These no bake key lime bars are the perfect summer treat! All you need is 5 ingredients, and 5 minutes of prep time and you'll be enjoying these lower sugar, higher protein treats.
In the summer I'm always looking for new no bake sweet treat recipes to have stored in the freezer for when a sweet craving hits. With the heatwave we've been having this summer no bake treats have become even more important to have stored. Who wants to turn on the oven when its 30 degrees Celsius outside? NOT ME. Which is why these no bake key lime bars are perfect! They're the perfect sweet treat that not only taste amazing but they're also higher in protein and lower in sugar than your average key lime bar!
Why add yogurt to jello?
When I first saw Maddi Bazzocco making jello with yogurt on TikTok my mind was blown. Not only is it the perfect way to get in some added protein and nutrition from an otherwise tasty treat, protein jello is also a great way make your jello more creamy and satisfying.
As a Dietitian I love finding ways to add in extra nutrition wherever possible, without sacrificing taste or satisfaction. Which is why I love this jello hack! By substituting some of the hot water you would normally use to make your jello with smooth cottage cheese or Greek yogurt you get a tasty, higher protein treat or a more satisfying snack!
How do I make these no bake key lime bars?
Making this sugar free jello Greek yogurt recipe is actually super simple. All you need to do is combine one package of sugar free jello of your choice with 1 cup of boiling water and 1 cup of Greek yogurt. That's it!
It's crazy how simple it is but I swear it tastes amazing (I even like it better than regular jello).
To make your protein jello into no bake bars, make a graham cracker crust by combining graham cracker crumbs with some melted butter and sugar (optional). Mix that together until the butter is fully combined and the mixture is able to stick together when pressed into a pan.
Press your crust into a 8x8 square baking pan, pour your jello liquid mixture over top and allow to set in the fridge for at least 3 hours or overnight.
Slice into squares, top with whipped cream and enjoy your perfect summer treat!
How do I store these no bake key lime bars?
The best part about these no bake key lime bars is that you can store them in fridge or the freezer, giving you two treats from one recipe!
If you store these in the fridge, the jello will remain the typical "jello" texture. This means that they will stay jiggly! This is a great option if you are having people over and want to serve your jello bars within the next few hours.
If you store these no bake protein jello bars in the freezer, the gelatin will slightly harden so the jiggly texture will be lost but the same great taste will remain. As gelatin does not fully freeze, the texture becomes more of a frozen yogurt bar which I personally love. They aren't too hard that you'll break your teeth if you bite into them but they are the perfect refreshing treat to bite into on a hot day. I'd recommend storing in the freezer if you are planning to store for greater than 2 days.
What ingredients do I need for these jello key lime bars?
Sugar free jello- The jello becomes the base of these no bake key lime bars! I chose to use sugar free jello to help reduce some of the added sugar in these and make sugar free jello greek yogurt bars however both original jello and sugar free jello will both work. As I wanted to make these lime bars I used lime jello but any flavour will work- get creative!
Boiling water- To make your key lime layer you will need one cup of boiling water! This helps activate the gelatin in the jello mixture to allow it to stiffen up, creating these deliciously refreshing jello bars!
Greek yogurt- The secret ingredient to these protein jello bars! Once again I chose to use plain 2% fat Greek yogurt to reduce added sugars, and I also personally don't think these needed any additional sweetness or flavour. However any Greek yogurt will work if you want to get creative! Oikos has key lime pie Greek yogurt that would taste amazing in these bars!
Graham cracker crumbs- For your crust! To make things easier I like to buy my graham cracker crumbs pre crumbled. However you can also make your own by adding graham crackers to a food processor or high-powered blender and pulsing until you reach a smooth consistency!
Sugar- Completely optional! I like adding one teaspoon of sugar to my graham cracker crusts for a little extra sweetness but you can also leave it out if you think the graham crackers are sweet enough!
Butter- To help moisten your graham cracker crumbs and create the most delicious crust. Any butter, or vegan butter substitute will work here!
What are other no bake treats I can try?
Summer is the perfect time to try out all the no bake recipes! Some of my personal favourite no bake recipes are:
PS. I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make these no bake key lime bars don't forget to tag me on Instagram- @nourishedbynic or leave a comment below!
📖 Recipe
No Bake Key Lime Bars
Ingredients
- 1 package sugar free lime jello
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1.5 cups graham cracker crumbs
- ¼ cup melted butter
- 1 teaspoon sugar optional
Instructions
- To make your crust, line a 8x8 square baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal of your bars. In a medium bowl, add graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and sugar (if using). Mix together until crumbs are moistened but still crumbly. Press the crumbs into your baking pan. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together jello powder and boiling water. Whisk in your Greek yogurt until smooth. Pour liquid mixture over the graham cracker crust. Allow Jello to set in fridge for at least 3 hours (preferably overnight).
- Once jello has set, slice into squares and store in the fridge or freezer (see above for recommendations). Serve with a dollop of whipped cream.
Leave a Reply