Pin It These festive lime bars combine a rich buttery shortbread crust with a tangy lime filling, delivering a burst of fresh citrus flavor. The vibrant green hue adds a cheerful touch ideal for celebrating St. Patricks Day. With simple ingredients like lime juice, zest, and a dusting of powdered sugar, these bars offer a delightful balance of sweet and tart. Baking involves preparing the crust first, then adding the lime filling and chilling to set before serving.
Perfect for gatherings or a refreshing dessert, these bars are easy to make and provide a lively twist on classic citrus desserts. Optional green coloring enhances the festive appearance without altering the delicious taste.
The kitchen smelled like sunshine and margaritas the first time I made these for a March gathering, my hands sticky with juice while my roommate kept asking if they were ready yet. We ended up eating them warm from the pan because nobody could wait for the full chilling time. Now they are the first thing requested for any spring celebration.
Last year I brought these to an office potluck and watched a usually reserved coworker take three before even making it back to her seat. She messaged me that night for the recipe saying her husband had declared them the best thing she ever baked.
Ingredients
- Unsalted butter: Room temperature butter creates the most tender shortbread crust that melts in your mouth
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens both crust and filling while helping create that perfect crackly top
- All-purpose flour: Provides structure for both layers so your bars hold their shape when sliced
- Salt: Just a pinch enhances all the flavors and keeps the sweetness from becoming overwhelming
- Eggs: Room temperature eggs incorporate better and give the filling its silky smooth custard like texture
- Freshly squeezed lime juice: Bottle juice cannot compare to the bright acidic punch of freshly squeezed limes
- Lime zest: This is where all the fragrant citrus oils live so do not skip this step
- Green food coloring: Optional but adds that festive St Patricks Day pop that makes everyone smile
- Powdered sugar: A light dusting on top makes these look bakery beautiful
Instructions
- Preheat your oven:
- Get your oven to 350F and line a 9x9 inch pan with parchment paper letting some hang over the sides like little handles
- Make the shortbread crust:
- Beat the softened butter and sugar until fluffy then mix in flour and salt until dough forms
- Press and bake the crust:
- Press the dough evenly into your pan and bake for about 20 minutes until it turns light golden
- Whisk the filling:
- Mix sugar and flour in a bowl then whisk in eggs lime juice zest and food coloring until smooth
- Bake again:
- Pour the lime mixture over the hot crust and return to the oven for 15 to 18 minutes until set
- Chill completely:
- Let cool on a wire rack then refrigerate for at least an hour before slicing
- Finish and serve:
- Dust with powdered sugar cut into squares and watch them disappear
Pin It My grandmother always said the secret to citrus desserts is patience during the chilling step. I learned this the hard way when I once cut into them too soon and ended up with delicious but messy lime soup.
Getting The Most Flavor
Roll your limes on the counter before cutting to release more juice. I also zest the limes first then squeeze them to get every bit of flavor possible.
Making Them Ahead
These actually taste better the next day as the flavors meld together. You can make them up to two days in advance and keep them tightly covered in the refrigerator.
Serving Suggestions
A light dusting of powdered sugar right before serving adds a beautiful finish. I like to serve them with a cup of strong Irish breakfast tea or maybe something stronger if the occasion calls for it.
- Use a sharp knife wiped clean between cuts for perfect squares
- Let them sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving
- Store in the refrigerator for up to five days
Pin It These bars have become my go to for bringing brightness to gray March days. Hope they brighten your kitchen too.
Recipe Questions
- → How do I achieve the vibrant green color in the lime bars?
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Adding a few drops of green food coloring to the lime filling creates the festive green hue without affecting flavor.
- → Can I use fresh lime juice for the filling?
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Yes, freshly squeezed lime juice provides the best bright and tangy flavor for the filling.
- → What’s the best way to ensure the crust is baked properly?
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Bake the shortbread crust until it turns lightly golden, about 18–20 minutes, for a firm and buttery base.
- → Is chilling the bars before serving necessary?
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Yes, refrigerating for at least an hour helps the filling set firmly and makes cutting easier.
- → Can I substitute lemon or key lime instead of regular lime?
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Absolutely, lemon or key lime juice can be used to adjust the citrus profile and flavor intensity.
