Lime Bars
A buttery crust and a slightly tangy lime filling make up these beautiful Lime Bars. The perfect summer dessert!
A CITRUS DESSERT BAR
Just like your favorite Lemon Bars, these Lime Bars have the perfect balance of tanginess, sweet, and a hint of tartness. They’re refreshing to enjoy, especially after a hot summer day! They don’t require all that much hard work to whip up and you can enjoy other summer activities like enjoying some pool time while you wait on these to chill in the fridge. These lime bars are a bit more mellow than your traditional key lime bars which is what I love about them!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Key limes are smaller and more fragrant than regular limes. They have a higher acidity and are more tart. Regular limes, on the other hand, are larger, less acidic and have a slightly less tart flavor.
I used regular limes but key limes can be substituted in this recipe.
Instead of this buttery crust, try a graham cracker crumb crust for the bottom layer.
Wiping the blade of your knife in between cuts is helpful to keep your bars nice and clean with smooth edges. Additionally, you can run the blade of the knife under warm water and drying it off before using it to help get smooth cut lines.
Every time I show this mixer in my process photos I get asked about it so I figured I would answer that here. I used a Bosch mixer (paid affiliate link) for this Lime Bar recipe. But, any other stand mixer or hand electric mixer would work just as well. The Bosch mixer is really nice, but it is pricey and honestly, regular stand mixers and electric mixers work just as good as this Bosch mixer.
Leftover bars should be stored in an airtight container and can be kept for up to a week. You can also freeze these bars for up to 3 months.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- all-purpose flour
- powdered sugar
- salt
- unsalted butter
- granulated sugar
- lime zest– you’ll need this from about three to four limes
- fresh lime juice– using fresh lime juice is a crucial part of this recipe. The bottled stuff often tastes very fake because it’s highly acidic.
- large eggs
- green food coloring– If you don’t want the green Lime Bars, these will be just fine without the food coloring- just not the vibrant green color you see here.
HOW TO MAKE LIME BARS
Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or spray with nonstick baking spray. Set aside. In a bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer), sift together 2 1/2 cups flour, powdered sugar, and salt.
Then add the melted butter and mix until combined. Put the crust dough into the lined pan and press into a flat thin layer with the bottom of a measuring cup. Bake for about 20 minutes, until a light golden color around the edges.
In a food processor or stand mixer, add in the sugar and the lime zest. Mix until the zest is fully incorporated. Add remaining half cup of flour to the sugar mixture and pulse again.
Add lime juice, eggs, and green food coloring (optional), and mix until completely combined. Pour the filling over the crust and place in oven. Bake for about 30-40 minutes, turning the pan after 15 minutes. Check for doneness by wiggling the pan. If it doesn’t jiggle in the middle, it’s done. Do not overbake.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about an hour before chilling in the refrigerator. Then chill for at least two hours. When ready, dust heavily with powdered sugar and then cut into 16 bars.
Optional: Sprinkle the tops with additional lime zest.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
- Classic Lemon Bars
- Homemade Key Lime Pie
- Lime Jell-O Poke Cake
- Key Lime Poke Cake
- Key Lime Cream Pie
- Blueberry Lemon Bars
- 3-Ingredient Lemon Bars
- Creamy Lemon Bars
- Peaches and Cream Bars
- Peach Pie Bars
- Strawberries and Cream Bars
- Pecan Pie Bars
- Strawberry Crumble Cheesecake Bars
Lime Bars
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, divided use
- ⅔ cups powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 12 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (a stick and a half)
For the Lime Filling
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 3 Tablespoons lime zest (about 3-4 limes)
- 1 cup fresh lime juice
- 8 large eggs (room temperature)
- 6 drops green food coloring (optional)
- ¼ cup powdered sugar (for dusting on top)
Instructions
Crust
- Preheat the oven to 350F degrees.
- Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or spray with nonstick baking spray. Set aside.
- In a bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer), sift together 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour, 2/3 cups powdered sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
- Then add 12 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and mix until combined.
- Put the crust dough into the lined pan and press into a flat thin layer with the bottom of a measuring cup.
- Bake for about 20 minutes, until a light golden color around the edges.
Lime Filling
- In a food processor or stand mixer, add in 3 cups granulated sugar and 3 Tablespoons lime zest. Mix until the zest is fully incorporated.
- Add remaining half cup of flour to the sugar mixture and pulse again.
- Add 1 cup fresh lime juice, 8 large eggs and 6 drops green food coloring, and mix until completely combined.
- Pour the filling over the crust and place in oven. Bake for about 30-40 minutes, turning the pan after 15 minutes. Check for doneness by wiggling the pan. If it doesn’t jiggle in the middle, it’s done. Do not overbake.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about an hour before chilling in the refrigerator. Then chill for at least two hours.
- When ready, dust heavily with 1/4 cup powdered sugar and then cut into 16 bars. Optional: Sprinkle the tops with additional lime zest.
- Then enjoy!
Notes
- Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Hi! I’m looking at the device you’re using to mix the ingredients. It looks like a food processor, but with whisks! I have a Kitchen aid (my hubby brought it to the marriage), but, like with yeast breads and leeks, I’m intimidated to use it (LOL). I’m curious to know what device/brand this is. Definitely saving this recipe – looks fabulous!
I mention it in the Frequently Asked Question section above because I know people will ask about it. It’s neat looking but way too expensive and not worth the money LOL
Made these today. Absolutely delicious