St. Patricks Lime Bars (Printable Version)

Zesty lime bars with a buttery graham crust, tinted green for a festive, refreshing sweet treat.

# Ingredient List:

→ Graham Cracker Crust

01 - 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
04 - Pinch of salt

→ Lime Filling

05 - 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
06 - 4 large egg yolks
07 - 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (about 4-5 limes)
08 - 2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest
09 - 2-3 drops green food coloring (optional)

→ Topping

10 - Powdered sugar, for dusting
11 - Thin lime slices or zest, for garnish (optional)

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
02 - Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, melted butter, and salt in a bowl. Mix until the crumbs are evenly moistened.
03 - Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form an even crust. Bake for 8-10 minutes until lightly golden. Let cool slightly.
04 - Whisk together sweetened condensed milk, egg yolks, lime juice, lime zest, and green food coloring (if using) until smooth and fully combined.
05 - Pour the lime filling over the cooled crust, spreading evenly.
06 - Bake for 15-18 minutes, until the center is set but still slightly jiggly.
07 - Remove from oven and let cool to room temperature. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before cutting.
08 - Use the parchment to lift the bars from the pan. Dust with powdered sugar and garnish with lime slices or zest if desired. Cut into 16 squares and serve chilled.

# Tips from hearthlykitchen:

01 -
  • These bars strike that perfect sweet-tart balance that makes people close their eyes and hum a little bit
  • The crust comes together in five minutes and bakes up buttery and firm enough to hold everything together beautifully
  • They keep for days in the fridge, assuming you can stop yourself from eating them straight from the pan
02 -
  • Overbaking makes the filling grainy and tough, so pull them when the center still jiggles like gelatin
  • The bars continue setting as they cool, so that slight wobble in the oven is exactly what you want
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients prevent the filling from separating and creating an unsightly layer on top
  • Use fresh, firm limes rather than ones that have been sitting on your counter for a week, since they'll yield more juice and more aromatic zest

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