The perfect mixture of tart and sweet, these lime bars with a zippy gingersnap crust always disappear quickly!
Lime Bars Recipe with Gingersnap Crust
When I first set out to make these lime bars, my most serious task was to develop a crust that would complement the tart lime filling. Little did I know that flavors and textures would be the least of my concerns. Rather, I was distracted by two little hands that kept creeping onto the counter to seize the cut lime halves. My 6-year old son finds it difficult to resist any sort of citrus. If there are lime, lemon, orange or grapefruit wedges in site, they are likely to be in his mouth before you can say, “Goodbye, tooth enamel.”
My only chance of concentrating on the task at hand was to sit him down with a bowl of lime wedges, which he happily sucked dry. I have no explanation. Then again, this is a kid that would choose a plateful of eel sushi over Cheerios any day of the week.
With the lemon already taken out of the traditional lemon squares, I figured that a shift away from the standard cake-like or shortbread crust was in order. During the height of rhubarb season, I had great success with my Rhubarb Cheesecake Bars with Gingersnap Crust.. The chewiness of the crust stood up well to the tart, creamy cheesecake filling. Given that these lime bars have a very soft and acidic filling, it seemed likely that the pairing would work in this case, too. And did it ever!
The lime squares recipe:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Prepare a 8-inch square baking pan by lining the pan with aluminum foil, leaving 3-4 inches of foil draping over the sides of the pan.
For the crust, place 3 whole graham crackers and 12 gingersnaps, broken into 1-inch pieces, into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until the crackers form fine crumbs, about 30 seconds.
To the crumbs, add unsalted butter (melted and cooled), brown sugar, all-purpose flour, and salt. Pulse until the ingredients are fully combined. Using the bottom of a measuring cup or your fingers, press the crumbs into the bottom of the prepared pan.
Bake until the crust is beginning to brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven.
Prepare the filling while the crust bakes so that the warm filling can be poured into a still-warm crust.
In a medium saucepan, whisk together the egg yolks, a couple of large eggs, and the sugar. Next, whisk in some grated lime zest, fresh lime juice and a pinch of salt. Add unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces, and set over medium heat. Cook the mixture, stirring constantly, until the mixture begins to thicken and it reaches 170 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. Immediately pour the mixture through a strainer set over a medium bowl and stir in the heavy cream. Discard the lime pieces left in the strainer.
Increase oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
Pour the filling into the warm crust and bake until the filling is opaque and jiggles slightly in the center when shaken, 10 to 15 minutes. Be sure to rotate the pan halfway through baking.
Place the pan on a wire rack and let the bars cool for about 2 hours. Using the foil ends, lift the bars out of the pan, remove the foil, and cut into 16 squares. Dust with powdered (confectioner’s) sugar just before serving.
Other desserts with lime:
David Lebovitz’s Lime Meringue Tart
The Pioneer Woman’s Key Lime Pie
Two Peas and Their Pod’s Chewy Lime & Coconut Sugar Cookies
Lime Bars with Gingersnap Crust
Ingredients
The crust:
- 3 graham crackers, broken into 1-inch pieces
- 12 gingersnaps, broken into 1-inch pieces
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted & cooled
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
The filling:
- 7 egg yolks
- 2 large eggs
- 1 Cup + 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup grated lime zest (from 4 to 5 limes)
- 2/3 cup fresh lime juice (from 4 to 5 limes)
- Pinch of salt
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces
- 3 tablespoon heavy cream
- Powdered (confectioner's) sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Prepare an 8-inch square baking pan by lining the pan with aluminum foil, leaving 3-4 inches of foil draping over the sides of the pan.
The crust:
- Place graham crackers and gingersnaps into the bowl of a food processor and pulse
until the crackers form fine crumbs, about 30 seconds. - To the crumbs, add butter, brown sugar, flour, and salt. Pulse until the ingredients are fully combined.
- Using the bottom of a measuring cup or your fingers, press the crumbs into the bottom
of the prepared pan. - Bake until the crust is beginning to brown, 12 to 15 minutes.
The filling:
- Prepare the filling while the crust bakes so that the warm filling can be poured into a still-warm crust.
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together egg yolks, eggs, and sugar. Whisk in lime zest, lime juice, and salt. Add butter, and set over medium heat.
- Cook the mixture, stirring constantly, until the mixture begins to thicken and it reaches 170 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer.
- Immediately pour the mixture through a strainer set over a medium bowl and stir in heavy cream. Discard the lime pieces left in the strainer.
- Increase oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
- Pour the filling into the warm crust and bake until the filling is opaque and jiggles slightly in the center when shaken, 10 to 15 minutes. Be sure to rotate the pan halfway through baking.
- Place the pan on a wire rack and let the bars cool for about 2 hours. Using the foil ends, lift the bars out of the pan, remove the foil, and cut into 16 squares. Dust with powdered (confectioner’s) sugar just before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)
Love the new blog design and banner!
Priscilla - She's Cookin'
I love citrus – although not as much as your little guy 🙂 Lemon bars are one of my favorites, so I'm sure that these would hit the spot! Great recipe!
Marisa
I love anything lime. When I was little I used to love to suck the juice out of citrus too! (Not so much the eel sushi though lol). These sound great–love that gingersnap crust.
P.S. I like the new header!
Chef Fresco
What a perfect creation! Love the crust. Your son sure does have the mature taste! I would've gone for the cheerios as a kid. 🙂
Tristan @ Enjoy Life With Breakfast
Looks wonderful! These are by far the most gorgeous lemon bars I've ever seen! I bet the taste fantastic as well!
Michelle @ Brown Eyed Baker
These are gorgeous squares, love them!
Marly
This looks delicious! Love the sunflower too!
Lazaro Cooks!
Delicately presented lime squares. Great recipe and appealing color. Bravo!
Jenny
Prettiest little dessert ever!
MaryMoh
Beautiful lime squares. I was just thinking and craving for lemon bars this morning. Now I see yours….so tempting. I think I have to try and make one soon.
Cherine
What a beautiful dessert!! Looks so good!
Carolyn Jung
A refreshing change from the usual lemon bar. Mmm, I wonder if a little bit of fresh mint would be good, too? Almost like a mojito in cookie form? 😉
Michelle
The Gingersnap crust sounds so good with the citrus!!
Milisa @ Miss in the Kitchen
Ooh! I think I will have to try these out. We are huge lime fans and I've never had lime & ginger together. Can't wait to try it. And I love, love, love your new header. Very cool!
Kay Heritage
oh, I LOVE limes! This recipe looks fantastic, Dara.
Sprinkled with Flour
These look so delicious, and the photos are beautiful! I'm really loving the new look of your blog too:)
Nancy
Beautiful photos. I love the idea of mixing the gingersnaps with the graham crackers – I am sure it makes for a divine crust. Will have to try!
Pegasuslegend
love the lemon and ginger crust very nice….your new blog really pops look great!
Evan @swEEts
Yum! These are some of my favorite flavors.. and its kind of nice how you've got the citrus of summer and the ginger snap of fall.. a perfect combo for this transition period 🙂
Christine@Christine's Recipes
Fabulous pictures! Love your new blog design very much. 🙂