dipped in hot water and wiped dry between each cut. The bars are best chilled overnight to allow flavors to meld and texture to set. Do not freeze as the cream filling may become grainy.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bar
Calories: 280
Sugar: 24
Sodium: 180
Fat: 16
Saturated Fat: 10
Carbohydrates: 32
Fiber: 0.5
Protein: 4

Keywords: key lime pie bars, creamy key lime dessert, easy bar recipes, make ahead dessert, citrus bars, graham cracker crust