Tropical Key Lime Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This amazing #dessert is a perfect summer treat for Back-to-School bashes, family reunions or Labor Day parties. #cookie #keylime

Tropical Key Lime Bars

Teresa Ambra

These Tropical Key Lime Bars are fantastic! I LOVED these delicious goodies when I made them last week. And, they’re not overly difficult either. The original recipe on the back of the Pillsbury Key Lime Cookie Mix box actually makes these as cookies and after looking through the directions I decided to make them similarly but my own version.

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As per the recipe I added dried mango, pineapple, coconut and almonds to the cookie mix (along with an egg, water and butter), but I made them into bars instead of cookies.

Then I iced the cookies with the key lime frosting and added the toasted coconut  on top. The original recipe dilutes the frosting and has you dip the cookies into the frosting and then dip the cookie into the toasted coconut. I really like the way these Tropical Key Lime Bars turned out–and their taste?? Superb!

Back before Christmas I saw boxes of Key Lime Cookie (not cake) mix on the shelves in our local grocery store and I looked at the back of the box to see what kind of recipes they featured. I really liked the ingredients list and decided to make a batch or two of these. I intended to make something before Christmas but just never got around to it.

I actually made two batches of these amazing bars. One with Key Lime Cookie Mix and one with Key Lime Cake Mix. In the cake mix version I added green food coloring and a tablespoon of key lime juice. The overall taste was similar but the consistency was more cake like.

I really liked these bars with the Key Lime Cookie Mix the best. The texture of the bars was wonderful and the taste was astounding. Oh my!

Tropical Key Lime Bars are rich, decadent, full of really sweet frosting and have such a neat texture with all the dried fruits and nuts inside. If you’re looking for a sensational cookie bar recipe and you enjoy the flavors of key lime, pineapple, mango, coconut and almonds you will LOVE this fantastic and easy-to-make dessert bar. Go ahead, give it a try for your next tailgating party.

Tropical Key Lime Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This amazing #dessert is a perfect summer treat for Back-to-School bashes, family reunions or Labor Day parties. #cookie #keylime

Tropical Key Lime Bars are sensational.

Tropical Key Lime Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This amazing #dessert is a perfect summer treat for Back-to-School bashes, family reunions or Labor Day parties. #cookie #keylime

I love the dried mango and pineapple in this bar. The dried fruits make this bar something special. The coconut and almonds add nice crunch to the recipe.

Tropical Key Lime Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This amazing #dessert is a perfect summer treat for Back-to-School bashes, family reunions or Labor Day parties. #cookie #keylime

Tropical Key Lime Bars are great for parties, tailgating and holiday baking.

Here’s what I did.

Tropical Key Lime Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This amazing #dessert is a perfect summer treat for Back-to-School bashes, family reunions or Labor Day parties. #cookie #keylime

These are the ingredients I used.

Tropical Key Lime Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This amazing #dessert is a perfect summer treat for Back-to-School bashes, family reunions or Labor Day parties. #cookie #keylime

Place key lime cookie mix in a large mixing bowl. Add softened butter, water, and egg.

Tropical Key Lime Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This amazing #dessert is a perfect summer treat for Back-to-School bashes, family reunions or Labor Day parties. #cookie #keylime

Now add diced dried mango, diced dried pineapple, coconut and almonds.

Tropical Key Lime Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This amazing #dessert is a perfect summer treat for Back-to-School bashes, family reunions or Labor Day parties. #cookie #keylime

Stir ingredients to combine.

Tropical Key Lime Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This amazing #dessert is a perfect summer treat for Back-to-School bashes, family reunions or Labor Day parties. #cookie #keylime

Spray a 9×13″ glass baking dish with cooking spray. Add cookie mix and press down into the pan to smooth. Bake at 350 about 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Tropical Key Lime Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This amazing #dessert is a perfect summer treat for Back-to-School bashes, family reunions or Labor Day parties. #cookie #keylime

While key lime bars are baking prepare coconut for topping. Place coconut on a microwavable plate and microwave about 30 seconds. Fluff coconut with a fork and microwave 30 seconds more. Fluff again. Microwave another 10-15 minutes and fluff again until coconut is toasted. Set aside.

Tropical Key Lime Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This amazing #dessert is a perfect summer treat for Back-to-School bashes, family reunions or Labor Day parties. #cookie #keylime

Here the bars have baked. Cool completely before applying icing.

Tropical Key Lime Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This amazing #dessert is a perfect summer treat for Back-to-School bashes, family reunions or Labor Day parties. #cookie #keylime

Spread a can of key lime frosting over top of the cooled bars.

Tropical Key Lime Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This amazing #dessert is a perfect summer treat for Back-to-School bashes, family reunions or Labor Day parties. #cookie #keylime

Now sprinkle toasted coconut over top of the key lime frosting and pat the coconut lightly into the frosting with your hands to enable the coconut to adhere to the frosting. Cut into bars to serve.

Tropical Key Lime Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This amazing #dessert is a perfect summer treat for Back-to-School bashes, family reunions or Labor Day parties. #cookie #keylime

These luscious bars are heavenly.

Tropical Key Lime Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This amazing #dessert is a perfect summer treat for Back-to-School bashes, family reunions or Labor Day parties. #cookie #keylime

The scrumptious key lime frosting just doubles the pleasure of this Tropical Key Lime Bar.

Tropical Key Lime Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This amazing #dessert is a perfect summer treat for Back-to-School bashes, family reunions or Labor Day parties. #cookie #keylime

Your family will love Tropical Key Lime Bars–especially if you love tropical flavors and fruits like pineapple and mango. 

Tropical Key Lime Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This amazing #dessert is a perfect summer treat for Back-to-School bashes, family reunions or Labor Day parties. #cookie #keylime

Tropical Key Lime Bars are easy because they begin with a boxed cookie mix and the icing begins with a can!

Here’s the recipe.

TROPICAL KEY LIME BARS

(Recipe adapted from Pillsbury and the back of the Key Lime Cookie Mix box)

Tropical Key Lime Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This amazing #dessert is a perfect summer treat for Back-to-School bashes, family reunions or Labor Day parties. #cookie #keylime

Tropical Key Lime Bars

Teresa Ambra
Tropical Key Lime Bars are sensational. These luscious Key Lime Bars are so rich and decadent they will rock your world! The ingredients include a Key Lime cookie mix, dried mango, pineapple, almonds and coconut. Then the bar-type cookies are frosted with Key Lime buttercream frosting and garnished with toasted coconut. You'll be swooning over every bite.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Cookies, Brownies and Bars, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24
Calories 259 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 9x13" glass baking dish
  • 2 mixing bowls
  • 1 electric mixer
  • 2 wooden spoons
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 spatula

Ingredients
  

TROPICAL KEY LIME BARS:

  • 17.5 oz. pkg. Pillsbury Key Lime Flavored Cookie Mix
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/3 to 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup dried mango or papaya, diced
  • 1/2 cup dried pineapple diced
  • 1 cups coconut
  • 1/2 cup almonds sliced

KEY LIME COCONUT ICING:

  • 16 oz. can Pillsbury Creamy Supreme Key Lime Frosting
  • 1/2 cup coconut toasted

Instructions
 

TROPICAL KEY LIME BARS:

  • Mix cookie mix, butter, egg and water with a whisk or electric blender just until contents are moistened.
  • Add mango, pineapple, 1 cup coconut and almonds and stir with wooden spoon until combined.
  • Spray a 9x13” glass baking dish with cooking spray.
  • Spread cookie mix into prepared pan.
  • Bake at 350° for about 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
  • Cool bars completely before frosting with Key Lime Frosting.

KEY LIME COCONUT ICING:

  • Place ½ cup coconut on a microwavable-safe plate and microwave on high for 30 seconds.
  • Fluff coconut with fork.
  • Microwave another 30 seconds and fluff coconut again.
  • Microwave another 10-15 seconds, if necessary, to get coconut toasted.
  • Set aside.
  • Spread frosting over top of cooled bars.
  • Sprinkle toasted coconut over top.
  • Press coconut lightly into icing with your hands so it adheres to the icing.
  • Allow to set about 15 minutes before cutting into bars.

Notes

Recipe adapted from the back of a Pillsbury Cookie Mix.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 259kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 2gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 99mgPotassium: 50mgFiber: 1gSugar: 27gVitamin A: 648IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 1mg
Keyword brownie, cookie, dessert, key lime pie
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

[b]Tropical Key Lime Bars[/b]
Recipe Type: Cookies, Brownies and Bars
Cuisine: American
Author: Teresa Ambra adapted from [url href=”http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes” target=”_blank” title=”pillsbury”]Pillsbury[/url] and the back of the Key Lime Cookie Mix box
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 24
Luscious key lime bar using key lime cookie mix, dried mango and pineapple, almonds and coconut and then frosting with key lime buttercream frosting and garnished with toasted coconut.
Ingredients
  • 1 17.5-oz. pkg. Pillsbury Key Lime Flavored Cookie Mix
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/3 to ½ cup water
  • ½ cup diced dried mango or papaya
  • ½ cup diced, dried pineapple
  • 1 ½ cups coconut, divided use
  • ½ cup sliced almonds
  • 16-oz. can Pillsbury Creamy Supreme Key Lime Flavored Frosting
Instructions
  1. Mix cookie mix, butter, egg and water with a whisk or electric blender just until contents are moistened.
  2. Add mango, pineapple, 1 cup coconut and almonds and stir with wooden spoon until combined.
  3. Spray a 9×13” glass baking dish with cooking spray.
  4. Spread cookie mix into prepared pan.
  5. Bake at 350° for about 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
  6. Cool bars completely before frosting with Key Lime Frosting.
Notes
If you are unable to find the Key Lime Flavored Cookie Mix and can only find the cake mix instead, add 1 tbsp. key lime juice and 6-9 drops of green food coloring to batter. Bake as directed above. I tried both, but I personally preferred the bars made with cookie mix over those made with cake mix as they had a more cookie-type consistency instead of a cake-type consistency.

 

[b]Key Lime Coconut Icing[/b]
Recipe Type: Cookies, Brownies and Bars
Cuisine: American
Author: Teresa Ambra adapted from [url href=”http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes” target=”_blank” title=”pillsbury”]Pillsbury[/url] from the back of the Key Lime Cookie Mix box
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 24
Luscious key lime bar using key lime cookie mix, dried mango and pineapple, almonds and coconut and then frosting with key lime buttercream frosting and garnished with toasted coconut.
Ingredients
  • 1 can Pillsbury Key Lime Frosting
  • 1/2 cup coconut
Instructions
  1. Place remaining ½ cup coconut on a microwavable-safe plate and microwave on high for 30 seconds.
  2. Fluff coconut with fork.
  3. Microwave another 30 seconds and fluff coconut again.
  4. Microwave another 10-15 seconds if necessary to get coconut toasted.
  5. Set aside.
  6. Spread frosting over top of cooled bars.
  7. Sprinkle toasted coconut over top.
  8. Press coconut lightly into icing with your hands so it adheres to the icing.
  9. Allow to set about 15 minutes before cutting into bars.
Tropical Key Lime Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This amazing #dessert is a perfect summer treat for Back-to-School bashes, family reunions or Labor Day parties. #cookie #keylime

If you’re looking for a great dessert to take to your next potluck consider taking a batch of Tropical Key Lime Bars. Each mouthful is sweet and rich.

Tropical Key Lime Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This amazing #dessert is a perfect summer treat for Back-to-School bashes, family reunions or Labor Day parties. #cookie #keylime

Don’t Tropical Key Lime Bars look marvelous?

Tropical Key Lime Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This amazing #dessert is a perfect summer treat for Back-to-School bashes, family reunions or Labor Day parties. #cookie #keylime

Time to eat and enjoy!

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Tropical Key Lime Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This amazing #dessert is a perfect summer treat for Back-to-School bashes, family reunions or Labor Day parties. #cookie #keylime

Tropical Key Lime Bars

Teresa Ambra
Tropical Key Lime Bars are sensational. These luscious Key Lime Bars are so rich and decadent they will rock your world! The ingredients include a Key Lime cookie mix, dried mango, pineapple, almonds and coconut. Then the bar-type cookies are frosted with Key Lime buttercream frosting and garnished with toasted coconut. You'll be swooning over every bite.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Cookies, Brownies and Bars, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24
Calories 259 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 9×13" glass baking dish
  • 2 mixing bowls
  • 1 electric mixer
  • 2 wooden spoons
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 spatula

Ingredients
  

TROPICAL KEY LIME BARS:

  • 17.5 oz. pkg. Pillsbury Key Lime Flavored Cookie Mix
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/3 to 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup dried mango or papaya, diced
  • 1/2 cup dried pineapple diced
  • 1 cups coconut
  • 1/2 cup almonds sliced

KEY LIME COCONUT ICING:

  • 16 oz. can Pillsbury Creamy Supreme Key Lime Frosting
  • 1/2 cup coconut toasted

Instructions
 

TROPICAL KEY LIME BARS:

  • Mix cookie mix, butter, egg and water with a whisk or electric blender just until contents are moistened.
  • Add mango, pineapple, 1 cup coconut and almonds and stir with wooden spoon until combined.
  • Spray a 9×13” glass baking dish with cooking spray.
  • Spread cookie mix into prepared pan.
  • Bake at 350° for about 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
  • Cool bars completely before frosting with Key Lime Frosting.

KEY LIME COCONUT ICING:

  • Place ½ cup coconut on a microwavable-safe plate and microwave on high for 30 seconds.
  • Fluff coconut with fork.
  • Microwave another 30 seconds and fluff coconut again.
  • Microwave another 10-15 seconds, if necessary, to get coconut toasted.
  • Set aside.
  • Spread frosting over top of cooled bars.
  • Sprinkle toasted coconut over top.
  • Press coconut lightly into icing with your hands so it adheres to the icing.
  • Allow to set about 15 minutes before cutting into bars.

Notes

Recipe adapted from the back of a Pillsbury Cookie Mix.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 259kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 2gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 99mgPotassium: 50mgFiber: 1gSugar: 27gVitamin A: 648IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 1mg
Keyword brownie, cookie, dessert, key lime pie
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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