Homemade Key Lime Pie Bars

These Homemade Key Lime Pie Bars have a brown butter graham cracker crust and are creamy, smooth filling bursting with key lime flavor. This is one of the easiest desserts ever, serving 9 or 16 in about 45 minutes!

Course Desserts & Sweet Treats

Cuisine American

Keyword bars, brown butter, dessert, graham cracker crust, key lime

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 25

Total Time 45

Servings servings

Calories 192

Author Laurie McNamara

Equipment

USA Pan 9x9 Square

Ingredients

FOR THE CRUST

1½ cups graham cracker crumbs about 13 full crackers
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
8 tablespoons browned butter

FOR THE KEY LIME FILLING:

3 large egg yolks
14 ounce canned sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon key lime zest (see notes)
1/2 cup freshly squeezed key lime juice (see notes)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

MAKE THE CRUST:

Preheat your oven to 350℉ (or 180℃).
Line a 9x9 baking pan with aluminum foil and spray with nonstick baking spray (I used coconut oil spray).
In a medium bowl combine the cracker crumbs, sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg and browned butter. Mix with a fork until combined. Add the crumbs to your prepared pan, press into the pan and bake for 10 minutes.

MAKE THE FILLING:

In a mixing bowl, add the yolks and using your hand mixer, beat on medium-low speed for 1 to 2 minutes or until the yolks are lighter in color and thick.
Add in the sweetened condensed milk and mix on medium-low speed for another 1 to 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and add in the lime zest, mix to combine.
With the hand mixer on low-speed, slowly pour in the key lime juice and continue to blend for 2 to 3 minutes.
Pour the key lime mixture into the prepared crust and bake for 15 minutes or until set.
Once baked, remove and let cool for 30 minutes before placing them into your fridge to chill for 2 t0 4 hours. The more chilled the bars are the easier they are to cut.
Once chilled, use the foil to remove the bars and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into either 9 large or 16 smaller squares.
**if the thought of zesting those little key limes is enough for you to tap out and not make this dessert, go ahead and use regular lime zest.

Notes

You will need about 20 key limes or 1 [16 ounce] bag key limes for this recipe.

Nutrition