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A classic key lime pie bar with a buttery graham cracker crust and an easy filling made with condensed milk! Only 6 ingredients to make these easy key lime pie bars.
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So growing up I don’t remember ever having a Key Lime Pie Bar. Or Key Lime Pie for that matter. Not once. Am I alone? We had your typical desserts- apple pie being big on that list around the holidays. It wasn’t until I got older that I got to experience how truly magnificent key lime pie was.
Before moving to Boston, I lived in Buffalo, NY where I worked at a restaurant while finishing up my master’s. It was there that I had the most delicious key lime pie. I finally got up the courage one day to ask the chef about the recipe. To my shock, he said “it was the recipe on the back of the condensed milk can”. You have got to be kidding. This upscale restaurant was relying on a recipe off the back of the can. And you know what? It didn’t matter. That key lime pie was the perfect balance of tangy and sweet and surrounded by this thick layer of a buttery graham cracker crust.
So when I went to create a key lime pie bar recipe I knew I had to rely on condensed milk as the key ingredient. Using the condensed milk making this key lime bar super easy to throw together.
First let’s start with the crust. Because the key lime pie would be nothing without the graham cracker crust. Am I right? Making a graham cracker crust is simple to make as long as you use your food processor. I made this recipe using a whole package of graham crackers. I saw similar recipes online asking for a number of graham crackers one or two more that was in a package, which just seemed so silly to me. So I used one whole package of nine crackers to keep things nice and easy.
After that just add melted butter and sugar to sweeten it a little. The graham cracker mixture gets pressed into the bottom of your baking pan. I just purchased this Cuisinart 9×9 baking pan and I’m in love. You can use the bottom of a measuring cup or just get in there with the hands and press the crumbs into the pan. You need to bake the crust for 10 minutes before adding your filling.
The filling couldn’t be easier. 3 ingredients. Egg yolks, condensed milk, and limes.
That’s it.
You’re so close to biting into one of these bad boys as opposed to just drooling on your keyboard.
For the limes, I used both the juice and the zest for a really big lime flavor.
A couple tips to get the most out of your limes. You can roll the lime on your counter back and forth a few times, this helps to bruise the fruit a bit so its easier to juice. You can also microwave your lime for 30 seconds as well to help it juice better.
Once you have whisked the filling together go ahead and pour it over the graham cracker crust and bake for an additional 15 minutes. That’s it.
Key Lime Bar perfection.
If you like this recipe let me know and leave me a comment! And snap a photo of it and share it on Instagram with the #bostongirlbakes so I can see!
To make these you will need:
For More Bar Recipes Check These Out:
Bourbon Caramel Chocolate Walnut Bars
Classic Key Lime Bars
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 package of graham crackers 9 sheets
- 6 tablespoons butter melted
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
Filling
- 4 egg yolks
- 14- ounce can of condensed milk
- 4 limes juice and zest
Instructions
- 1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 9x9 baking pan with aluminum foil and spray with a cooking spray.
- 2. In a food processor, place your graham cracker sheets and pulse until finely ground. Empty the graham cracker crumbs into a mixing bowl, add in your melted butter and sugar. Stir to combine. Press the graham cracker crumb mixture into the 9x9 pan and press down into an even layer. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.
- 3. In a second mixing bowl, combine the filling ingredients. Whisk to combine. Pour over the graham cracker crust and bake for an additional 15 minutes until set. Allow the bars to cool on a cooling rack before slicing. Bars can be refrigerated for up to 2 days, the crust may soften slightly however.
Notes
Erika - Love&Custard says
I’m the same Heather, I didn’t experience key lime pie until just a few years ago when I baked one myself. I was fairly new to baking so it probably wasn’t amazing, but I loved it nonetheless and have tried a few different bars and variations since. I love how simple this recipe is! I’ve never come across one using condensed milk but I can imagine it adds a gorgeous taste and texture to it. (I do also struggle not to each condensed milk out of the tin – I hope I’m not alone here either!). Can’t wait to try this!
Heather @Boston Girl Bakes says
Oh you will love this recipe! The condensed milk does make it so easy and so creamy- and yes you are not alone I always find myself sneaking some spoonfuls!