Zesty Lime Citrus Bars (Printable)

Bright lime filling over buttery shortbread crust. Sweet-tart citrus bars perfect for dessert.

# 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 (about 4-5 limes)
10 - 1 tablespoon finely grated lime zest
11 - 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 1 lemon)

→ 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 - For the filling, 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 combination of lime and lemon creates a complexity that pure lime cannot achieve alone
  • That buttery shortbread crust anchors all the bright citrus flavors perfectly
  • They actually taste better after chilling overnight making them ideal for entertaining
02 -
  • Room temperature eggs incorporate so much better into the filling creating that silky texture
  • The crust should be warm when you pour the filling over it not piping hot or completely cold
  • These really do need that full hour of chilling time to set properly for clean slices
03 -
  • Add a pinch of sea salt to the filling to make those citrus flavors pop even more
  • Use a microplane for the zest to avoid getting any bitter white pith mixed in

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