The Tangy Magic of Homemade Lime Bars Recipe for Citrus Lovers

Crafting zesty lime bars brings a burst of sunshine to your dessert table.

Tangy citrus mingles with sweet, buttery crust in this irresistible treat.

Bright flavors dance across your palate with each delightful bite.

Creamy and smooth, these bars offer a refreshing twist on classic desserts.

Summer memories come flooding back through every delectable morsel.

Crisp edges and silky filling create a perfect balance of texture and taste.

You’ll want to savor every single crumb of this incredible citrus sensation.

Why Lime Bars Are A Bright And Tangy Treat

• Zesty Crowd-Pleaser: These lime bars deliver a tangy twist that will wow friends and family at potlucks, picnics, or casual gatherings with their bright, refreshing flavor.
• Simple Baking Adventure: Perfect for beginner bakers, this recipe requires basic kitchen skills and minimal ingredients, making it an excellent introduction to dessert-making without overwhelming techniques.
• Versatile Dessert Delight: Adaptable for various occasions, these bars can be dressed up with powdered sugar, fresh mint, or whipped cream, transforming from casual treat to elegant dessert with minimal effort.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare these bars in advance and store in the refrigerator, allowing busy home cooks to have a delicious dessert ready without last-minute stress and ensuring flavors develop beautifully.

Everything In Lime Bars You’ll Need

• All-Purpose Flour: The base that provides structure and texture for the delicate crust.
• Powdered Sugar: Adds a subtle sweetness and helps create a tender, crumbly texture.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the crust.
• Unsalted Butter: Brings richness and helps bind the crust ingredients together.

• Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create a smooth, silky filling.
• All-Purpose Flour: Acts as a thickening agent for the lime filling.
• Eggs: Bind the filling and create a creamy, custard-like consistency.
• Lime Zest: Delivers intense, bright citrus flavor to the bars.
• Lime Juice: Adds tangy, fresh citrus notes to the filling.
• Food Coloring (Optional): Gives a vibrant green hue to the lime bars.

• Parchment Paper: Helps easily remove the bars from the baking pan.

Simple Steps To Bake Lime Bars

Step 1: Prepare Baking Station

Warm up the oven to a cozy 350°F. Line your baking dish with parchment paper, letting the edges hang over for easy removal.

This trick will save you from wrestling with stuck dessert later.

Step 2: Create Buttery Crust Foundation

• Flour
• Powdered sugar
• Salt
• Butter

Toss everything into a food processor and pulse until the mixture looks like delicate sand.

Press this crumbly mixture firmly into the prepared pan. Bake until the edges turn a gorgeous golden brown, about 18-20 minutes.

Step 3: Whip Up Tangy Lime Filling

• Sugar
• Flour
• Eggs
• Lime zest
• Fresh lime juice

Whisk everything together with enthusiasm. The mixture should become smooth and vibrant.

Optional: Add a drop of food coloring for extra visual pop.

Step 4: Bake to Perfection

Pour the lime filling over the hot crust.

Return to the oven and bake for another 18-20 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the filling looks set and doesn’t wiggle when you gently shake the pan.

Step 5: Chill and Serve

Allow the bars to cool completely at room temperature for about an hour. Then refrigerate for 1-2 hours to help them set firmly.

Use the parchment paper edges to lift the entire batch out, then slice into delightful squares. Enjoy your zesty treat!

Pro Tips For The Perfect Batch Of Lime Bars

• Use fresh lime juice for the most vibrant and tangy flavor, avoiding bottled alternatives.
• Zest the limes before juicing to maximize extraction and capture maximum citrusy essence.
• Dust the cooled bars with powdered sugar just before serving for an elegant, professional presentation.
• Chill the bars thoroughly to achieve clean, precise cutting lines and firm texture.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days to maintain freshness and taste.

Fun Variations On Classic Lime Bars

• Lemon Lavender Bars: Replace lime juice and zest with fresh lemon juice and add dried lavender buds to the filling for an elegant herbal flavor profile.
• Coconut Key Lime Bars: Mix shredded coconut into the crust and use key lime juice instead of regular lime juice, then sprinkle toasted coconut flakes on top after cooling.
• Orange Ginger Bars: Swap lime juice with fresh orange juice, add ground ginger to the filling, and incorporate orange zest for a zesty and warming citrus variation.
• Passion Fruit Bars: Use passion fruit puree instead of lime juice, reduce sugar slightly to balance the tartness, and garnish with fresh passion fruit seeds on top for extra texture.

Best Pairings For Zesty Lime Bars

• Zesty Lime Bar Flavor Companions
• Sip Tropical Mojito Cocktail: A refreshing lime-based cocktail that mirrors the citrusy notes of the dessert, with white rum, mint, and fresh lime creating a perfect flavor harmony.
• Pair with Coconut Sorbet: Creamy, cool coconut sorbet complements the tangy lime bars, offering a smooth counterpoint to the bright, zesty dessert and enhancing the tropical flavor profile.
• Match with Lavender Earl Grey Tea: The delicate floral notes and bergamot in the tea beautifully balance the sharp lime flavor, providing a sophisticated and elegant accompaniment to the sweet-tart bars.

How To Store Lime Bars For Maximum Freshness

• Refrigerate: Store lime bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Separate layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
• Freeze: Wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
• Room Temperature: Keep bars at room temperature for only 2 hours maximum. Avoid leaving them out to prevent bacterial growth and maintain texture.
• Reheating: Gently warm refrigerated bars in the microwave for 10-15 seconds on low power. Alternatively, let them sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving to soften slightly.

Lime Bars Questions Answered Clearly

• Why use powdered sugar in the crust?

Powdered sugar creates a more delicate, tender texture compared to granulated sugar and helps prevent a dense, hard crust.

• How do I know when the lime filling is fully baked?

The filling should look set and not jiggle when you gently shake the pan, which typically takes 18-20 minutes at 350°F.

• Can I substitute bottled lime juice for fresh lime juice?

Fresh lime juice is best for maximum flavor, but bottled juice can work in a pinch. Just ensure it’s 100% lime juice without added preservatives.

• What type of food processor works best for making the crust?

A standard 8-10 cup food processor works perfectly. If you don’t have one, you can also cut butter into dry ingredients using a pastry cutter or two knives.

Lime Bars Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 11 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours and 55 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Zesty lime bars dance with sweet-tart perfection, bringing Mexican citrus magic to your dessert table. Creamy filling nestled in a buttery graham cracker crust promises refreshing pleasure that delights you from first delectable bite.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Crust Ingredients:

• 1 cup (120 grams / 4.2 ounces) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup (113 grams / 4 ounces) butter, cut into 8 pieces
• 1/4 cup (30 grams / 1.1 ounces) powdered sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Filling Ingredients:

• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cups (250 grams / 8.8 ounces) granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons lime zest
• 2/3 cup (159 milliliters / 5.4 fluid ounces) fresh lime juice
• 1/4 cup (30 grams / 1.1 ounces) all-purpose flour

Optional Ingredients:

• A drop of green (+ yellow) food coloring

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Prepare the oven by heating to 350°F and arrange a baking dish with parchment paper, ensuring two-inch overhang for easy removal.
2. Create the crust by combining flour, powdered sugar, salt, and butter in a food processor, pulsing until crumbly. Press mixture firmly into prepared pan and bake for 18-20 minutes until golden brown.
3. While crust bakes, craft the lime filling by whisking sugar and flour together, then incorporating eggs one at a time. Integrate lime zest, fresh lime juice, and optional food coloring until smooth and well-blended.
4. Carefully pour lime filling over hot crust, ensuring even distribution. Return to oven and bake for an additional 18-20 minutes until filling sets completely and no longer wobbles when gently shaken.
5. Allow bars to cool naturally at room temperature for approximately one hour. Chill in refrigerator for 1-2 hours to enhance texture and flavor. Utilize parchment paper handles to extract bars from pan and slice into precise squares.

Notes

• Chill the bars thoroughly for the cleanest, sharpest cuts when slicing into perfect squares.
• Use fresh lime juice instead of bottled for a brighter, more vibrant citrus flavor that makes these bars sing.
• Swap regular flour with gluten-free flour blend to create a celiac-friendly version without compromising texture.
• Dust with powdered sugar right before serving for an elegant finishing touch that adds visual appeal and subtle sweetness.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 38 to 40 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 245
• Sugar: 20 g
• Sodium: 59 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 33 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 75 mg