When you say dessert, I almost always think, “chocolate!”. But there is something I really love about lime. It’s refreshing, it’s tart and sweet, it hits a lot of flavor notes and is so fabulous for summer. Every time I eat a lime dessert, I am reminded how much I enjoy them and that I really should make them more often! Today I’m going to share an easy recipe for “Key Lime” Cloud Squares that is very simple to make, but incredibly delicious and perfect to make or take to summer parties and get togethers.
This recipe comes from the folks at Kraft. It is a great balance of sweet with just that hint of tangy sour, it’s cool, creamy and has a graham cracker crust which adds a nice texture and provides a great contrast to the lime flavor.
The ingredients are really simple, but the result is a dessert that tastes like something really special.
To make your “Key Lime” Cloud Squares, you will start by pressing your graham cracker crumbs into the bottom of a 9-inch square pan that has been lined with plastic wrap or foil.
Next you will add boiling water to your JELL-O and stir well until dissolved, following with the addition of ice until the mixture thickens.
After that you will beat together PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, sweetened condensed milk and lime juice, which is then combined with the gelatin mixture and some COOL WHIP Whipped topping. Then into the fridge it goes to chill for a few hours.
When it’s time to serve, you simply top with the remaining COOL WHIP and garnish with some graham cracker crumbs.
I love that you can make this up to 24 hours in advance, and have it in the fridge, ready and waiting to be served. In the hot summer months I like to try and make things early in the morning or even late at night, and either option would work perfectly for this.
These “Key Lime” Cloud Squares are such a great dessert option for summer.
“Key Lime” Cloud Squares
Ingredients
- 1-1/3 cups graham cracker crumbs (divided)
- 1/4 cup butter (melted)
- 3/4 cup boiling water
- 1 pkg. (3 oz. JELL-O Lime Flavor Gelatin)
- 1 cup ice cubes
- 1 pkg. (8 oz. PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened)
- 1 can (14 oz. sweetened condensed milk)
- 3/4 cup lime juice
- 2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
Instructions
- RESERVE 1 Tbsp. graham crumbs. Mix remaining crumbs with butter; press onto bottom of plastic wrap-lined 9-inch square pan. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- ADD boiling water to gelatin mix in small bowl; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Add ice; stir 2 min. or until thickened. Remove any unmelted ice. Beat cream cheese in medium bowl until creamy. Gradually beat in milk, then lime juice. Add gelatin; mix well. Whisk in 1 cup COOL WHIP. Pour over crust.
- REFRIGERATE 6 hours or until firm. Cover with remaining COOL WHIP just before serving; sprinkle with reserved graham crumbs. Use plastic wrap handles to remove dessert from pan before cutting into squares.
Notes
Dessert can be refrigerated up to 24 hours before covering with COOL WHIP and sprinkling with reserved crumbs.
!Variation
Prepare using JELL-O Lemon Flavor Gelatin and lemon juice. Recipe provided by KRAFT
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Kraft via Mode Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Kraft.
Meet Christi, Love From The Oven
I’m Christi I love sharing easy & delicious recipes that your family & friends will love. I’m a mom, baker, cookbook author and lover of sprinkles.
This is one of my favorite go to desserts … I have made it with other flavors too … raspberry is awesome and cherry … I have added coconut to the cool whip … and nuts in the crust … you can mix and match !! Yummy .. thanks so much
I have doubled the recipe and made 9×13 and it comes out beautifully, make sure it’s really chilled before you cut. I’ve made this probably 25 times for work parties, holidays, and any get togethers. It’s always a HUGE hit and so many people will ask for the recipe. I’ve had people ask me to make it instead of a birthday cake.
This is our favorite of all favorites, made it many times and always a hit
Have made this several times, an absolute hit for sure
Love key lime…great refreshing dessert
I remember this from my youth…can’t wait to make it this coming weekend
Can I use bottled lime juice? If so, would I use the same amount?
These key lime ideas are GREAT! Am going to try a few.
I made the Key Lime Cloud Squares today and this evening we thoroughly enjoyed this refreshing dessert! The only thing I did differently is whip one cup of heavy (whipping) cream and it’s volume becomes a definite 2 cups. I mixed 1 cup with cream cheese mixture and saved the other cup for the topping. Thank you so much for this great recipe Christi!
Reminds me if my grammar school days and desserts our lunchroom ladies made. They made lime, lemon & strawberry flavors whic we called ‘SOAPSUDS’! Light & yummy. Great do ahead!
can I double this key lime recipe in a 9 x 13 pan?
Hi Carol, most likely, but I haven’t tried so I can’t speak to the results. If anything you might just want to give it a bit more time to set up, since it’s no bake, there’s really no worry about it not baking all the way through or anything like that. I’d just try and put in the fridge overnight prior to serving.