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These key lime bars are amazing and they pack a powerful lime punch!
The Best Key Lime Bars
I first made this bars recipe back in 2010 for a women’s event at church. We were doing a dessert bar and I got to experiment with lots of yummy bar cookies. As soon as I took my first bite of these I knew they were a winner.
When my husband took his first bite, the first word out of his mouth was , “Wow!” It was a good “Wow!” A “these are the best key lime bars” type of wow! I knew that I was going to have to share them with my neighbors quickly so I didn’t eat the entire 9 x 13 pan myself!!
How to Make Key Lime Bars
The bars are made in 3 layers.
Crust
- Combine the crust ingredients except for the pecans into a bowl
- Beat at low speed until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs
- Add in the pecans
- Press mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 9 x 13 pan
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until edges are slightly browned, don’t overcook..
You just want them slightly brown around the edges. While they are hot add the next layer.
Filling
- Combine all the filling ingredients into a bowl
- Beat at low speed until well mixed
- Pour filling over hot, partially baked crust
- Bake for 18 more minutes or until set.
Frosting
Cool bars completely.
- Mix together powdered sugar, butter, lime peel and more key lime juice.
- Spread frosting over cooled bars.
If you are a citrus fan you are going to love these pretty little key lime bars. You could also make them with lemon juice if you’d like. It would be amazing too. I purchase the key lime juice that comes in the bottle, the Nellie & Joe’s Key Lime Juice. It awesome and tastes just like fresh key limes.
I like to sprinkle some addition lime peel over the top before serving. I use my trusty microplanner for this! Just a nice light sprinkling to make the bars a little prettier.
Check out more delicious key lime recipes:
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Key Lime Bars
Ingredients
Crust:
- 1¾ cups all purpose flour
- ¾ cup butter softened
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
Filling:
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 4 eggs
- 4 Tbsp flour
- 5 Tbsp fresh key lime juice
- ½ tsp baking powder
Frosting:
- 2¼ cups powdered sugar
- 1½ Tbsp butter softened
- 2-3 Tbsp fresh key lime juice
- Freshly grated key lime peel
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F degrees
- Combine the crust ingredients except for the pecans into a bowl
- Beat at low speed until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs
- Add in the pecans
- Press mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 9 x 13 pan
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until edges are slightly browned
- You don’t want to over cook it
- Meanwhile, combine all filling ingredients into a bowl
- Beat at low speed until well mixed
- Pour filling over hot, partially baked crust
- Continue baking for 18-20 minutes or until filling is set
- Cool completely
- Combine all the frosting ingredients except lime peel in a bowl
- Spread over cooled bars
- Garnish with grated lime peel
Nutrition Facts:
Elizabeth says
Absolutely delicious!
Madelyn Fulsang says
I love these but why is their s question mark for crust for sugar and pecans ??!??
Leigh Anne says
Sorry about that – there was a technical glitch in the recipe plug in and it is fixed now. Enjoy!