St. Patricks Day Lime Bars (Printable Version)
Zesty lime bars with a buttery shortbread crust, perfect for a festive touch and bright citrus flavor.
# What You Need:
→ Shortbread Crust
01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
04 - Pinch of salt
→ Lime Filling
05 - 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
06 - 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
07 - 4 large eggs
08 - 2/3 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
09 - 2 tsp finely grated lime zest
10 - Green food coloring (optional)
11 - Powdered sugar, for dusting
# How-To:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a medium bowl, cream together softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in flour and salt until dough forms.
03 - Press dough evenly into prepared pan bottom. Bake for 18-20 minutes until lightly golden.
04 - In a large bowl, whisk together sugar and flour. Add eggs, lime juice, and lime zest. Whisk until smooth. Add green food coloring if desired.
05 - Pour lime mixture over hot crust. Return to oven and bake for 15-18 minutes until center is set and no longer jiggles.
06 - Let cool completely in pan on wire rack. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before slicing.
07 - Dust with powdered sugar, cut into bars, and serve.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The buttery crust balances perfectly with tangy lime filling that hits your tongue like a bright surprise
- They come together faster than you think and look impressive on any dessert platter
02 -
- The center should not jiggle when you take it out but a slight wobble is okay as it continues cooking
- Room temperature ingredients prevent the filling from separating or becoming grainy
03 -
- If your limes feel hard microwave them for 15 seconds to get more juice
- The parchment overhang makes lifting the whole batch out so much easier