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Creamy No-Bake Key Lime Pie Bars Easy Homemade Recipe with Graham Cracker Crust

no bake key lime pie bars - featured image
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A quick and easy no-bake dessert featuring a buttery graham cracker crust and a creamy, tangy key lime filling. Perfect for warm weather and crowd-pleasing occasions.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs (about 12 full sheets, finely crushed)
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 can (14 oz / 396 g) sweetened condensed milk
  • ½ cup freshly squeezed key lime juice (about 4–5 key limes)
  • 1 tablespoon lime zest
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream, cold
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Crust (10 minutes): In a large bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and granulated sugar. Pour in melted unsalted butter and stir until the mixture resembles wet sand and sticks together when pressed. Press this mixture evenly into the bottom of an 8×8 inch pan. Place the pan in the fridge to chill while you prepare the filling.
  2. Make the Filling Base (5 minutes): In a medium bowl, whisk together sweetened condensed milk, freshly squeezed key lime juice, and lime zest until smooth and slightly thickened.
  3. Whip the Cream (5-7 minutes): In a separate chilled bowl, beat cold heavy whipping cream with powdered sugar until soft peaks form. Avoid overbeating.
  4. Combine and Fold (3 minutes): Gently fold the whipped cream into the lime and condensed milk mixture until fully incorporated and creamy.
  5. Assemble & Chill (at least 4 hours): Pour the filling over the chilled crust and spread evenly. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours, preferably overnight.
  6. Slice and Serve: Once chilled, run a knife around the edges to loosen, then cut into 9 or 12 bars. Serve chilled.

Notes

If crust is crumbly, add a little extra melted butter to help it hold together. Use fresh lime zest for best flavor. Chill for at least 4 hours or overnight for best texture. Use a sharp knife dipped in hot water for clean slices. For dairy-free, substitute butter with coconut oil and heavy cream with coconut cream. For gluten-free, use almond flour or gluten-free graham cracker crumbs.

Nutrition

Keywords: key lime pie bars, no-bake dessert, graham cracker crust, creamy lime bars, easy summer dessert, no oven dessert

Find it online: https://emmayum.com/creamy-no-bake-key-lime-pie-bars-easy-homemade-recipe-with-graham-cracker-crust/