Key Lime Bars

Total Time Prep: 25 min. + cooling Bake: 20 min. + chilling
Yield 3 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
These refreshing Key lime bars have the perfect balance of sweet-tart flavors. Offer them up as handheld treats for a potluck, or serve them with whipped cream for a decadent dessert.

Ingredients

  • 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 30 vanilla wafers, broken into pieces
  • 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 3/4 cup cold butter, cubed
  • CREAM CHEESE LAYER:
  • 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons 2% milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • KEY LIME LAYER:
  • 1-1/2 cups sugar
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup key lime juice
  • Additional confectioners' sugar

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a food processor, combine flour, wafers, confectioners' sugar and pecans; cover and process until nuts are fine. Add butter; cover and pulse until crumbly.
  2. Press into an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Bake 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.
  3. In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, milk and vanilla until blended; spread over crust to edges of pan. In another small bowl, combine sugar and flour; whisk in eggs and Key lime juice. Gently pour mixture over cream cheese layer.
  4. Bake 20-25 minutes or until filling is set. Cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate 1 hour or until chilled. Cut into bars. Just before serving, sprinkle with additional confectioners' sugar.

Nutrition Facts

1 bar: 154 calories, 8g fat (4g saturated fat), 38mg cholesterol, 70mg sodium, 19g carbohydrate (13g sugars, 0 fiber), 2g protein.

I love Key lime pie, but some people are reluctant to take a whole slice of pie. These bars give just the right taste of Key lime and freeze well, so I can keep a stash for when I need a tart treat. —Kristine Staton, Broomfield, Colorado
Recipe Creator

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