Lime Bars

If you like key lime pie, then  you will love these bars! It's basically just key lime pie in an 8X8 dish, and made with real lime juice and a from scratch crust with lime zest to kick it up a notch from the quick style versions. I came across the recipe for Lime Bars perusing Pinterest one day. This is a straight recap (except I didn't use fat free sweetened condensed milk) of the original.

Crust

1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs

6 Tbsps salted butter, melted
1/4 cup sugar
zest of one lime

Filling

2 large egg yolks

1-14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 cup lime juice

Heat oven to 350 degrees, then grease an 8 inch square pan, line it with parchment paper that hangs over the edge of the pan by a few inches (so you can remove the bars from the pan more easily).

Combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar, and zest.

 Press into the prepared pan, pressing the crust mixture one inch up the side of the pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Allow to cool completely.

Once the crust is cooled combine the egg yolks and condensed milk until well mixed. Stir in the lime juice and combine. It will begin to thicken slightly.

Pour the filling into the crust, making sure the filling reaches the edges. Bake for 15 minutes, or until just set.

Cool to room temperature, then chill for at least one hour, overnight is better. Pull the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into 16 squares with a serrated knife. To make cutting cleaner wipe the knife with a damp cloth between cuts.

Store in the refrigerator in an air tight container. They last for about five days.