Margarita bars are a delicious version of ooey gooey butter cake bars. They are made with a cake mix crust, lime cream cheese filling (that includes tequila) and topped with a lime glaze.
Lime Bars
Imagine sinking your teeth into a Margarita Bar, and instantly being transported to a sunny beach with your toes in the sand. They’re a heavenly blend of tangy lime, a hint of tequila, and a buttery crust that’s downright addictive. Very similar to our gooey butter cake, but with lime and tequila. Whether you’re planning a summer party or simply treating yourself, these Margarita Bars are a must-try. Plus, they’re a cinch to make!
We love making lime desserts including Strawberry Lime Cake, Easy Key Lime Pie, Key Lime Pie Cookies and Key Lime Bundt Cake to just name a few.
What You’ll Need
- Crust: The crust is a mixture of a Yellow Cake Mix Box, melted butter, an egg, and lime zest.
- Filling: The creamy filling is made with cream cheese, powdered sugar, eggs, tequila, margarita mix, vanilla extract and lime zest.
- Garnish: Top with Powdered Sugar, Lime Zest, and Margarita Salt.
How to Make Margarita Bars
Make the crust: Combine all the crust ingredients together in a stand mixer until it forms a ball. Press it into the bottom of a baking pan and set it aside.
Create the Filling: Combine the filling ingredients together using an electric mixer until it is smooth and creamy. Pour over the crust and bake until light golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool for 1 hour.
Garnish with powdered sugar, margarita salt and lime zest.
Does the Alcohol Bake Out?
While some of the alcohol will evaporate during baking, it’s important to note that a significant portion can still remain. The amount of tequila in the Margarita Bars recipe (3 ounces) may result in a small residual alcohol content.
If you want to make Margarita Bars that are kid-friendly, you can simply omit the tequila or replace it with a non-alcoholic alternative, like lime juice or orange juice. The bars will still have a delightful lime flavor without the alcohol content.
Tips, Tricks and Variations
- Zest it up: To intensify the lime flavor, don’t forget to zest the limes before juicing them. The zest adds a fragrant and vibrant citrus note to the bars.
- Tequila infusion: If you want to give your bars a boozy kick, consider infusing the tequila with lime zest or even a touch of jalapeno for a spicy twist. Let the tequila sit for a few hours or overnight before using it in the recipe.
- Salted crust: For a fun twist, sprinkle a pinch of salt on top of the buttery cake mix crust before baking. It adds a savory element that beautifully complements the sweetness of the bars.
- Garnish galore: Take your Margarita Bars to the next level by adding a variety of creative garnishes. You can top them with whipped cream, lime slices, shredded coconut, or even a drizzle of melted white chocolate for an indulgent touch.
- Ice-cold serving: For an extra refreshing experience, chill your Margarita Bars in the refrigerator before serving. The coolness enhances the flavors and makes them even more enjoyable on a hot day.
- Swap the crust: If you prefer a different texture, you can switch up the crust by using crushed graham crackers, shortbread cookies, or even pretzels for a salty-sweet twist. Just make sure to adjust the butter.
More Margarita Desserts
- Margarita Cake
- Strawberry Margarita Pie
- Frozen Margaritas Pie (No-Bake)
- Margarita Truffles
- Strawberry Margarita Cake with Tequila Frosting
Margarita Bars
Ingredients
Crust:
- 1 box Yellow Cake Mix
- ½ cup unsalted Butter Melted
- 1 Egg Room Temperature
- 2 tsp. Lime Zest 1 whole lime
Filling:
- 1 8 oz Cream Cheese Softened
- 2 ½ cup Powdered Sugar
- 2 Eggs Room Temperature
- 3 oz Tequila
- 2 oz Margarita Mix
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 2 tsp Lime Zest
Garnish:
- ¼ cup Powdered Sugar
- 2 tsp Lime Zest
- 2 tsp Margarita Salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Line an 9×2 baking dish with parchment paper.
- Spray the baking dish with non-stick baking spray first, lay the parchment paper on top and spray the baking dish again on top of the parchment paper.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer add all of your ingredients for the crust.
- Mix on medium to high until combined.
- The crust batter will form a ball.
- Place the crust batter into the baking dish and press the mixture into the bottom. Set to the side.
- In a medium sized mixing bowl add the filling ingredients and mix with an electric mixer until fully combined.
- The mix should be smooth and creamy.
- Pour the filling over the crust in the baking dish.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes or until the edges turn a light golden brown.
- Remove the margarita bars from the oven and set to the side too cool for 1 hour.
- Garnish the top with powdered sugar, margarita salt, and more lime zest.
Last Step:
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