Super Easy Lime Bars. Using only 5 simple ingredients and a very quick preparation time, these refreshing lime bars are based on easiest and best lemon bar recipe I’ve ever tried in almost 40 years of baking.
Super Easy Lime Bars
I make the lemon version of these lime bars all the time but with some leftover limes in the fridge needing to be used, this recipe was the easiest and quickest way to turn them into something delicious.
I was so happy to find the lemon version of this cookie bar because with only 5 simple ingredients and a quick preparation time, it quickly became a household standard.
Limes.
In our part of the world, it is so much less expensive to buy lemons or limes by the bag than by buying them individually.
We often pick up a 3 or 4 pound bag. If we are slow to use them in drinks or in simple salad dressings, they most often will now be turned into these yummy cookie bars.
(If you like this recipe you may also want to check out our Frozen Key Lime Pie.)
Frozen Key Lime Pie
These Lime Bars are great for the freezer too, so we often have them on hand to pull out at the last minute if someone drops by for coffee.
If you only have lemons on hand don’t hesitate to try these as Lemon Bars… It’s one of our most popular cookie bar recipes of the last 10 years.
If you liked this recipe you many want to check out this great collection of No Bake Cookies that was incredibly popular during our last Holiday season.
No Bake Cookies
Originally published July 2014, Updated March 2020.
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Super Easy Lime Bars
Super Easy Lime Bars - Using only 5 simple ingredients and a very quick preparation time, these refreshing lime bars are based on easiest and best lemon bar recipe I've ever tried in almost 40 years of baking.
Ingredients
For the pastry base
- 1 cup cold butter, cut in small pieces
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 cups flour
For the lime layer
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/4 cup flour
- 4 eggs
- zest of two limes, very finely chopped
- juice of 4 to 5 small limes, around 2/3 to 3/4 cup juice
Instructions
To make the pastry base
- Using a pastry cutter or in a food processor blend together the butter sugar and flour.
- Press evenly into the bottom of a greased and parchment paper lined 9×13 inch baking pan.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 350 degrees F ( 325 degrees F if you are using glass bake-ware)
For the lime topping
- Simply whisk together the sugar flour, eggs, zest and lime juice until the sugar is dissolved.
- Allow the topping to sit for about 10 minutes before whisking together well again and pouring over the baked shortbread base.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for about another 20- 25 minutes or until the top is slightly browned and the custard appears to be set. The bottom should just be beginning to brown slightly at the top edges. Cool completely. Sprinkle with icing sugar when cool or try adding a meringue topping.
Nutrition Information
Yield
36Serving Size
36 cookie barsAmount Per Serving Calories 124Total Fat 6gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 34mgSodium 55mgCarbohydrates 20gFiber 1gSugar 13gProtein 2g
I live in Jeju, South Korea. I cannot get limes here. Can I increase the lime juice( bottled ) or would it work? Any suggestions?
Keep on cookin’
Joy
I would not add over 3/4 of a cup (6 ounces of lime juice) They should still have plenty of flavor without the lime zest. I’m surprised there are no limes there though. My work buddy Amber is teaching in South Korea. It sure looks lovely there.
i love lime. they look delicious!
If you freeze these , do you put the icing sugar on top before they are frozen or when you take them out to use?
Definitely when you serve them.
Hi There, step 4 does not say if you have to mix IT on THE stove but you do Mention browning. Wat should i do.
Kind Regards avril
Sorry, one line was misplaced in the recipe. Thanks for catching it. It has been fixed now.
These are FABULOUS! Thank you so much for the amazing recipe. I made them for the first one today and I am sure it won’t be the last. They’re ridiculously good! I left the zest out because my limes had gone all hard but it was still FANTASTIC!
I love lemon bars…thanks for an easy recipe
Can u use salted butter?
I mostly se salted butter in recipes and omit any salt if its in there. I mostly use unsalted butter for frostings.
these are amazing, and i get requests for these lime bars! Turn out perfect every time, make sure to follow recipe to a T and it will be perfect.
Thank you!
Hi , do I have to flip over once done? I noticed the top is the crust and the bottom is the lemon filling
Never had that happen!
We have a tree full of limes Can I make these and freeze them and for how long Thank you
I have frozen them for a few weeks.
Do these need to be stored in the fridge? Thanks!
I sore them in an airtight plastic container in the fridge.
I too got an upside down slice. Don’t know what I did wrong but trying again to see if it was a one off fail. Regardless the taste was great and the slice upside down or not was DELICIOUS and went “like hot cakes in our house.
No idea how that would happen. Did you use real dairy butter in the crust?
I did not get the upside down slice, but I did have the lime layer leak into the crust. After extensive google-ing, I’ve learned that you must bake crust to golden brown color before adding liquid. Better to overbake than underbake for these types of bars (lemon, lime, etc.). My crust was definitely too pale so the crust and liquid combined when it baked. Funny enough I was worried about overdoing it since it was going to bake another 20-25 mins – rookie mistake. I have not tasted it yet (still cooling), but it looks funky. I’ll totally eat it if it tastes good and plan to make it prettier (and cooked correctly) next time.
Make sure you’re baking the crust before adding the liquid layer!!
I couldn’t quite get the shortbread right, it always ended up coming out too crummy, is there anything that can help this?
It’s either overmeasuring flour or your brand of butter. Adding a little more butter is the likely fix.
Hi Barry! I love lime anything!!! I have a question though… do you let the pastry cool completely before you add the lime custard or does it matter if it is still a little warm?
For glass pans, should custard also bake at 325? Or should temp be increased to 350? Thanks!
Yes, the intent is not to over brown the bottom.
How long can they be stored in the refrigerator?
Up to a week.
Can I use Splenda instead of sugar?
I don’t bake with artificial sweeteners so I can’t offer any advice.
Flour ??? Plain or self raising thankyou
Self raising flour is not commonly used here. If you see flour in one of our recipes it always means all purpose flour unless stated otherwise.
I was extremely dubious about this recipe as I am not a skilled baker and have never made custard or zested/juiced any citrus in my life. Nevertheless, it came highly recommended and I decided to try it. I used part bottled juice and definitely went conservative on baking the crust based on the comments – probably gave it 10ish extra minutes, and my slices were right side up. My custard needed a bit more mixing so the bars were not the most attractive, but were they ever delicious! The crust is just sumptuous. I’m making these again next week. Highly recommend this recipe.
So glad they were such a success. Keep on baking!
Delicious!
Just wondering what the best way is to freeze & defrost these? I’m assuming just bring them to room temp? How long do they take to defrost?
Thanks for a great recipe 🙂
An hour or two should do it. I often freeze a whole batch and add the powdered sugar when they thaw, then cut them.
Hi Barry, What an amazing recipe! Thank you so much for these real easy to make and delicious lime bars. I have a lime tree almost loaded to the ground with limes. So I went on the internet in search of recipes and found yours. I’ve made the lime bars twice now. The first time I found 3/4 cup of lime juice was too strong (although my husband liked it) and the second time I used 2/3 of a cup and it was perfect. Thanks!!! Annette
Thanks for the recipe. Easy and tasty.
Could I use butter flavored Crisco instead of butter? My son has dairy allergy.
Never tried that. Worth a try.