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    Home » Recipes » Dessert

    Key Lime Cream Pie Bars

    Published: Sep 16, 2017 · Modified: Aug 14, 2018 by Melissa Stadler · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

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    Key Lime Bars made with a buttery graham cracker crust, a sweet creamy lime filling made with sweetened condensed milk and cream, and topped with fresh whipped cream. 

    Key Lime Cream Pie Bars made with a buttery graham cracker crust and sweet, tart, and creamy key lime filling and topped with homemade whipped cream. A beautiful and delicious dessert bar recipe. www.modernhoney.com

    KEY LIME BARS

    Oh my word.  These Key Lime Pie Bars with Graham Cracker Crust are one of the best dessert bars I have ever eaten. I kid you not. I am so excited to share this recipe with you! This Key Lime Pie Bars recipe creates a sweet yet tart and creamy smooth lime bar. If you are a lemon or lime fan, you are going to LOVE these bars.

    Key Lime Cream Pie Bars made with a buttery graham cracker crust and sweet, tart, and creamy key lime filling and topped with homemade whipped cream. A beautiful and delicious dessert bar recipe. www.modernhoney.com

    My Grandma Faye was the kindest woman on the planet. I was that kid who begged to go stay at her Grandma's house. I would sit in the back of the station wagon as we made the trek up the mountain to her home.  I loved spending the night at her house because she made us feel so loved and important and I just enjoyed being around her. Since I was the only girl in our home, my Mom and I would meet her to go shopping all of the time. She was always there to help me to pick out the perfect dress or first date outfit.  Oh how I miss her!

    Key Lime Cream Pie Bars made with a buttery graham cracker crust and sweet, tart, and creamy key lime filling and topped with homemade whipped cream. A beautiful and delicious dessert bar recipe. www.modernhoney.com

    Whenever I make something lemon or lime, I think of my Grandma Faye because she was known for her phenomenal pies.  When we stayed at her house, she would always make us some delectable dessert.  It usually involved some kind of citrus and I developed a deep love for it. These Key Lime Pie Squares remind me of her.

    These Key Lime Bars are made with a buttery graham cracker crust which is the perfect balance to the sweet and tart creamy filling.  The lime cream pie filling is made with heavy cream, egg yolks, lime zest, lime juice, and sweetened condensed milk. Are you kidding me? How can you go wrong? That is downright heavenly! Get me a spoon....stat!

    Key Lime Cream Pie Bars made with a buttery graham cracker crust and sweet, tart, and creamy key lime filling and topped with homemade whipped cream. A beautiful and delicious dessert bar recipe. www.modernhoney.com

    How to make Key Lime Bars:

    The key to making these Key Lime Cream Pie Bars extra creamy and delicious is to bake them in a water bath. Say what?

    Why is it important to use a water bath when making key lime bars?

    A water bath is when you fill a large pan with water and then place the smaller baking pan inside so the water comes up about halfway up the pan. Why is a water bath important? It adds moisture to the oven which is important with creamy custards that tend to crack from the heat of the oven. It also helps to create a creamy texture rather than a rubbery one.

    How to make perfectly creamy key lime cream pie bars with a water bath method. www.modernhoney.com

    What pan should I use to make key lime bars?

    I used this 9 x 13 pan but if you want a thicker bar, you can use this 9-inch square pan.

    These Key Lime Cream Pies are one of my favorite dessert bar recipes of all time and are the perfect dessert to take to a potluck, party, or shower.  They are always such a hit with everyone!

    If you love lemon and lime, here are a few popular lemon recipes:

    • Lemon Sugar Cookies
    • Lemon Olive Oil Cake
    • Greek Yogurt Lemon Bread
    • Sweet Lemon Sour Cream Pie

    Key Lime Cream Pie Bars made with a buttery graham cracker crust and sweet, tart, and creamy key lime filling and topped with homemade whipped cream. A beautiful and delicious dessert bar recipe. www.modernhoney.com

    Key Lime Cream Pie Bars made with a buttery graham cracker crust and sweet, tart, and creamy key lime filling and topped with homemade whipped cream. A beautiful and delicious dessert bar recipe. www.modernhoney.com

    Key Lime Cream Pie Bars

    Melissa Stadler, Modern Honey
    Key Lime Cream Pie Bars are made with a buttery graham cracker crust and a sweet yet tart creamy filling.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 32 mins
    Total Time 52 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 16

    Ingredients
      

    Graham Cracker Crust:

    • 3 cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
    • ¾ cup Butter melted (may use salted or unsalted depending on if you want your crust to have a slightly salty taste)
    • 3 Tablespoons Sugar

    Key Lime Pie Filling:

    • (2) 14-ounce cans Sweetened Condensed Milk
    • 1 cup Heavy Cream
    • 6 Large
    • Egg Yolks
    • ¾ cup Key Lime Juice or just lime juice
    • 1 Tablespoon Key Lime Zest

    Fresh Whipped Cream:

    • 2 cups Heavy Cream
    • ⅓ - ½ cup Powdered Sugar

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a 9 x 13 pan with non-stick cooking spray. If you want a thicker bar, use a 9-inch square pan.
    • To make the graham cracker crust: in a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar. Press the graham cracker mixture firmly into baking pan. Firmly press down with hands.
    • Bake the crust for 7-8 minutes or until lightly golden. Let cool.
    • Turn oven temperature down to 325 degrees.
    • To make the filling: whisk together sweetened condensed milk, heavy cream, egg yolks, lime juice, and 2 teaspoons lime zest -- reserving 1 teaspoon of lime zest for garnish. Pour filling over cooled crust.
    • Place the baking pan into a large pan to make a water bath. Pour enough water into the larger pan to come halfway up the sides of the smaller baking pan. Bake for 19-24 minutes at 325 degrees. The filling is done when it no longer jiggles in the center. Remove from water bath and set it on a rack to cool for 1 hour, then refrigerator until chilled.
    • To make whipped cream: Beat whipping cream until soft peaks form. Add desired powdered sugar and whip for 30 seconds longer.
    • Cut the bars into squares and serve chilled with a dollop of whipped cream and fresh lime zest.
    • *Recipe adapted from Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook
    Keyword key lime pie bars
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Key Lime Cream Pie Bars made with a buttery graham cracker crust and sweet, tart, and creamy key lime filling and topped with homemade whipped cream. A beautiful and delicious dessert bar recipe. www.modernhoney.com

    Happy Baking, my friends! xo

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. joni

      October 16, 2022 at 6:28 am

      what temp hould the ware be for the water bath?

      Reply
    2. Lisa B

      August 06, 2022 at 6:37 am

      5 stars
      This is my favorite lime recipie! Great for pot lucks and book club dessert. I sometimes substitute Biscoff cookies to make them really indulgent. I have also used one part yuzu extract instead of part of the lime juice.

      Reply
    3. Suzanne

      April 08, 2018 at 10:01 pm

      I made these for our Easter dinner dessert...Delicious!! These are my husbands new favorite! Thanks for this fabulous recipe!

      Reply

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    Melissa Stadler Modern Honey

    Hi, I'm Melissa Stadler! I am an Award-Winning Recipe Creator. Cover of Food Network Magazine. Two-Time Pillsbury Bake-Off Finalist. I am passionate about sharing the best recipes so you have success in the kitchen!

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