Zesty Lime Citrus Bars (Print Version)

A bright, tangy dessert featuring a smooth lime filling over a buttery shortbread crust. Perfect balance of sweet and tart.

# What You Need:

→ Shortbread Crust

01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup powdered sugar
03 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and diced
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Lime Citrus Filling

05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
07 - 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
08 - 3 large eggs
09 - 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
10 - 1 tablespoon finely grated lime zest
11 - 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

→ Topping

12 - Powdered sugar for dusting

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a bowl, combine flour, powdered sugar, and salt for the crust. Cut in diced butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
03 - Bake crust for 15-18 minutes until just golden at the edges. Let cool slightly.
04 - Whisk together granulated sugar, flour, and baking powder. Add eggs, lime juice, lemon juice, and lime zest. Whisk until smooth.
05 - Pour filling over the baked crust. Bake for 18-20 minutes until set and slightly golden at the edges; the center should not jiggle.
06 - Cool completely in the pan, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour before slicing.
07 - Dust with powdered sugar before serving. Cut into bars.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The crust stays tender and melt in your mouth thanks to keeping everything cold until it hits the oven
  • That sweet tart balance is addictive, neither too sugary nor too puckering
  • They look impressive on a platter but come together with basic pantry staples
02 -
  • Overbaking the filling makes it chalky instead of silky, pull them when the edges are set but the center still has a tiny bit of movement
  • Room temperature eggs blend into the filling smoothly, cold eggs can leave you with little white specks no amount of whisking fixes
  • These need that full hour in the fridge, slicing them warm gives you sloppy edges and a sad presentation
03 -
  • Zest your limes before cutting them, trying to zest a squeezed half is frustrating and wasteful
  • The parchment paper overhangs are your insurance policy, letting you lift the whole batch out for neat slicing

Go Back