Prep time: 15 mins | Bake time: 15–20 mins | Chill time: 3+ hours | Servings: 12 bars
Ingredients
- The Crust:
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs.
- ¼ cup granulated sugar.
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted.
- The Filling:
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk.
- ½ cup key lime juice.
- Zest of 2 limes.
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
- Make the Crust: In a medium bowl, stir together the graham cracker crumbs, granulated sugar, and melted unsalted butter until the mixture resembles wet sand.
- Press: Firmly press the crust mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan in an even layer.
- Bake Crust: Bake for 8–10 minutes until slightly golden. Let it cool for a few minutes while you prepare the filling.
- Mix Filling: In a large bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, key lime juice, and most of the lime zest until smooth and thickened.
- Layer: Pour the lime filling over the baked crust and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Final Bake: Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until the filling is set but still has a slight jiggle in the center.
- Chill: Allow the bars to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 3 hours (or overnight) to set completely.
- Finish: Garnish with the remaining lime zest and fresh lime slices before cutting into squares.