These key lime bars are amazing. And they pack a powerful lime punch!
I first made this key lime 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 key lime bars 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 these key lime bars quickly so I didn’t eat the entire 9 x 13 pan myself!!
Key Lime Bars
The bars are made in 3 layers. The bottom layer is a combination of flour, sugar, butter and chopped pecans. You bake it first for about 15 minutes. Be sure not overbake it as you don’t want to dry these bars out.
You just want them slightly brown around the edges. While they are hot you add a mixture of eggs, sugar. flour, baking powder and key lime juice over the top and then bake some more – about 18 minutes or until it is set.
Now let it cool completely and mix up some powdered sugar, butter, lime peel and more key lime juice.
Once the bars are cooled spread this over the top and then dig it!
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.
Just know I can not be held responsible if you end up eating the whole pan by yourself. You are going to want to, I promise!! So put a few of the bars on a plate with the key lime bars recipe and gift them to a neighbor!
Key Lime Bars Recipe
Key Lime Bars
Ingredients
Crust:
- 1¾ C all purpose flour
- ¾ C butter softened
- ⅓ C sugar
- ⅓ C chopped pecans
Filling:
- 1 ½ C sugar
- 4 eggs
- 4 Tbsp flour
- 5 Tbsp fresh key lime juice
- ½ tsp baking powder
Frosting:
- 2¼ C 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
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I made this recipe and it was really delicious! Normally I avoid recipes with multiple layers because they tend to take a long time and make a big mess with all the bowls. But this recipe works so well. I was able to use the same bowl the whole time, and it wasn’t hard or time consuming to make. I used 8 key limes to get the amount of juice needed. I zested all of the limes and used zest in every layer. I used half white whole wheat flour and half all purpose flour. I used almonds instead of pecans because that’s what I had. This recipe is a keeper! Thanks!
Hillary, So glad you enjoyed them too!
These bars are amazing! I made them last night to take to,an event. I had people asking for the recipe. They are kind of like a lemon bar but with a fun glaze. I loved them! Thanks for sharing.
Cindy, Glad they were a hit!! They are one of my favorites too.
Has anyone frozen these? Would it be better to freeze just the first two layers and then frost after thawing or could I freeze the entire bar?
I haven’t frozen them, sorry! I might try freezing them like you mentioned after the first two layers and then frosting after thawing. Let me know how it works if you try it.
Did anyone try freezing these delicious bars?
I haven’t tried it but I would think it would work fine.
How about using regular limes? That’s all I ever seem to have. Have you tried that?
I have only made it with key lime juice.