These Key Lime Coconut Cashew Bars are a creamy treat with a tropical flavor. Toasted coconut, bright key lime juice, crunchy cashews, and a crumbly graham cracker crust make these bars a treat that doesn’t feel too heavy to enjoy on a regular basis.
Key Lime Cashew Bars Recipe
These sweet creamy key lime cashew bars with a crumbly graham cracker crust are the perfect ending to a meal. Lime and coconut is a delightful combination and has become a favorite combo of mine.
This recipe was sent to me by the Red Mountain Resort. A luxurious adventure resort red/destination spa set in the red rock hills of Southern Utah. Their meals are delicious, with an emphasis on healthy, whole foods and small but satisfying portions. Dessert, my favorite course of any meal, was served at lunch and dinner. Just smaller portions of better for you desserts.
These Key Lime Cashew Bars were served one day on the lunch buffet and I loved them so much I asked for the recipe. It’s a super easy recipe, and I think you’re going to fall in love with it too.
Picking the best Key Limes
The most important part of this recipe is the bright fresh key lime flavor. While you can use a bottle of lime juice, it won’t give you the best result. Instead, opt for fresh key limes, or if you can’t find key limes, just use a combination of fresh lime and lemon juice.
Picking a key lime is easy. Pick green limes and avoid yellowish fruit. You can smell the stem to see if it has the bright lime flavor, as well as feel the weight of the lime. Heavier limes will have more juice, which is typically evidence of ripeness.
How to Make Key Lime Bars with Coconut and Cashews
This recipe comes together quickly. Start by reading over your recipe completely so you can have all ingredients ready. Key lime can take a while to juice. You’ll need about 16 graham crackers for 2 cups of graham cracker crumbs.
The first step is to make a homemade graham cracker crust. Use a rimmed baking sheet or a 9×13 cake pan if you prefer. Once the crust is baked, you’ll add the filling and bake until set. Allow the bars to cool completely and chill for a bit prior to cutting so they’re easier to cut.
Note: You do want to make sure the pan you choose has a thick enough rim that the filling will not overflow when you add the filling to bake the second time.
How to Serve Cashew Bars with Key Lime and Coconut
Once the bars are chilled, you can decorate them with a swirl of whipped cream. You can also decorate the top with some additional finely grated lime zest, a sprinkle of toasted coconut or chopped cashews as a garnish.
The restaurant at the resort cut them into small bite-sized pieces. If you’re not serving them buffet style, you may want to cut them into slightly larger pieces.
I hope you’ll give these a try. It’s a light refreshing dessert that’s perfect for summer barbecues, as well as family get-togethers any time of year.
Key Lime Coconut Cashew Bars
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter unsalted, melted
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 3 ½ cups sweetened condensed milk
- 1 ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 cup key lime juice
- 1 tbsp. lime zest
- ⅓ cup toasted coconut
- ¼ cup dry roasted cashews finely chopped
- Whipped cream for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together graham cracker crumbs and melted butter. Press into greased or parchment-lined 18 x 13 sheet pan and bake for 10 minutes. Take out of oven and let cool.
- Using a mixer beat sweetened condensed milk, sour cream, and lime juice just until smooth. Stir in lime zest.
- Stir in chopped cashews and coconut.
- Pour mixture onto baked crust. Bake for 8-10 minutes until filling is set.
- Cool completely before cutting cut into squares. Chill until ready to serve. Top with a swirl of whipped cream and additional lime zest if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
More Key Lime Recipes
As you can tell, key lime is one of my all-time favorite flavors. My Key Lime Pound Cake is a show stopper that is easy to transport and serve at gatherings. You’ll love the Whipped Key Lime Curd Tarts for special occasions, and the Chocolate Covered Key Lime Cheesecake Bites is a perfect twist on a classic – they look fancy, but are super easy to make. If you enjoy the combination of key lime and coconut, then you will also love this Coconut Lime Cake recipe.
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J
These sound like a yummy tropical bar Barb! Thanks for sharing and have a great week!
Barbara Schieving
Thanks! I hope you’ll give them a try 🙂
Carol
Oh those look good. I don;t know as I’ve ever seen key limes here-I’ll have to keep an eye out.
Barbara Schieving
If you can’t find them, I almost like the lime and lemon combo better if you can’t find them. Thanks Carol!