These Key Lime Bars taste like Key Lime Pie but in bar form. They’re creamy, zesty, and much easier to make than the classic pie.

It costs around $6.02 to make these Key Lime Bars. The recipe makes nine servings for approximately $0.66 per serving.

An overhead picture of nine Key Lime Pie Bars cut on a tabletop and garnished with whipped cream.

You’ve stumbled upon an absolute gem of a recipe for key lime bars. Picture this:  buttery graham cracker crust that is topped with a tangy and creamy filling, delivering a symphony of flavors to your tastebuds. 

This recipe offers more than just culinary prowess—it invites you on a nostalgic journey. With each bite, you’ll be transported back to carefree summers and cherished memories. 

Seize this opportunity to elevate your dessert game with this recipe. This recipe will make you the star of any event. If you love the flavors of key lime, then you’ll love these key lime cookies.

Why You’ll Love These Key Lime Pie Bars:

  1. Easy To Make: The recipe is relatively simple and straightforward to follow. The recipe also uses common patry ingredients. 
  2. Flavorful and Tangy: Key lime bars are known for their tangy and refreshing flavor. The combination of the tartness from the key lime juice and the sweetness of the filling and graham cracker crust creates a delightful balance of flavors.
  3. Creamy and Smooth Texture: This recipe produces key lime bars with a creamy and smooth texture. This texture is achieved through the combination of ingredients like condensed milk, cream cheese, and eggs, resulting in a velvety texture that melts in your mouth.
  4. Versatile Dessert: The bars are a versatile dessert option that you can enjoy on various occasions. You can serve them as a refreshing treat during the summer or as a sweet ending to a meal year-round.
Three Key Lime Bars stacked on top of each other.

Ingredients and Estimated Cost

Per Serving Cost: $0.66

Recipe Cost: $6.02

  • 1 ¼ cups graham cracker crumbs – $0.55
  • 3 Tablespoons light brown sugar – $0.09
  • 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter – $0.56
  • 4 oz cream cheese – $1.49
  • 1 Tablespoon lime zest – $0.69
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt – $0.01
  • 1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk – $1.94
  • 1 egg yolk – $0.21
  • ½ cup key lim juice – $0.48

NOTE: The recipe prices are calculated by using grocery store websites. The recipe cost is calculated by the amounts needed for the recipe. The actual cost of the recipe will vary depending on what ingredients you already have. I updated the pricing for this recipe in June 2023.

All of the ingredients needed to make this recipe.

How To Make Key Lime Pie Bars

***For complete recipe instructions, see the recipe card below.

  1. First, preheat the oven to 352 degrees F, and line an 8×8-inch square baking pan with two sheets of foil. Spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray. 
  2. Using a small bowl, mix together the graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, and melted butter. 
  3. Evenly press the crumbs into the pan and bake for about sixteen to twenty minutes. 
  4. Allow the crust to cool while you whisk together the cream cheese, lime zest, and salt until smooth and creamy. 
  5. Stir in the sweetened condensed milk, egg yolk, and lime juice. 
  6. Then, pour the filling over the crust and bake it for fifteen to twenty minutes. 
  7. Let the bars cool for about one hour at room temperature and then cover the pan with foil. 
  8. Chill the bars in the fridge for two hours before slicing and serving. 

A picture collage showing how to make this recipe.

Recipe Variations and Substitutions:

Crust Variations and Substitutions:

Graham cracker crust alternative: You can experiment with different crusts, such as using crushed vanilla wafers, animal crackers, gingersnap cookies, or shortbread cookies instead of graham crackers.

Nutty crust: Add some finely chopped nuts like almonds, pecans, or walnuts to the crust mixture for extra flavor and texture.

Filling Variations and Substitutions:

Juice substitution: If you can’t find key limes or key lime juice, then you can use regular limes or lime juice.

Lime zest alternatives: If you don’t have lime zest, you can use lemon zest or a combination of lemon and orange zest to add a citrusy aroma.

Dairy-free option: Substitute the cream cheese with dairy-free cream cheese or coconut cream for a vegan or lactose-free version.

Garnish ideas:

Fruit variations: Instead of raspberries, you can top the bars with other fresh berries like strawberries, blueberries, or blackberries, depending on your preference and seasonal availability.

Tropical twist: Sprinkle toasted coconut flakes on top of the bars to add a tropical touch and enhance the flavor profile.

Citrus zest: Grate some additional lime or lemon zest over the whipped cream for an extra burst of citrus flavor.

Chocolate drizzle: Drizzle melted white or dark chocolate over the bars for a decadent and visually appealing finishing touch.

Serving and Storage Tips

SERVE: Dust the bars with powdered sugar just before serving to add a touch of sweetness and a decorative touch. For an extra indulgence, top each bar with a dollop of fresh whipped cream, a lime wedge for garnish, a few fresh raspberries, and a sprinkle of toasted coconut. Of course, all toppings are optional. 

STORE: Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, but they are best enjoyed within the first couple of days for optimal taste and texture.

FREEZE: To preserve the bars for a longer period, you can also freeze them. Wrap individual bars or the whole pan tightly with plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe container or bag. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.

THAW: Before serving frozen bars, allow them to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. You can then bring them to room temperature or serve them chilled, according to your preference.

A forkful taken out of a finished Key Lime Bar.

Recipe FAQs:

What is the difference between a key lime tree and a lime tree?

Key limes have a more distinct flavor than regular limes. Regular limes tend to have a mild flavory while a key lime has a more tangy flavor making them perfect for zesty desserts like these Key Lime Bars.

How many calories in a key lime bar?

These bars have about 305 calories per bar. For the full nutrional value see the bottom of the recipe card.

More Desserts

A close up picture of three Key Lime Bars stacked on top of each other.
4.85 from 13 votes

Key Lime Bars

Recipe Cost $ $6.02
Serving Cost $ $0.66
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 55 minutes
9 people
These Key Lime Bars taste like Key Lime Pie but in bar form. They’re creamy, zesty, and much easier to make than the classic pie.

Equipment

  • mixing bowls
  • whisk
  • zester
  • measuring cups and spoons
  • 8×8-inch baking pan
  • wire rack
  • knife

Ingredients
 
 

CRUST:

  • 1 ¼ cup graham cracker crumbs
  • 3 Tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter melted

FILLING:

  • 4 oz cream cheese at room temperature
  • 1 Tablespoon grated lime zest
  • teaspoon salt
  • 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 egg yolk
  • ½ cup key lime juice

GARNISHES:

Instructions

PREPARE THE PAN:

  • Move oven rack to the middle position and preheat to 325 degrees F.
  • Line an 8×8-inch square baking pan with 2 sheets of foil so that there is a foil overhang on all sides.
  • Spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray, and set the pan aside.

MAKE THE CRUST:

  • In a small bowl add the graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, and melted butter.
  • Stir until the mixture is combined and the graham cracker crumbs are evenly moistened with the butter.
  • Pour the crumbs into the prepared pan and use your hands to press the crumbs firmly into an even layer.
  • Bake the crust until it’s deep golden brown in color, about 16-20 minutes.
  • DO NOT TURN OFF THE OVEN! Move crust to a wire rack while you prepare the filling.

MAKE THE FILLING:

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream cheese, lime zest, and salt until the creamy and smooth.
  • Pour in the sweetened condensed milk, egg yolk, and lime juice and whisk until combined and smooth.

BAKE, CHILL, AND SLICE:

  • Pour the filling over the slightly cooled crust and smooth into an even layer by carefully tilting the pan.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the filling is set.
  • Move the Key Lime Bars to a wire rack to cool to room temperature, this will take about 1 hour.
  • Then, cover the bars with foil and chill for at least 2 hours.
  • When you’re ready to serve the bars, use the foil overhang to lift the bars from the pan and slice into 9 squares.

TO FINISH:

  • Serve with any of the following garnishes: powdered sugar, whipped cream, lime wedges, fresh raspberries, and/or toasted coconut (all optional).

Notes

The nutritional value that is posted is based on 1 Key Lime Bar without any of the garnishes. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1bar | Calories: 305kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 63mg | Sodium: 208mg | Potassium: 226mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 478IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 156mg | Iron: 1mg

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18 Comments

  1. Kim McCallie says:

    Love toasted coconut! Looks great with the Key Lime Bars. Thanks for sharing on A Well-Seasoned Life’s Sweet Indulgences Sunday.

  2. shopannies says:

    these sound yummy

  3. Beth Jankowski says:

    Sweet treat and sweet pics!

  4. Your key lime bars look delicious! I can’t wait to try out this recipe and i love how you are serving them with raspberries, that’s a favorite flavor combo!

    1. Lime and raspberries together are the best!

  5. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says:

    These look super tasty, such a sweet treat! I love key lime pie so these bars would definitely go down well!

  6. Claudia Lamascolo says:

    now this is the best idea ever! I cant eat a whole piece of pie and a small bar is perfect in size and flavor for a key lime pie lover like me thanks!

    1. You’re so welcome, enjoy!

  7. danielle wolter says:

    These look delicious! I love the idea to use gingersnaps. I still haven’t been to the keys yet, I really need to go!

    1. Yes, you must get down to the Keys!

  8. YUM! I love these so much! 🙂

  9. I have just added these creamy, luscious and easy to make key lime bars to my “must make” list. Yummy!

  10. Carrie Robinson says:

    Key lime pie is one of my favorite summertime treats! 🙂 Can’t wait to try it in bar form.

  11. Elizabeth says:

    I really enjoy the flavor of lime in desserts, so I’m glad I came across this recipe! It’s so easy to make too. I might add the suggested coconut flakes to give it a tropical flavor!

  12. I love all things key lime, so I KNOW I’m going to be obsessed with these bars! Bookmarked to make for when I am done my road trip 🙂