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Wednesday, July 3, 2013

{No Bake} Key Lime Meltaways

Sweet and tart key lime bars on a crumbled sugar cookie crust - these Key Lime Meltaways literally melt in your mouth...and are sure to leave you wanting more!


I'm not sure I've ever met someone who loves key lime as much as I do. And not just because it's the perfect sweet-tart combination, or because it's most often eaten in the form of a pie, but because, for me, it brings back instant memories of my honeymoon. It's hard to believe my honeymoon was nearly 9 years ago now....in some ways, it feels just like yesterday! I remember so much of it - riding bikes around Sanibel Island, lying on the beach for an entire afternoon, eating endless baskets of crab legs, playing cards late at night by the pool, collecting seashells at Captiva beach......



.....and sampling the key lime pie at every restaurant we could! We both discovered a love for it early on and decided we would try all the different variations that Sanibel & Captiva Islands had to offer. Needless to say, between the baskets of crab legs dipped in melted butter, the pina coladas and strawberry daquiris, and the countless pieces of key lime pie, we were both completely stuffed by the end of our trip! Completely stuffed and completely ready to get back and start our lives together.


There are so many things in life that feel like they fly by and leave you wanting more. And you know what? My honeymoon wasn't one of them! That sounds bad....I know. Don't get me wrong - I loved every minute of it! And I would go back and do it all over in a heartbeat! But. At the beginning of our honeymoon I made a conscious decision to NOT let it fly by. I decided I would pay attention to the moments....and I hoped they would somehow last longer if I did.


And so, as we were riding our bikes around the island, I was taking a mental snapshot of the palm trees and stopping to feel the wind blow through my hair. As we were lying on the beach, I was smelling the salty air and committing to memory the feeling of the Florida sun on my back. And as we were enjoying our 18th piece of key lime pie (only a slight exaggeration) I was looking at the man across from me and realizing that I didn't need anything more - I already had enough! Unfortunately, the same can't be said about these Key Lime Meltaways. These sweet little bars leave you wanting more, each and every time. I guess some things are just like that.


Key Lime Meltaways
1 1/2 c. prepared sugar cookies, crumbled
1/3 c. unsalted butter, softened (not melted)
1 1/2 c. powdered sugar
3 Tbsp. key lime juice
zest of 2 key limes
1/3 c. unsalted butter, softened (not melted)
3-4 key limes, sliced, for garnish

1. Combine cookie crumbs and 1/3 c. butter in a medium bowl. Press onto bottom of an 9-inch square pan. Refrigerate until firm.
2. Combine powdered sugar, 1/3 c. butter, key lime juice, and key lime zest in a small bowl. Beat at medium-high speed until light and smooth. Spread over crust.
3. Score bars to desired size (approx. 1 1/2 inch squares) and top each square with a key lime slice.
4. Cover bars and refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours. Store in refrigerator. Remove lime slice before eating.

(*Recipe adapted from The Cookie Cookbook: Citrus Cream Bars)

Enjoy!



If you like these, be sure to check out some of my other delicious bar recipes!








Thanks for taking a peek inside my Lemon Tree Dwelling....
I hope you feel right at home!
-Cathy

61 comments :

  1. I love your key lime bars..I'll try it, your mint oreo meltaways looks appetizing.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Amalia! The Mint Oreo Meltaways were a huge hit, too....I hope you will try one or both!

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  2. I love anything key lime...I actually just had a key lime chobani flip for lunch (which are delicious). These sound awesome!

    Happy Blogging!
    Happy Valley Chow

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  3. These just look so SO good, Cathy! I could easily make them dairy free by subbing the butter with dairy free sticks! Pinning this and sharing on Facebook later! Have a great 4th!

    Julie @ This Gal Cooks

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  4. it's so pretty and yet it's no bake! can't wait to try it this weekend. thanks so much!

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  5. These look SO good. Can't wait to try them. ☺

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  6. yum! we love key lime over here... happy 4th to you and your family!!!

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  7. They look amazing and not too tricky (love that)! Also love the sweet honeymoon story you shared, and what a fabulous way to kickoff the start of your lives together!

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  8. What a beautiful post, Cathy! These key lime bars look delicious, and my husband would especially love them. Pinned!

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  9. mmm . . . I LOVE key lime desserts.

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  10. Oh my gosh these look insanely delicious. Beautiful pictures!!

    xox
    Bailey
    http://akabailey.blogspot.com

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  11. Oh, these key lime bars look beautiful and delicious! Stopping by your blog for the 1st time today ... found you through the Google+ Blog Hop. Thank you for sharing this recipe and for co-hosting the hop!
    Tracey @ The Kitchen is My Playground

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  12. Wow...I may need to make these SOON! My mouth started watering when I saw this picture! YUM!

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  13. These key lime bars look so good! pinning and following you now! visiting from craft o maniac link party
    ~shamene
    shamenesayitwithcake.blogspot.com

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  14. I have a whole bag of key limes in my fridge. I know exactly what to do with them now. Can't wait to try it! Thanks so much for sharing. Happy Monday to you!

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  15. Hi this recipe looks so good. I saw it on manic monday.
    Julie from julieslifestyle.blogspot.com

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  16. These look amazing, and refreshing! Thanks for sharing.
    Sarah
    http://www.creativeramblingsblog.com

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  17. These are not just pretty but delicious, soooo much better than the dried out meltaways that I buy, lol! Thanks for creating this deliciousness! Pining of course to my good eats board,
    Lizy@http://justdipitinchocolate.blogspot.com/

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  18. Yummy!! Pinning these too!

    ~Steph @ Silver Boxes

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  19. I just came from Cynthia's party at In and Out of the Kitchen. These looks so deliciously awesome, I definitely will make them. I'm sharing this on my FB page tomorrow.

    Thanks so much for sharing this recipe,
    Joanne/WineLady Cooks

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  20. Gonna have to try this. Key Lime Pie is my all time fav dessert!!
    Leeann / Little Once Boutique

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    Replies
    1. Mine too! It's so refreshing! I hope you give these a try :)

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  21. These look delicious! I love Key Lime and I love no bake even more. :-) Pinned it! Stopping by from Jam Hands.

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    Replies
    1. Amen to that! Thank you for stopping by and pinning! :)

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  22. Thank you for linking up these Key Lime bars at our SImply Create Link Party! I just wanted to let you know that I am featuring them as part of 17 Delicious Dessert Bars today on the blog.

    Melissa
    http://www.redflycreations.com/2013/07/17-delicious-dessert-bars.html

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  23. These look so good! Can't wait to try.

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  24. Cathy, these are a work of art. Key limes apparently are not just ordinary limes, huh? I'll have to google that....and then MAKE some! Yum.
    Thanks for sharing this on Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop and thanks so much for co-hosting with me! :)
    Sinea
    Ducks ‘n a Row

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Sinea! No, key limes are not ordinary limes....they come in a bag with lots and lots! Perfect for this recipe! Thanks so much for having me co-host with you!!

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  25. Oh my gosh! These look simply amazing. I love that you used fresh lime as a garnish! These have been pinned to our dessert board and I hope to make them soon!

    Thanks for linking up with us for Much Ado About Monday again. We LOVE all of your fabulous recipes! Have a great weekend! :)

    ~Emily
    www.huckleberrylove.com

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Emily! I went back and forth on garnish.....but thought the key limes are so pretty I might as well use them! Thanks for pinning!

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  26. Mmm, these look amazing! I love to have one RIGHT NOW!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Lisa! They are incredibly easy to make....hope you give them a try! :)

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  27. Oh yum! I simply LOVE key lime pie! I think these shall go on my I-have-got-to-make-that list.

    Elizabeth at Real Inspired

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    Replies
    1. I love key lime pie too! These are a fun and creamy twist....all the same flavors. Enjoy!!

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  28. Oh, these looks simply DELICIOUS Cathy!! I am going to have to make this! Thanks so much for sharing this yummy recipe!

    My readers would love this yummy recipe! I’d love it if you linked this up over at Living Well Spending Less for Thrifty Thursday this week! http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/category/thrifty-thursday/

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Ruth! Hopping over to join in now! :)

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  29. These look so delicious! Thanks for sharing them at our Strut Your Stuff Saturday link party! Have a great weekend. -The Six Sisters

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by! Always happy to share at your lovely party! :)

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  30. Thank you for this recipe. I am going to make these next week. What kind of sugar cookies do you use...homemade or is there a brand you recommend please?

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    Replies
    1. Hi Lin, I used store bought that were in a sleeve and had a flower shape. The brand was Rippin Good but I'm not sure if they are sold everywhere. Looking online, it seems that they are sold in a number of larger grocery stores and on Amazon. Hope this helps!

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  31. Yum!!! You always have the best looking recipes. :-) In case you didn't see it earlier, I featured this on my blog today! I'm stopping by to pin, and to let you know you can grab a Featured button if you don't already have one! http://practicallyfunctional.net/2013/07/12-creative-ideas-2/

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  32. Love the no-bake idea for summer treats. I love lemon bars so this recipe caught my eye. I would be a good alternative to an old favorite.

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  33. These look sooo good!
    Thanks so much for linking up.
    KC

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  34. Its fast and easy to make, plus it looks good. I love anything lime. Thanks for sharing Thursdays Treasures I'm featuring you this week.

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  35. These look absolutely incredible Cathy! I love no-bake recipes :) Pinned!

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  36. I used a dry sugar cookie mix and pressed it into the cups of a mini muffin pan and baked them. Then took them out of the pan let them cool and filled them with this delicious key lime mixture. I followed the recipe exactly except I left out the zest and obviously the sugar cookie part was different. Everyone loved them and I keep pointing them to your website. Thanks for the easy, yummy recipe!

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  37. Delightful! How fun... I'm so glad you came to share at Super Saturday Show & Tell last week... this week I'm co-hosting a HUGE bash with 2 other bloggers! Come on over http://www.whatscookingwithruthie.com and share again! xoxo~ Ruthie

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  38. Just wanted to let you know this was featured on 'Or so she says...' today!! Thanks so much for linking it up. ~ Mariel

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  39. I actually ended up making these with my partner. While I love the idea, I couldn't get past the butter taste, as there are 2/3 cups of butter in this one 8x8 pan. I think next time I'll substitute the butter in the lime mixture with cream cheese and maybe add some cool-whip for some added fluff.

    Thanks for the recipe!

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