Description
Zesty key lime bars bring Florida’s sunshine to your dessert plate, dancing with tangy citrus and buttery graham cracker crust. Creamy filling and sweet-tart flavors invite you to savor a slice of tropical paradise in each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
- 6 ounces cream cheese
- 4 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup key lime juice
Crust Ingredients:
- 1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Garnish and Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon confectioners sugar
- 2 teaspoons lime zest
- 1 tablespoon lime zest
Instructions
- Prepare the oven and baking vessel to 325F, lining an 8×8 inch pan with foil and applying a light grease coating.
- Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter, pressing the mixture firmly into the prepared pan’s base. Bake the crust for 10 minutes until lightly golden.
- In a medium mixing bowl, thoroughly beat cream cheese until soft and pliable.
- Incorporate condensed milk into the cream cheese, blending until achieving a smooth, uniform consistency.
- Gently fold in egg yolks, adding them individually and mixing thoroughly after each addition.
- Infuse the mixture with fresh lime zest and tangy lime juice, stirring until evenly distributed.
- Transfer the filling onto the pre-baked crust, spreading it evenly across the surface.
- Bake for approximately 30 minutes, ensuring the filling sets with a slight wobble in the center.
- Allow the bars to cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours to firm up.
- Whip cream with powdered sugar until stiff peaks form.
- Garnish each bar with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of additional lime zest before serving.
Notes
- Swap graham crackers with gluten-free alternatives like almond flour or oat cookies for a celiac-friendly version.
- Reduce sugar content by using less condensed milk or replacing with a lighter sweetener option.
- Ensure cream cheese is room temperature to prevent lumps and create a smoother filling texture.
- Zest limes before juicing to maximize flavor extraction and prevent waste of citrus fruits.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg