These Key Lime Pie Bars are super easy and SO tasty – way easier than making an entire key lime pie and they taste super authentic, too! You’ll love these sweet and tangy bars!
I cannot believe Easter is this weekend! Where has the time gone?!
I swear, time moves at an accelerated pace when you’re an adult. I could have sworn it was in slow mo when I was a kid, but as an adult, I am wondering who has the fast forward button? There’s barely enough time in the day for me to accomplish my tasks before I look at the clock and it’s 5pm and I need to start winding down!
Or maybe I am slowing down. I did just turn 30 and my back is chronically hurting. Getting older sucks.
Either way, I’ll bet you’re still anchoring your Easter menu down and if so, do I have the dessert for you! These pie bars are absolutely heavenly!
Truthfully, key lime pie (the traditional round one) isn’t difficult to make, so therefore, these bars aren’t either. But sometimes you just want a cute little square that can be stretched a little further than a standard 9″ pie. And sometimes squares can be cuter than triangles. Hey, I don’t make the rules on cute desserts. These things just happen.
The Crust
The crust is your standard graham cracker pie crust that every self-respecting key lime pie requires. Just like peanut butter and jelly, you can’t have key lime pie without a graham cracker crust! You’ll need graham cracker crumbs as the base, melted butter to moisten it, and some granulated sugar to help sweeten the deal. We’ll partially bake the crust to help it set some before we add the filling.
The Key Lime Filling
The key lime filling is essential and what really sends these bars over the top! There’s only a few simple ingredients in it: cream cheese to help bulk it up and thicken it, key lime juice for authentic key lime flavor, lime zest for additional flavor, and sweetened condensed milk which thickens and adds sweetness. Told you, super simple!
Additionally, I loved enjoying these with freshly whipped cream, a little sprinkle of toasted coconut and fresh lime zest to really drive home the flavor. Not only are they seriously GORGEOUS but the flavor is out of this world!
Bright, tart, tangy and sweet, you’re going to love these gooey Key Lime Pie Bars!
*adapted from Tastes Better from Scratch’s recipe
Super Easy Key Lime Pie Bars
Ingredients
For the Graham Cracker Crust:
- 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/3 cup granulated white sugar
- 1/3 cup melted unsalted butter
For the Key Lime Filling:
- 4 oz full-fat cream cheese, softened
- 28 oz (Two 14-oz cans) sweetened condensed milk
- 3/4 cup key lime juice I like Nellie and Joe's
- Zest of 2 limes
- Fresh whipped cream, for garnish optional but recommended
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° degrees F. Line an 8x8 square light metal baking pan with foil or parchment, extending the sides of the foil over the edges of the pan. Spray the foil with cooking spray and set aside.
- For the crust: In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and granulated sugar until moistened and combined. Pour the moistened crumbs into the prepared pan and press into an even layer with a flat bottomed measuring cup or your hands. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven but keep oven on. Allow crust to cool briefly, about 10 minutes.
- For the filling: Beat the cream cheese in a medium bowl with a handheld electric mixer until smooth. Add in the sweetened condensed milk and mix well, followed by the key lime juice and zest and mix on low speed until fully incorporated. Pour the filling evenly over the partially cooled crust and smooth carefully into an even layer.
- Bake for an additional 10 minutes, then allow the bars to cool for about 30 minutes. Refrigerate for at least 3-4 hours, or overnight, before cutting into bars to serve. Before serving, I like to top with freshly whipped cream and toasted coconut or fresh lime zest.
Notes
These cool and creamy, tart and tangy bars are going to be a real winner at your spring event!
Have a super sweet day!
xo, Hayley
Cheryl says
I can’t wait to make these! Thank you for making it look so simple with the video and how to’s! And I promise i’m going to not ask for substitutions! HAHA! (After your last few posts and some comments in Instagram I had to laugh!) 😀
I love the way you think and bake.
Dorsie Hathaway says
Baked these yesterday! Fabulous dessert and brunch treats! I used glutenfree crumbs and lactose free condensed milk.
Lily says
I made these for easter dessert for the fam and my brother is a hardcore key lime enthusiasm. We’re lucky he didn’t eat the whole thing himself. The recipe: easy peasy. The crust: buttery. The filling: limey and creamy. Gawd dayum these are perfect.
thedomesticrebel says
Lily, so glad everyone enjoyed and you were able to snag a piece!
Nicole says
Holy yummy-ness these are amazing!!!!!
Kyle says
These things were great! Super easy to make and delicious. I’m a super tart person, so I’ll probably up the lime juice next time to a full cup, but that’s just me (and to be honest, making it tarter might keep me from eating the whole pan in one sitting!) Can’t wait to make these again. A great base recipe to start from and have fun with. Maybe I’ll do a meringue top next time? Candied citrus zests? So many fun possibilities. Thanks and keep it up!
Al says
Can I use regular limes?
thedomesticrebel says
Sure!
Nicole says
These were so creamy yet tart and delicious! Made for my mom for Mother’s Day. Will definitely make again!
mcKenna says
These were great the first time. I made them exactly as the recipe says both times and the second time tasted more like sweetened condensed milk even after extra lime juice. Maybe I missed something, idk but its not gonna stop me from making these. They are DELICIOUS