These Mint & Lime Mojito Bars are tangy and earthy and gooey and crunchy and so freakin' awesome. If you love sipping a mojito, you won't be able to get enough of this sweet treat.
Some witches will tell you that green is associated with abundance and prosperity because that's the color of money in America. I disagree. Not only is this interpretation a bit ethnocentric, but it also completely ignores what nature teaches. I think green is the color of prosperity because this is the color that surrounds us when the Earth is at her most abundant.
At the height of summer when nature is taking in the most energy from the sun, we are surrounded by green anywhere that things are allowed to grow. Even if you live in the dessert, it's hints of green you'll seek out to know that life is flourishing. So when I want to work some magick to bring more money into my life, I'm going green all the way. Like combining mint and lime in an incredible dessert.
What makes these Mint & Lime Mojito Bars so awesome?
This take on the classic lemon bar is inspired by an equally classic cocktail. With fresh mint worked into the crisp shortbread crust and a tangy lime curd balanced with lemon juice on top, these bars are a glorious pairing of both texture and flavor. And no, there's no booze involved. If you want to bring your own cocktails, I'm not trying to stop you.
These are perfect for a summer gathering. They do need to be kept chilled, so as long as you're not traveling too far, you could bring them to a picnic or offer them up at an outdoor summer potluck. I also think cutting these into 12 is perfect. 16 bars means you're likely to go back for another and possibly regret it. 12 is the sweet spot to fulfill your craving perfectly.
Magical Properties of Mint
While bright green limes definitely enhace the prosperity energy in this recipe, I'd love to focus on mint today. It's such a powerful magical herb. It has a long list of metaphysical properties, including concentration, passion, and communication. This herb is also tied the element of air and fire and ruled by Mercury and the Moon. I particularly love it in spells for resilience. Mint is known as a plant that will take over a garden. It's expansive energy is hard to restrain. So I call on this ingredient when I want to call in abundance that lasts. (Source: The Kitchen Witch's Guide to Healing & Self-Care by Maggie Haseman)
To learn more about the magical properties of the ingredients in this recipe, check the Kitchen Magick page.
Ingredients
Here's everything you'll need to make this dessert. The full details are in the recipe card below.
- Sugar
- Limes - You'll definitely want fresh limes for the zest, but you can also use bottled lime juice if you need a bit extra.
- Fresh mint
- Flour - all-purpose or plain flour
- Butter - unsalted is best
- Salt
- Eggs
- Lemon juice - fresh or bottled, whatever you got
Tips for making Mint & Lime Mojito Bars
These are pretty easy to make. You'll start with the crust. There is one important step that you don't want to skip because this is how we get that delicious mojito flavor infused throughout. Add your sugar, lime zest, and chopped fresh mint to a bowl, then rub the sugar with the zest and herbs. The sugar crystals will release the oils from the lime and mint and start to look like wet sand. This is where all the flavor comes from.
Then I use a rubber spatula to stir in the flour and butter into the crust until it starts to clump together. Then transfer the mixture to a lined 9X9-inch baking pan and press it firmly and evenly into the bottom. Bake this in the oven until it's golden and crisp.
While your crust is baking, you'll mix up the filling. Whisk together sugar, eggs, and a bit of flour until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is foamy. Then when the crust is finished baking, take it out of the oven. Whisk the lime and lemon juice into the egg mixture, then pour it over the crust and return the whole thing to the oven. Bake it until it's just a bit wobbly in the center. Cracks happen. Don't sweat it.
After your bars have cooled, chill them in the fridge. Then slice them into bars and dust them with powdered sugar before serving. Everyone will freak out at how awesome they are.
I can't wait for you to try these Mint & Lime Mojito Bars. You're gonna be hooked in no time.
Looking for more awesome lime desserts? Try this Chocolate Lime Pie or a Flourless Chocolate Lime Cake with Margarita Cream.
PrintMint & Lime Mojito Bars
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 40
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 12 pieces 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
For the crust:
- ¼ cup caster or granulated sugar
- Zest of 2 limes
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose or plain flour
- 4 ounces unsalted butter, softened
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
For the filling:
- 1 ½ cups granulated or caster sugar
- 4 eggs
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose or plain flour
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup lime juice
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1-2 tablespoons powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
For the crust:
- Preheat your oven to 350 F (175 C) and line a 9X9-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Leave some paper hanging over the edges to help you lift it out after baking.
- Add your sugar, lime zest, and chopped mint to a large mixing bowl. Use a rubber spatula or your clean hands to rub the sugar into the zest and herbs, releasing the oils. Keep mixing until the sugar looks damp. You should be able to smell mint and lime.
- Add your flour butter, and salt to the sugar mixture and mix with your hands or a rubber spatula until the butter is evenly distributed and it starts to clump together.
- Transfer the crust mixture to the baking pan and press the dough evenly into the pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until the edges turn golden brown.
For the filling:
- While the crust is baking, add your sugar, eggs, flour, and salt to a mixing bowl and whisk until the sugar dissolves and the mixture becomes pale. Measure out your lime and lemon juice, but don't add it to the egg mixture yet.
- Once the crust is baked, carefully remove it from the oven. Add the lime and lemon juice to the egg mixture and whisk to combine.
- Carefully pour the filling over the crust and return the whole thing to the oven. Bake for another 20 minutes or until the filling is slightly wobbly in the center.
- Cool on the counter to room temperature, then transfer to the fridge to chill for at least an hour. Overnight is ideal.
- Slice in 12 bars and dust with powdered sugar before serving.
- Store leftovers in the fridge in an air tight container.
Recipe slightly adapted from The Mindful Meringue.
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