St. Patricks Day Key Lime Bars (Printable)
Bright lime bars with a buttery crust and creamy lime filling, ideal for festive occasions.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Crust
01 - 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
02 - ⅓ cup granulated sugar
03 - 6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
04 - Pinch of salt
→ For the Filling
05 - 4 large egg yolks
06 - 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
07 - ½ cup fresh Key lime juice
08 - 2 tsp finely grated lime zest
09 - 2-3 drops green food coloring (optional)
→ For the Topping
10 - 1 cup heavy whipping cream
11 - 2 tbsp powdered sugar
12 - Lime slices or zest for garnish (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, melted butter, and salt. Press mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
03 - Bake crust for 8-10 minutes, then remove from oven and let cool slightly.
04 - In a large bowl, whisk egg yolks until slightly thickened. Add sweetened condensed milk, lime juice, lime zest, and food coloring if using. Whisk until smooth and fully combined.
05 - Pour filling over the cooled crust and smooth the top.
06 - Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until set but still slightly jiggly in the center. Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until fully chilled.
07 - For the topping, whip the heavy cream with powdered sugar until soft peaks form.
08 - Lift bars from the pan using the parchment overhang. Slice into squares. Top each bar with whipped cream and garnish with lime slices or zest, if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The filling impossibly creamy without any complicated techniques
- That perfect balance of tart lime and sweet condensed milk feels like sunshine
- You can make them the day before and they actually taste better
02 -
- Room temperature eggs will whisk up more easily than cold ones
- The center will continue setting as it cools, so do not over bake
- Chill your knife between slices for the cleanest cuts
03 -
- Zest your limes before juicing them, it is much easier to handle
- A splash of Irish cream liqueur in the filling adds a sophisticated adult twist