Key Lime Bars

Makes 9-12 bars | Prep time: 20 min | Bake time: 40-45 min | Chill time: 2+ hrs

I saw a bag of key limes at the grocery store recently and couldn’t resist - they’re too cute and packed with flavor! The classic use is a key lime pie so I decided to put a twist on these in bar form and paired them with some lemon to balance out the flavor. Perfect with some whipped cream or vanilla ice cream - these are a sure crowdpleaser!

Ingredients:

For the crust:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup brown sugar

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

For the custard filling:

• 4 large egg yolks

• 1 whole egg

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1/2 cup whole milk

• 1/2 cup heavy cream

• 1/3 cup fresh key lime juice

• 2 tbsp lemon juice

• 1 tbsp lemon zest

• Pinch of salt

• Optional: 1 tbsp flour or cornstarch to help the filling set firmer

For serving:

• Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream

• Sliced key limes

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line an 8x8" pan with parchment paper with overhang.

2. Make the crust: mix together flour, sugars, salt, and cinnamon. Stir in melted butter until crumbly. Press into the pan firmly and bake for 15–18 minutes, until the edges are golden and the top is lightly toasted. Let cool while you prepare the filling.

3. Make the filling: in a medium bowl, whisk together egg yolks, whole egg, and sugar until light and smooth. Slowly whisk in milk, cream, citrus juices, zest, and salt. If using flour or cornstarch, sift it in and whisk until fully combined.

4. Pour filling over the crust and bake for 25–30 minutes or until the center is just set (a little jiggle in the middle is good; it will firm up more as it chills).

5. Let cool completely to room temp, then chill for at least 2 hours (overnight is even better!)

6. Slice into squares and top with whipped cream and thin slices of key lime. Enjoy!