An alternative approach to the beloved lemon bars. In fact, I like them better than lemon. When I go to a picnic or potluck, I am requested to bring my favorite bar cookie. Although the recipe claims to feed 36 people, you can’t stop at one of these delectable, tart lime treats. If you like, you can omit the glaze and simply top with powdered sugar.
| Prep Time: | 25 mins |
| Cook Time: | 35 mins |
| Additional Time: | 2 hrs |
| Total Time: | 3 hrs |
| Servings: | 36 |
| Yield: | 3 dozen lime bars |
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup confectioners’ sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butter
- 4 eggs
- ⅓ cup lime juice
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups white sugar
- 2 teaspoons grated lime peel, or more to taste (Optional)
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 drop green food coloring, or as desired (Optional)
- 1 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon grated lime peel (Optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 12×15-inch baking dish.
- Mix 2 cups flour, 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, and salt in a bowl; cut in butter with a pastry cutter until crust mixture resembles crumbs. Pat crust evenly into bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Bake crust in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.
- Whisk eggs, 1/3 cup lime juice, 1/4 cup flour, white sugar, 2 teaspoons lime peel, baking powder, and food coloring in a bowl; pour over the crust.
- Return baking dish to oven; bake until filling is set, about 25 minutes. Cool thoroughly.
- Whisk 1 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, 1 tablespoon lime juice, and 1 teaspoon grated lime peel to make a smooth glaze; spread evenly over cooled lime bars. Let glaze set before serving.
Nutrition Facts
| Calories | 153 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 24 g |
| Cholesterol | 34 mg |
| Dietary Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 2 g |
| Saturated Fat | 3 g |
| Sodium | 84 mg |
| Sugars | 18 g |
| Fat | 6 g |
| Unsaturated Fat | 0 g |
Reviews
I’ve made this recipe multiple times for work or social functions as well as my family. I always have people ask me for the recipe or to bring it again. I know a few diabetics as well, and I’ve made it with sugar and with sugar substitutes. It works either way, delicious!
I expected key lime pie meets lemon bars and was disappointed. These weren’t tart and limey enough for me. My issue might have been the use of bottled lime juice rather than fresh.
I was disappointed in this recipe. First, it recommends a 12×15 baking dish. That is a non-standard size requiring recipe adjustments that are not always easily attained. Second, the glaze instructions in Step 6 instructs one to combine 1-1/2 cups of powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon of lime juice “to make a smooth glaze.” It is obvious that such a small amount of liquid will not result in a smooth glaze that easily spread across the lime bars. I attempted this recipe twice. Unfortunately, even with adjustments to the recipe, the outcome was not what I had hoped for.
Too sugary and not nearly enough lime. People add a LOT more lime/lemon.
Not enough lime flavor for my liking. Will try reducing the amount of sugar and use more lime juice next time. Overall, nice dessert bar.
This recipe turned out delicious! I did do some things differently. First, I used a pie dish because I didn’t have any clean square pans. It fit perfectly for the size. Second, I had leftover pie crumb topping in the freezer, so I used that by adding some extra cold butter to make it stick together. This crust turned out great and I baked it for 15 min. Instead of 10. I didn’t add any zest and I used KEY limes. I noticed a lot of reviews sounded like they were using standard limes… I think the key lime factor is pretty important. I also used demerera sugar instead of the finer stuff (I use this in most of my baking and don’t tend to have issues with it.) I baked for 30 min. because the custard was still jiggly. I think I would bake it just a few minutes longer because the center was still slightly moving, but it still turned out great, just a bit gooier in the center. Lastly, I popped in the freezer because I’m impatient and topped it with confections sugar. Delish!!
This is the best! I love the lime zest in the glaze. 10/10.
I love this fabulous melt in your mouth delicious recipe, but do read the reviews first. I made just a few tweaks. I used the size pan the recipe calls for, and the amount of cookie base it calls for, but I doubled the amount of juice to 2/3 cup, because I had a beautiful lemon to use as well as the 1/3 cup of lime juice. The lemon-lime taste was amazing. I used the same amount of eggs, and sugar, lime zest, etc. This gave me a thick enough filling to be just right for the thickness of the cookie base. I used powdered sugar instead of the glaze. I got raves, and everyone went for seconds. I would make this again in a heartbeat!
Way too much sugar! I’m not sure how this recipe has so many good reviews. It doesn’t even taste like lime. It’s just pure sugar.
So simple and tasty! If you love limes, this is your bar cookie! Used all fresh lime juice for extra flavor and also added alittle water and more lime juice to the icing, was way to thick for our taste… Will definitely be adding to my favs and making again!!
I like the recipe.
Fantastic bars!! I halved the recipe and made it in an 8×8″ pan. That gave me the perfect sized bars! I loved the contrast of the lightly sweet, yet super buttery crust with the tart lime filling. I used the zest of two medium limes, 1/4 cup lime juice, and 3/4 cup sugar for the halved amount of filling. I then skipped topping the bars with a glaze or powdered sugar; and instead simply added an extra sprinkling of lime zest. This made for some really really lime-y bars that were fantastic! I will be making these again! Thank you for the recipe!
Way too sweet!! Would cut down on sugar.
I really liked this recipe… It was very easy and the bars came out perfect
I’m a big lemon bar fan, so it’s fun to try a different twist with lime. The crust is so easy in the food processor- Worth the clean up mess. I will definitely make these again. I followed the recipe 100% and they were perfection. I have never had a glaze on lemon bar so this is a nice addition, and pretty. Photo is before they were baked Love
I would not add the glaze. Otherwise, it was good.
Fantastic! Made a few changes to the directions and put less sugar and more lime zest. The chef in me was a little suspicious but really really good. 1 thing: no artificial colours or flavouring. I mean, cmon now.
Love this recipe. We love lemon bars and this is just like lemon bars only lime flavored. easy recipe to follow. I added zest of 2 limes and juice of 4 which made about 1/2 cup lime juice. I like a really strong lime punch! I also sprinkled powder sugar instead of making the glaze. other wise followed the recipe and really pleased with the results. Crust is perfect too!!!
Perfect. I think I even like it better than lemon bars.
WOW, this was amazing. If you’re wondering, YES, MAKE IT!
Excellent bar! Better than Key Lime Pie. Will definitely add this to my recipe collection.