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.
Mama's Gotta Bake
Well I am muttering, "crazy mom", but that's exactly what I would do too. People roll their eyes at me all the time. I bet your kid loves you a lot!
themondaybox
Thanks, Sheryl. 🙂 Let them roll their eyes. Our boys talk to us. That's more than worth any crazy mom efforts! Its a gift I am so grateful for!
Vicky
Oh my these look decadent! I have had lemon bars before, but never lemon lime. Yummers!
themondaybox
Thanks, Vicky! I love lime so much that I almost made these into lime bars! Next time. 🙂 This time the lemon-lime combo was pretty and delicious!
enchantedhomeschoolingmomj
These sounds really yummy and should taste just as good too!
themondaybox
Thanks, Jill! Chewy citrus bar taste like sunshine to me! 🙂
Heather @ Sugar Dish Me
Awww you are a GREAT Crazy Mom!!! And these bars are awesome! I've never seen bars like this! Love all the color & lemon lime happy going on here. Enjoy your stay in Chicago!
themondaybox
Thanks, Heather! Who would have thought that being crazy is such hard work?! 🙂 These bars are awesome because they not only taste great but stay that way for up to 2 weeks! Great care package bars year round. 🙂
Cassie @ 3Dinosaurs.com
Those look so yummy.
themondaybox
Thanks, Cassie! They are soft and chewy and full of lemon-lime flavor!
Maureen
Lemon AND Lime! Yes please!!! And they look so pretty too 🙂
themondaybox
Thanks, Maureen! I love the zipppy flavor of citrus! The more the better! 🙂 Playing with colored sugar is so much fun. The colorful sparkle is like cookie bling. 🙂
Micha
Oh yum. I love lemon desserts and am beginning to like lime more than I used to. These look fabulous.
themondaybox
Thanks, Micha! I made these bars with lemon only (https://themondaybox.com/2013/05/17/chewy-white-chocolate-lemon-bars/) and loved them! Lime, a favorite of mine, gave the original recipe a extra flavor twist!
Monica
You are such a good sport and terrific mom! I don't think I have it in me to do the things you're doing. Your son will be done with college before you know it! I don't know where time goes. June is indeed turning out to be crazy busy. I'm glad we all find time to play in the kitchen and I'm happy just looking at your festive lemon-lime bars. 🙂
themondaybox
Thanks, Monica! As moms we just do what we can to be there for our kids to the best of our ability. We constantly do things we didn't think we had it in us to do! 🙂 ( For me, that started on day 1. I definitely didn't think I had it in me to give birth! Somehow, I did it twice! Talk about crazy!) I find that the older I get, the faster time goes. Rather scary really. I have no idea how my son can be a senior in college already! I too am glad we all find time to play in the kitchen and share the fun with the blogging community!
saltandserenity
You are an outstanding mom! I love this story. My oldest son also asks for very little, so when I can do something for him, I am also thrilled to help out.
The white chocolate chips caramelized in the oven and you created your own blonde chocolate.
(Do you know about Valrhona Dulcey?)
These bars sound so delicious. I love the combo of lemon and white chocolate, but never considered adding lime as well.
Safe travels for all!
themondaybox
Thanks, Cindy! I don't think I have achieved outstanding mom status....but I try to be there for my kids. This motherhood stuff is hard work! 🙂 I read about caramelized white chocolate on the David Lebowitz site ( http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2009/06/caramelized-white-chocolate/) and followed direction to make some. Then I used it to make caramelized white chocolate biscotti. Oh MY! Truly nectar of the Gods. Thank you so much for the valrhona link!! I didn't know that Valrhona made caramelized white chocolate feves. I am definitely going to search out some Valrhona Dulcey. Plus I was awed by the video on the bottom of the page you linked, a pastry chef making his chocolate version of banana cream pie. A pastry artist and chocolate magician. 🙂
Ashley
You are one awesome mom! And you definitely need snacks for all that driving - these bars sound amazing. I made lemon lime cookies a year or so ago and lovedddd them. I need to make these now - love the addition of the white chocolate!
themondaybox
Thanks, Ashley! I usually feel a lot crazier than awesome. 🙂 One half of the traveling is complete. Now the return trip for the guys from Bonnaroo and my return to Chicago. Lemon-lime cookies sound delicious! Did you blog about them? If so, please reply with the link. If not, please do!! 🙂
shannon
these bars are so cheery! And congrats to your son for getting through yet another year of college: good for him! You know, i just talked to my sister yesterday, and she's getting ready to head to bonnaroo as well, and it looks like the weather may turn out NOT swelteringly hot like it normally is. yay! 🙂 hope everyone has a safe drive and a great time.
themondaybox
Thanks, Shannon! I honestly can not believe that my son will be a senior! Hang on to the Wee One in a giant hug. The world is spinning fast and time is flying by! Next time you are at World Market DEFINITELY pick up a bag of the Guittard white chocolate chips. They are crazy good right from the bag and they caramelize when you bake them! I know you will create something amazing (probably including an esoteric spice in the recipe 🙂 ) Bonnaroo fans somehow have a marvelous time in all kinds of weather. How novel for the weather to actually cooperate!
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert
You are a wonderful mom! I used to live in Chattanooga and we avoided driving north under all circumstances when Bonnaroo was going on - total gridlock on the freeway! Hope your son has a wonderful time - I know he will enjoy these lemon-lime bars from his crazy mom!
themondaybox
Thanks, Tricia! Crazy Mom here, typing this from the train station in Chicago. 🙂 the guys drive 10 hours from Chicago, then sit in a grid lock (as you mention) traffic entrance line for another 2-3 hours! Honestly, I can't even remember being young enough to enjoy that! But they do have an awesome, memory-making time. 🙂
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain
What cute lemon lime bars, Wendy! I love all the colors - so bright for summer. And I can never say no to citrusy-goodness. 😀
themondaybox
Thanks, Jess! Citrus just tastes like summer, doesn't it?!
Elizabeth @ SugarHero.com
I don't know if you're a crazy mom, but you're definitely the world's nicest mom! I hope you tell your son how lucky he is multiple times a day. 🙂 These bars look great, too!
themondaybox
Thanks, Elizabeth! I find that, for me, there is a very fine line between "nice" and "crazy"! 🙂 My son almost never asks for any help or for any material things. So on the rare occasion that I can offer assistance, I try my best to do so. 🙂 I may not sleep or breathe while he is on his adventures, but that is a whole other kind of crazy! Stress eating a pan of lemon-lime bars is likely.
tli74
OHH my gosh my mouth is watering just looking at them. I am gonna try these soon
themondaybox
Thanks! The photos don't do these bars justice. They are chewy, and sweet, and full of lemon-lime flavor. The added burst of vanilla is so good! I hope you enjoy them as much as we do! 🙂