Lime juice and homemade condensed milk are the star ingredients in these tangy, sweet, and slightly salty pie bars. Condensed milk is very easy to prepare: just simmer milk and sugar on the stove, stirring frequently, until thick. It’s so much better than the canned variety! I paired the filling with a thin layer of brown sugar shortbread crust. The combination is scrumptious and addictive. This recipe yields a small batch; feel free to double or even triple the recipe.
Salted Lime Bars
Crust
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
1/3 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
Pinch of salt
Filling
2 cups whole milk
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
1/3 cup lime juice
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Prepare the condensed milk: In a medium saucepan, combine milk and sugar. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Let simmer for around 30-60 minutes, whisking frequently, until mixture reaches desired thickness. Remove from heat, and let cool. You will need 3/4 cup condensed milk for the filling. If you have any left over, store it in the fridge.
Prepare the crust: In a medium bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Stir in flour and salt until just combined. Grease or line a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper. (If scaling up the recipe, use a larger pan.) Press crust evenly into the bottom of the pan. Set aside.
Prepare the filling: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together condensed milk, vanilla (if using,) egg, lime juice, and salt.
Assemble and bake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour filling over prepared crust. Bake for around 20-25 minutes, or until filling is just set; both the filling and crust will continue to cook as they cool. Let cool completely, and then cut into squares. Serve immediately, or refrigerate in an airtight container.
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