Chewy, fruity Lemon Lime Bars are great travel companions for summer road trips or picnics. Long lasting freshness makes these sweet treats perfect for adding some citrus flavor to care packages too.
Why you'll love this recipe
- This flavorful bar is easy to make and ready to eat in under an hour.
- No mixer is needed.
- These bars don't require refrigeration, making them the ideal hot weather citrus bar for picnics and care packages.
- The soft, chewy texture stays fresh for more than one week.
Lemon Lime Bars are full of summery, citrus flavors and have a chewy, brownie texture you will love.
Ingredients
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.
- In a large bowl, combine the ingredients to form the batter.
- Place one cup of batter in a medium bowl and mix with lemon zest, lemon juice, and yellow food coloring.
- Spread the lemon batter in an even layer in a lined 9 inch x 9 inch baking pan.
- Mix the remaining batter with lime zest, lime juice, and green food coloring.
- Spread the lime batter evenly over the lemon layer.
- Bake until golden brown.
Storage
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 10 days.
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Tips
- For best results, use a microplane zester for fine grating that only removes the zest with none of the bitter, white pith below.
- Regular lemons and limes or meyer lemons and key limes can be used in this recipe.
- For shipping, wrap the bars without the powdered sugar topping. Include a small ziplock bag with powdered sugar in the care package (with instructions to sprinkle on the bars).
- For hot weather shipping (especially for the extreme heat encountered by military care packages), you can use lemon/lime extracts instead of fresh citrus juices and zest.
- To substitute with extracts, use one teaspoon of lemon extract (total) and one teaspoon of lime extract (total) instead of the zest and juice in this recipe.
- For longer shipping times, don't cut into individual bars. Double wrap (or vacuum seal) the entire slab to help keep the chewy texture as long as possible.
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Read more about heat safe ingredients for hot weather shipping and find an index of all of the desert safe recipes on The Monday Box.
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Lemon Lime Bars
Ingredients
Bars
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter flavor vegetable shortening
- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 drops yellow food coloring gel
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- 2 ½ teaspoons lime juice
- 2 drops green food coloring gel
Decorating
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9” x 9” pan with foil extending over the edges. Spray the foil with non-stick spray.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt.
- Place vegetable shortening in large microwave safe bowl and microwave about 1 minute until melted.
- Into the bowl of melted shortening add flour mixture, sugar, eggs and yolk, and vanilla. Mix with a large spoon until smooth.
- Remove 1 cup of batter and place in a medium bowl with lemon zest, lemon juice, and yellow food coloring. Mix until smooth.
- Spread the lemon batter into the prepared baking pan.
- To the remaining batter add lime zest, lime juice, and green food coloring. Mix until smooth.
- Gently spread the lime batter on top of the lemon batter.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until just golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
- When cool, remove from pan by lifting the overhanging foil liner.
- Cut into bars. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
- Store at room temperature in an airtight container or ziplock bag for up to 10 days.
Notes
- For hot weather shipping (especially for the extreme heat encountered by military care packages), you can substitute lemon/lime extracts.
- To substitute with extracts, use one teaspoon of lemon extract (total) and one teaspoon of lime extract (total) instead of the zest and juice in this recipe.
- Wrap the bars without decorating with powdered sugar. Include a small ziplock bag with powdered sugar in the care package (with instructions to sprinkle on the bars).
- Double wrap bars individually or in pairs in plastic wrap before placing in airtight containers or ziplock bags.
- For longer shipping times, don't cut into individual bars. Double wrap (or vacuum seal) the entire slab to help keep the chewy texture as long as possible.
Nutrition
First Published: June 9, 2014. Last Updated: May 24, 2024. Updated for additional information, improved photographs and better reader experience.
Jessica
These lemon lime bars were everything I hoped they would be. The flavor was perfect and everyone loved them.
Wendy Sondov
I'm delighted to hear that you enjoyed these chewy bars!
gottagetbaked
Why are you so amazing?!?!?! Ok, granted, my parents did a lot for me growing up, mainly in the area of working their asses off at their jobs to put food on the table and a roof over our heads. But in terms of spending the time and effort to drive six hours, bake me treats and then help me move?! No way. You are super woman! And these lemon lime bars are making my mouth water. I'm actually wiping drool off of my chin right now!
themondaybox
Nancy, you are beyond sweet! I am copy-pasting your comment to hand to my kids the next time they roll their eyes at the mom they have to put up with! 🙂 My guess is that the act of working your ass off to put food on the table and a roof over family heads, probably doesn't leave much time or energy for 6 hour road trips! My guess is that working your ass off for your family's welfare is the ultimate act of love and sacrifice. "Super Mom" behaviors come in many forms. 🙂 Do you love lime? Lime is my very favorite citrus (mojitos, anyone?) and I made sure that the lime flavor stood out in these bars. Drool less, bake more. 🙂
Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking
That is quite the elaborate plan just to give your son a car to drive to TN! The past several years, my brother, who is 2 years older than your son, went to Bonaroo and he loved it! Wonder if they saw each other...actually where did he go to school in STL? My brother and I went to John Burroughs.
No car trip would be complete without the required snacks! I love these bars! They sound delicious and perfect for car trip snacking...minimal crumbs and sticky fingers!
themondaybox
My son loves Bonarroo, Lindsey! This year was his third trip. The first year, he left from home so it was easy. Last year, I used this same plan to get my car to him and it worked out well. This year, it started off great as planned. I got the car (and snack food) to him and returned to St. Louis. Then, I broke my ankle! My husband had to come to the rescue and help with my son's summer move and drive the car home! I am giving him the Mr. Mom award! 🙂
Both my daughter (26) and my son went to Ladue. My son had a number of friends at Burroughs. 🙂
Winnie
Wowwww
These look really good 🙂
I soooo wish I could have a piece right now!
It's hard to get lime here but I'd definitely try
themondaybox
Thanks, Winnie! I had no idea that lime was hard to find in Israel! So much delicious citrus is grown there, that I just assumed lime was grown too! Lemon bars are good, but if you are a lime lover, like me, then lemon-lime is better! 🙂
BruCrew Life
You are such a great mom, I'm sure your son would agree! These bars sound SO good! I'd love to have them on a road trip! 🙂
themondaybox
Thanks, Jocelyn! Why do road trips make everyone so hungry?! These bars help. 🙂
zerringiverecipe
How lucky is your son! I agree with Reeni about getting the award of Mom of the year. These bars definitely look gorgeous! I imagine how they are packed with lime flavor and can't stop my mouth watering!
themondaybox
Thank you, Zerrin! You are very sweet! The lime flavor (my favorite)does shine in these bars and the creamy white chocolate flavor pairs so well with the citrus. They make my mouth water too! 🙂
Reeni
Aww I think that makes you Mom of the year! Not crazy mom. That's a lot of driving! Does Pax keep you company? Anywhoo these citrus infused bars sound wonderful! I'd make a double batch for road tripping.
themondaybox
Thanks, Reeni! Pax kept me company when I drove to Chicago in May. It was his first long car trip and he turned out to be a great traveler, he slept in the car. He behaved calmly (the biggest surprise) at the hotel, and he walked on urban sidewalks with minimal panic! 🙂 These really are great road trip bars, though Pax would prefer something peanut butter. 🙂
Kelly
Wow, you are such an incredible mom Wendy! Your son is so lucky to have you 🙂 These bars look fantastic! I love all citrus desserts and love how bright and colorful they are - perfect for summer:)
themondaybox
Thank you, Kelly! You are very sweet. 🙂 These are my favorite fruity-creamy bars. So many flavors would work with these but lime is a personal favorite!