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Margarita Bars Recipe

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4.3 from 51 reviews

  • Author: Amelia
  • Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
  • Yield: 16 bars
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

Margarita Bars are bright, creamy, and refreshing dessert bars inspired by the classic margarita cocktail. Featuring a buttery graham cracker crust, a smooth lime and orange-infused filling, and a dusting of powdered sugar, these bars deliver the perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors in every bite. Ideal for summer gatherings or as a zesty treat, they’re simple to make and irresistibly delicious.

Ingredients

For the Crust:

  • 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

For the Filling:

  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • ½ cup fresh lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon lime zest
  • 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

For Topping:

  • Powdered sugar, for dusting
  • Lime slices or zest, optional
  • Flaky sea salt, optional

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper to ensure easy removal and clean edges for your bars.
  2. Make Crust Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, granulated sugar, melted unsalted butter, and salt. Stir until the mixture is well combined and resembles wet sand.
  3. Press Crust into Pan: Firmly press the crust mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form a compact base.
  4. Bake the Crust: Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 8–10 minutes or until it’s lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly while preparing the filling.
  5. Whisk the Filling Base: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and granulated sugar until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
  6. Add Citrus Ingredients: Stir in the fresh lime juice, lime zest, fresh orange juice, and orange zest to the egg mixture, blending well to combine all the bright citrus flavors.
  7. Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Whisk in the all-purpose flour and salt until just combined, being careful not to overmix to keep a smooth filling texture.
  8. Pour Filling over Crust: Pour the prepared filling evenly over the warm baked crust in the pan, spreading gently if needed.
  9. Bake the Bars: Return the pan to the oven and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the filling is set and only slightly jiggles in the center when gently shaken.
  10. Cool and Chill: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan at room temperature. Then refrigerate for at least 2 hours to let the filling firm up fully for clean slicing.
  11. Garnish and Serve: Before slicing, dust the tops with powdered sugar and optionally garnish with lime zest, lime slices, or a slight sprinkle of flaky sea salt to enhance the flavors. Cut into 16 bars and serve chilled.

Notes

  • Use freshly squeezed lime juice for the brightest, most authentic flavor in the filling.
  • Avoid overbaking the bars; the filling will continue to set as it cools, resulting in a perfectly creamy texture.
  • For a more intense margarita flavor, consider adding a bit more lime zest to the filling.
  • Keep the bars refrigerated until you’re ready to serve to maintain their freshness and texture.
  • For neat, clean slices, use a sharp knife and wipe the blade between each cut to prevent sticking.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Dessert, Bars
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://justsosweet.com/margarita-bars-recipe/