These Key Lime Gooey Bars are the best gooey bars I’ve ever had! Fresh lime juice and zest are the secret ingredients!
Is it spring yet??? Seriously! After the mildest winter I can remember, we had a week of rain, and now we’re back in the 70s and looking to hit 80 this weekend. All the fruit trees are in full bloom and the boys are starting the slow transition to where they just actually start living outside.
I. Love. It.
I am so ready for spring. I can’t wait to get my garden started, crank up the bbq, and start enjoying our beautiful back yard.
This past weekend Dorothy hosted a whole bunch of us Sacramento food bloggers at her house. And not just the bloggers…nooo, the families came too! All the kiddos had such a great time making new friends and running around like crazy people…oh, wait. That was just my two boys 🙂
As you can imagine, the food was awesome! I brought these Key Lime Gooey Bars and some Veggie Crescent Bites to the party. The gooey bars were a total hit. Best part? Sooo easy to make!
I really amped up the lime flavor of the cake mix with some fresh lime juice and lime zest. It really adds a punch of fresh flavor to the bars and makes them go from “good” to “wow” in a jiffy.
A sprinkle of white chocolate chips in the center adds a pop of color and texture and provides some depth of flavor to these sweet and gooey bars. There is just no way you’re not going to love them. Promise.
I zested another lime and some lemon to go on top of the bars. Totally optional but it sure makes them look pretty.
These Key Lime Gooey Bars will be the perfect treat all spring and summer long! The boys are already asking for another batch 🙂
Key Lime Gooey Bars
Ingredients
- 15.25 oz Key Lime Cake Mix 1 box - I used Pillsbury
- 4 oz unsalted butter 1 stick - softened
- 1 egg room temperature
- 1 lime zested and juiced
- 2/3 cup white chocolate chips
- 2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
- lemon and lime zest for top of bars if desired
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Line a 9x9 inch baking pan with foil. Spray with cooking spray and set aside.
- Beat butter with a mixer until soft and fluffy.
- Add in cake mix,egg, lime juice and zest and continue beating until combined.
- Press about two-thirds of the cake mixture onto the bottom of the foil-lined baking pan.
- Sprinkle white chocolate chips over the top.
- Drizzle the sweetened condensed milk over the top of the chocolate.
- Crumble the remaining cake mixture over the top of the sweetened condensed milk, trying to spread it out as much as possible. Press lightly.
- Bake for 29-32 minutes, or until edges start to brown.
- Let bars cool completely before cutting.
- Top with additional lime and lemon zest if desired.
- Store in an airtight container for up to a week.
Nutrition
More yummy treats:
Fruit Basket Mini Sugar Cookie Pizzas
Raspberry Marshmallow Fruit Dip
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 Linking up at some of these parties.
Liz says
Nice recipe. Thank you Trish.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thanks so much Liz!
cj says
Would love to invite you to share your food photos with us over at Food Foto Gallery . com – There’s no complicated approval process like the big sites. Any photos related to food (that are not watermarked) are accepted & get posted automatically. We also share our daily faves on social media, giving exposure to food bloggers when we can. Let me know if you have any questions and hope to see you at the site 🙂
kathleen says
I’ve never even heard of key lime cake mix- who knew!? These look delicious though. I just love key lime pie!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Yep! And it’s good stuff Kathleen 🙂 Thank you!
Dee says
The bars look awesome, and I love the fruit dishes too! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thanks Dee!
Julie @ Julie's Eats & Treats says
These are to die for Trish!! I love that color in them, but now I’m going to go cry because I don’t live in Sacramento so I could crash the blogging party!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Don’t cry – come visit!! Thanks Julie!
Gretchen @ Two Healthy Kitchens says
Yeah … I’ve been asking myself if it’s spring yet, too … but because we’ve had about 75 inches of snow!! And several arctic blasts – my kids have had 6 days off of school due to the cold and snow! That’s crazy! Even the local colleges have closed for most of those days! So yes … I’m super ready for spring! 🙂
These key lime bars certainly look like spring to me – so fresh and light! Anything lime … that just begs to be enjoyed poolside with an umbrella in your drink!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Good grief that’s a lot of snow! Come on Spring!!
Jocelyn@Brucrewlife says
Sweet Hannah, these need to happen in my kitchen soon! I am in love with the vibrant green color! 🙂 And seriously, I’m jealous of your weather!!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Don’t be jealous – come on out to California! We’d love to have you 🙂
Lyuba@willcookforsmiles says
These bars look awesome, Trish! So gooey and limey 🙂
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thanks Lyuba! They were really fun and delicious 🙂
Amy @Very Culinary says
Ah, there they are! Sharing these today…and making them this weekend. Using them as a bargaining chip to get the kids to clean their rooms!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
LOL! At long last…;) Thanks Amy!
Tanya Schroeder says
I loved seeing the pictures! How fun Trish! I love Key Lime and I love your for making a summer inspired recipe NOW!!! I need these!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
We had a lot of fun Tanya! I’m definitely ready for some spring and summer recipes myself 🙂
Elizabeth @ Confessions of a Baking Queen says
You all looked like you had so much fun!! Makes me sad I am in so cal!! These bars look gorgeous the white chocolate chips and lemon zest are tots necessary!!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
We did! You need to move up here with us 🙂 Thanks Elizabeth!
Amy says
When I walked in, basically every kid I saw had one of these treats in their hand. No wonder they stole them all; they look SO moist and citrusy. I never got to try one — bummer! Maybe at the next party? 🙂 So fun meeting you and your sweet family!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
LOL! Dang kids!! I’ll bring something even more fab to the next party 🙂 Thanks Amy!
Jenn @ Deliciously Sprinkled says
OMG, I want one (or two) of these amazing looking bars right now! I love anything lime and I need to make these bars as soon as possible! Pinned 🙂
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thank you so much Jenn! They were pretty fabulous if I do say so myself 🙂
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
I can speak from experience: BEST BARS EVERRRRRRRR. These were so good!!!!!!!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
LOL! Thanks Dorothy!
Blair @ The Seasoned Mom says
These look delicious! My husband loves anything Key Lime, so I know that they would be a hit in my house. I love that you added white chocolate chips, too. Anything tastes better with white chocolate chips!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I totally agree! And the chips give a nice pop of color and texture. Perfect with these bars 🙂