Bars & Brownies • Currently Craving
Key Lime Pie Bars
June 20, 2021
These perfectly tart and tangy key lime pie bars are a breeze to make and are delicious served straight from […]
These perfectly tart and tangy key lime pie bars are a breeze to make and are delicious served straight from the fridge on a hot summer day!
It’s summertime friends {oh, how we’ve missed you!} and the time is now for all the easy and delicious desserts eaten straight from the fridge. Or better yet, the freezer! Hotter temps call for cold treats and these key lime pie bars have sum-sum-summatime written all over them.
If you’ve been following around here for a while, it’s not news to you that I have a love/hate relationship with pie. Not pie itself, but the actual act of pie making. But these super simple triple layer citrus bars are everything you love about a classic key lime pie with way less fuss. One bite and you’ll want to put these one pan wonders on repeat all summer long. So without further adieu, let me tell you how to make them.
What makes these key lime pie bars so good?
These bars are sweet, tart and tangy all over and I am here for it. It’s a rare occasion that I pass on chocolate for a dessert of any other variety but these key lime pie bars are the real deal. Here’s why you’ll love these bars:
- Light and refreshing. These bars are light and tangy and filled to the brim with bright, citrusy flavor!
- Three delightfully delicious layers. Don’t be intimidated by the fact that these bars have three layers. Each layer is easy to master and almost impossible to mess up.
- Easy to make ahead. These bars are the perfect make-ahead treat to feed a crowd! Just keep them chilled until ready to serve.
- Better than pie! These bars are simple to serve and you don’t even need a fork!
If you need further convincing to try these bars, let me add that I’ve upgraded the traditional graham cracker crust with a sweeter version made with crushed vanilla wafers and a touch of brown sugar. It’s the perfect pairing to the extra thick layer of creamy key lime filling. So delish!
Make these bars bakers and I promise you’ll never go back to pie.
Ingredients
These easy one pan bars are just like your favorite key lime pie but soooo much easier to make and fun to share! Here’s what you need to make a batch of sweet, tart and perfectly tangy key lime pie bars :
- vanilla wafer cookies
- butter
- sugar
- eggs
- fresh lime zest and juice
- sweetened condensed milk
- heavy whipping cream
Do I have to use key limes?
Key limes are best for these bright and tangy citrus bars but let’s be real…key limes can be hard to find. While key lime juice is a bit more floral and aromatic than your average grocery store lime, any ‘ol lime will do for these bars. You’ll need quite a few limes to get one cup of juice so be sure to stock up!
How to make key lime pie bars
These bars are easy to assemble in just a few simple steps with minimal ingredients. Follow this step-by-step guide and check the recipe card below for ingredients and detailed instructions.
Step 1: Using a food processor, crush the vanilla cookies into a fine crumb. Use a fork to stir in the brown sugar and melted butter, making sure to combine well.
Step 2: Transfer the crumbs to an 8 x 8 inch pan lined with parchment paper. Use your hands or the flat bottom of a measuring cup to press the crumbs into the corners of the pan, leveling the top.
Step 3: Bake the crust for 13 to 15 minutes. Set aside to cool for 30 minutes.
Step 4: To make the filling, beat together the egg yolks and lime zest. Add in the sweetened condensed milk and whisk to combine well. Add the lime juice and mix until smooth.
Step 5: Pour the key lime filling over the cookie crust and level the top if needed.
Step 6: Bake for 15 to 17 minutes or until the edges are set and the top is firm. The filling will still jiggle a bit as a whole when you move the pan. Set the pan on a wire rack to cool for 30 minutes and then chill for 3 hours or overnight.
Step 7: Once the bars are fully chilled, top with a final layer of whipped cream. Slice and serve cold.
Tips for the best bars
Follow these easy tips and tricks for the prettiest, most delicious key lime pie bars.
Use fresh, quality ingredients. With so few ingredients in this recipe, it’s important to use the freshest, highest quality ingredients you can find. Avoid using bottled lime juice. Fresh is best!
Keep the filling cold. Work quickly while topping the filling with the whipped cream layer and don’t let the bars sit out at room temperature for too long. Keep the bars cold for those nice clean, sharp edges when you slice the bars.
Slice cold straight from the fridge. For picture perfect squares, slice the bars while very cold (chilled overnight is best). Clean the knife with hot water and wipe dry with a dish towel in between slices for best results.
How to serve
You can eat these bars straight from the fridge, just like you would with a regular pie. Or upgrade your freezer stash and store the bars in the icebox for a cold and refreshing treat on a hot summer day. They’re the perfect warm weather treat and great for serving a crowd!
Enjoy these cool and creamy, delightfully refreshing key lime pie bars. If you try this recipe or any others on the blog, please leave a note in the comments. I’d love to hear what you think!
Happy baking!
If you love these Key Lime Pie Bars, you’ll also love these delicious citrus desserts:
Key Lime Pie Bars
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 16 squares 1x
- Category: Bars & Brownies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These perfectly tart and tangy key lime pie bars are a breeze to make and are delicious served straight from the fridge on a hot summer day!
Ingredients
Cookie Crust
- 2 cups vanilla wafer cookies, finely ground (250 g)
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
Key Lime Pie Filling
- 1 tablespoons lime zest, packed (6–7 key limes)
- 5 large egg yolks
- 22 ounces sweetened condensed milk (1 14-ounce can and 3/4 cup from 2nd can)
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
Whipped Cream Topping
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
Instructions
Cookie Crust
- Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 350˚ F.
- Line the bottom and sides of an 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper. Allow the parchment to hang over the sides by about 2 inches for easy removal of the bars once chilled. Set aside.
- Grind the vanilla wafer cookies in a food processor until mixture resembles fine crumbs.
- Mix together finely ground vanilla wafer cookies, melted butter and brown sugar in a medium bowl. The texture should be similar to wet sand.
- Transfer the cookie mixture into the pan. Using the flat part of a spatula, press the cookie crumbs evenly into the square pan.
- Bake for 13 to 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and set aside to cool for about 30 minutes.
Key Lime Pie Filling
- In a large bowl, add the egg yolks and zest. Beat with a hand mixer on medium for 4-5 minutes, until the eggs lighten in color and thicken in texture.
- Add the sweetened condensed milk and continue to beat on medium for another 3 minutes.
- Whisk in the lime juice.
- Pour the filling on top of the cooled cookie base. Place in the oven for 15-17 minutes until the filling is set but the filling will still wiggle as a whole when you gently shake the pan. Remove from the oven and let it cool on the counter for 30 minutes. Once cooled, place in the refrigerator for 3 hours or overnight.
Whipped Cream Topping
- In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the heavy whipping cream and sugar until firm peaks form.
- Remove from the mixer and finish mixing by hand with a whisk. Do not over mix.
- Spread the whipped cream on top of the key lime custard. Use an offset spatula to spread evenly. Chill for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
- Once chilled, use the parchment overhang to remove the bars from pan. Use a sharp knife to slice into squares. For best results, clean the knife with warm water and dry with a clean towel between each slice.
Notes
Store bars tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
May be frozen. Serve cold or defrost in the refrigerator.
36 Comments
Danielle
June 18, 2025 at 4:50 pmI loved these bars! Question, can I make the same recipe but with lemons instead of key limes? Would it be just as effective but just with a different flavor profile?
Brooke
May 25, 2025 at 12:27 pmIf I double the recipe, will the baking time be the same? Thank you!
Camilla
September 3, 2024 at 10:14 amSuper easy! Tasty! And I change it up and use a shortbread crust sometimes. Just as delicious. 🙂
Kelly
August 14, 2024 at 12:05 pmDo you have a dairy free substitute suggestion for the sweetened condensed milk?
Michelle
June 14, 2025 at 7:35 pmI just tried using sweetened condensed coconut milk and it was a fail. It would not set in the oven at all
CH
July 12, 2024 at 3:49 amMine seems super giggly after the 17 mins so I ended up adding another 5 mins. Because the temperature on my oven will drastically drop sometimes. Is it possible to over cook and make it separate like scrambled eggs?
Sarah
July 22, 2024 at 2:05 amThis were delicious! No need to use unsalted butter, though.
Anonymous
May 25, 2024 at 2:38 amIs the recipe calling for rectangular vanilla wafers, or like the circular nilla wafer cookies?
Heather Mubarak
May 25, 2024 at 2:53 pmI use the circular Nilla Wafers.
Ivy
July 18, 2023 at 6:30 amMy filling keeps melting. Am i using too much lime juice or not baking it at the right temperature? Do we put it in at a higher temperature than the cookie base?
Heather Mubarak
July 18, 2023 at 11:26 pmYes, that will work! Enjoy!!
Alexis S
March 11, 2025 at 4:50 pmYou can also try putting a little bit of vanilla pudding mix to thicken up the mixture
Jenn
July 2, 2023 at 3:54 pmWhat brand do people use for the keylime pie filling, I’m having a hard time finding it
Anonymous
June 29, 2024 at 12:55 amI just realized it’s just the category for the ingredients for the key lime pie filling portion on the recipe. Lol! I bought the filling and was scouring the recipe trying to figure out when it’s supposed to be used. The author really should’ve made that more obvious!
Heather Mubarak
June 30, 2024 at 6:01 pmThe key lime pie filling is made from scratch with the ingredients listed. Not store-bought. We just added a bold font to that portion of the recipe so there is no confusion. Thanks for trying my recipe!
Kara
June 16, 2023 at 6:15 pmCan I double this recipe and make in a 9×13 pan?
Heather Mubarak
June 17, 2023 at 9:45 pmYes! Enjoy!!
Sheila
June 23, 2024 at 10:37 pmI doubled it and had too much filling so I put the extra in some ramekins and baked them. Will sprinkle some crushed Graham crackers on them for a quick treat!
Katie E.
June 5, 2023 at 7:56 pmThese key lime bars are amazing!!! I made them for a family event and everyone loved them. Tangy, sweet and delicious! I will definitely be making these again!
My sister-in-law even said they are in her top dessert list now!
Heather Mubarak
June 11, 2023 at 2:43 amThese bars are definitely a crowd pleaser! Thanks so much for trying my recipe!!
Anonymous
March 21, 2023 at 3:56 amIm worried about the cutting part.
How do we get a clean cut on the bottom and ensure the parchment doesn’t stick and mess with the form of the cut squares? What do you lift them out with ?
Anonymous
February 18, 2023 at 8:11 amCan I use bottled key lime juice?
Heather Mubarak
February 18, 2023 at 10:35 pmHi! I highly recommend using juice from fresh limes!
Anonymous
March 16, 2023 at 2:27 amI always use Nellie & Joe’s Key Lime Juice. It’s fantastic!
Garrett
September 2, 2022 at 9:38 pmWhen making the Whipped topping, will it thicken when chilling in the fridge for 20 minutes? When you mix the sugar and heavy whipping cream together, it’s as runny as milk and didn’t want to screw it up.
Heather Mubarak
September 13, 2022 at 5:50 amThe whipped cream topping should be fairly thick and stable once it’s whipped. If it’s too runny, you likely haven’t whipped the topping enough.
Emily
April 1, 2024 at 6:10 pmAfter making the pumpkin pie bars at Thanksgiving and then these for Easter I am officially calling you the queen of bars! These are fabulous! Silky smooth texture, perfect tart taste, and the pie to whipped cream ratio was exactly what you want! They cut SO nicely so serving was easy too! Can’t wait to wow people all summer with these!
Shreya
August 27, 2022 at 2:46 amWill it last on a 3 hour car drive with the whipped cream on top?
Heather Mubarak
September 6, 2022 at 4:09 pmYou’ll definitely want to keep the bars chilled in a cooler!
Cecilia H.
June 10, 2022 at 6:05 pmIt wasn’t clear to me if the crumbs need to cover the side of the pan (like a pie) or just the bottom. Can someone clarify if it would work by just covering the bottom? Thanks
Heather Mubarak
June 12, 2022 at 8:59 pmI just cover the bottom of the pan with the cookie crumbs. Enjoy!
Allie
September 16, 2021 at 2:26 amThese turned out great! My crust tastes good but was too hard to cut. I used the rectangle vanilla wafer cookies. I also saw the circle vanilla wafer cookies at the store. Does it matter what kind?
Jessi Fox
May 13, 2022 at 8:06 pmThe circle cookies are what this recipe is calling for. Nabisco and Keebler both have these kinds of cookies.
Kimberly
August 23, 2021 at 7:12 pmThese are delicious and easy. My husband said restaurant quality. Make these if you want to impress.
Heidi
July 22, 2021 at 1:25 pmCan I freeze these with the whipped cream on top? Also can I use the key lime juice in the bottle?
Heather Mubarak
July 23, 2021 at 6:38 amI would not freeze them with the whipped cream on top. The texture will get a little funky. And I highly recommend fresh lime juice over bottled. Enjoy!