Recipe for Coconut Lime Bars with Macadamia Nut Crust

Creating this Recipe for Coconut Lime Bars

These Coconut Lime Bars are so tasty! They have a Macadamia Nut Crust with a sweet and tangy filling that is topped off with a sprinkling of toasted coconut. Learn how easy it is to make this Lime Bar Recipe. It’s perfect for a summer dessert!

I love lemon bars, but this week I have several limes in my refrigerator that were just waiting to be used. This Coconut-Lime Bar recipe from Bon Appetit has been bookmarked under my favorites for a couple weeks.

In the mood for a little adaptation, I subbed out part of the lime juice for kiwi puree and the hazelnuts for macadamias, which I already had and love.

What a fun afternoon with the neighbor kids playing in our backyard with Logan. All of the kids adored these Coconut Lime Bars.

Logan’s friends love when they’re over playing and I’m making something tasty. Is that going on your website, Miss Katie? Yup! Can we try some? Of course!

What I Love About this Lime Bar Recipe

This recipe is absolutely delicious. Here are a few things I love about these Coconut Lime Bars

• A fun, unique take on the traditional lemon bar recipe.
• The Coconut Lime Bars are sweet, but tangy. Complex, yet somehow simple and perfectly delightful.
• I am a big fan of coconut and lime together, so of course I Iove that flavor combo! It is like a tropical summer in a bar.
• They’re pretty easy to make!

Ingredients for Coconut Lime Bars

You’ll need the following ingredients to prepare this recipe for coconut lime bars. Don’t have some of the ingredients? Check in the section below for my ingredient substitution recommendations.

• Macadamia Nuts
• Granulated Sugar
• All Purpose Flour
• Salt
• Unsalted Butter
• Eggs
• Lime Juice
• Lime Zest
• Kiwi
• Shredded Coconut

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

Recipe Substitutions

If you are allergic to Macadamia Nuts, you could easily substitute another nut in this Coconut Lime Bar Recipe. I would recommend almonds are probably the best choice as they are mild in flavor and wont alter the taste of the recipe too much.

Lemon Juice could be substituted for lime juice, but I think the lime tastes better. Bottled lime juice can be used in place of fresh lime juice if necessary.

If you need this recipe for Coconut Lime Bars to be dairy-free, you could substitute coconut oil for the butter. However, I would make sure that the coconut oil is chilled first rather than melted or room temperature so the texture is closer to cold butter.

How to Make Coconut Lime Bars with Macadamia Nut Crust

Preparing these Coconut Lime Bars is pretty simple and straightforward. The only specialty tool you will need is something to puree the kiwi, such as a blender, food processor, or food mill.

• First, you will preheat the oven and prepare your pan.
• Next, you’ll prepare the crust ingredients by pulsing the dry ingredients and nuts together in a food processor until the nuts are ground. Then, you’ll add the butter and cut the butter into the flour. If you don’t have a food processor, you can hand chop the nuts with a knife, but make sure they are very finely chopped. You don’t want chunks in the crust.
• After the crust ingredients are prepared, press them into the prepared pan and bake.
• Then, while the crust bakes, prepare the filling ingredients. You will need a blender or a food processor to puree the kiwi for the coconut kiwi lime filling.
• After the crust bakes, pour the filling on top and continue baking until partially set. Then, add the coconut and bake until the filling is fully set.
• Last, you will need to chill the Coconut Lime Bars completely before cutting.

The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

How to Store Coconut Lime Bars

These bars are best stored in the refrigerator in and airtight container.

I prefer to chill them in the pan first, then remove them from the pan by lifting the edges of the parchment paper. After removing them from the pan, I then cut the bars into evenly sized squares for serving.

Leftovers are then transferred into a container with a lid and stored in the refrigerator. They’ll be good for about 3 days.

Tips for Making these Lime Bars

• For easy removal from the pan, make sure to line the pan with parchment paper.
• A microplane is a great way to remove the zest from the limes and does so without removing the bitter pith the way a traditional grater would. Check out the many uses of a microplane!
• If you’re having a hard time getting enough juice from your limes, try my tips for squeezing the most juice from your limes.
• Prepare the filling while the crust bakes. You do not need to wait for the crust to cool before pouring the filling on top, so it is best to have it ready right away.
• Don’t skip the step of chilling the bars completely – they’ll set up faster that way and are much easier to cut for serving.
• If you prefer to toast the coconut ahead of time, you can check out my tutorial for How to Make Toast Coconut.

More Lime Dessert Recipes

Looking for more dessert ideas featuring limes? Here are a few of my favorites!

Homemade slushies like this recipe for a Cherry Limeade Slushie are perfect for summer and they’re super easy to make! Plus, I love that this slushie recipe is made with real fruit!

These No Bake Mango Lime Cheesecake Cups are an easy summertime dessert that provide a fun new take on cheesecake! Perfect for picnics and BBQs!

Thanks to its bright, fruity flavors, Coconut Lime Banana Bread is perfect for spring baking. You’ll love its tropical flavor.

Coconut Chia Pudding Parfaits with Tropical Fruit Turmeric Puree are a delicious breakfast treat or afternoon snack featuring coconut milk chia pudding layered with blended tropical fruits.

Don’t see what you’re looking for here? You can always head over to check out the recipe index to look for more recipes.

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