When your sweet tooth is dying for something different, we aim to please! Killer Key Lime Bars are a delicious, decadent dessert that everyone is into! Tart lime is sweetened and tamed, then layered atop a buttery graham cracker crust. A dollop of rich whipped cream perfectly balances the intense, tropical flavor. Don’t get caught eating a lame dessert, and eat a lime dessert instead! Killer Key Lime Bars are the real deal when it comes to great refreshing sweets.
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 1 1/2 cups graham crackers crumbs
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
For the filling:
- 4 ounces full-fat cream cheese, softened
- 4 large egg yolks
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup Key lime juice
- 2 teaspoons lime zest
- whipped cream, optional, to taste, for serving
- lime slices, optional, to taste, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 -Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 -Line a 9-inch square baking dish with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 of the sides.
Step 3 -In a medium bowl, add the graham cracker crumbs, the granulated sugar, and the melted butter and stir to combine. The crumb mixture will be thick, coarse, and sandy.
Step 4 -If any large chunks remain in the crumb mixture, smash or break them up and then evenly press the crumb mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Step 5 -Bake the crust until lightly golden, about 10 minutes.
Step 6 -Transfer the crust from the oven to a wire rack and let it cool while preparing the filling.
Step 7 -In a large bowl with an electric hand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high speed, add the cream cheese and beat until smooth, about 1 minute.
Step 8 -Add the egg yolks to the cream cheese and beat to combine.
Step 9 -With a spatula, scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Step 10 -Add the sweetened condensed milk, the Key lime juice, and the lime zest to the cream cheese mixture and beat until combined.
Step 11 -By hand with a whisk, give the cream cheese mixture a final stir to ensure there are no lumps at the bottom of the bowl.
Step 12 -Evenly pour the filling mixture over the warm crust.
Step 13 -Bake until the edges of the bars appear set and the center is only slightly jiggly, about 18-20 minutes.
Step 14 -Transfer the bars from the oven to a wire rack and let them cool at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
Step 15 -Transfer the bars to the refrigerator and let them chill for at least 2-3 hours.
Step 16 -Lift the parchment paper out of the pan and transfer the bars to a cutting board.
Step 17 – With a sharp knife, cut the bars into serving-sized squares.
Step 18 -Serve the bars topped with the whipped cream and the lime slices.
