Premier Key Lime Bars

Ingredients

• Crust:
• 1/2 butter, softened
• 1/2 sugar
• 1 teaspoon grated lime rind
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon lemon extract
• 1 flour
• 1/2 unsweetened coconut
• 1 macadamia nuts, chopped
• 1/2 Hershey’s Premier White Chips
• Topping:
• 6 ozs. Hershey’s Premier White Chips, melted
• Filling:
• 2/3 sugar
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 fresh key lime juice
• 3 eggs

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease 8-inch square baking dish. Place first five ingredients in medium bowl; beat with mixer at medium speed until creamy (about 2 minutes). Gradually add 1 cup flour to butter mixture, beating at low speed until mixture resembles course meal. Add nuts, white chips and coconut. Gently press two-thirds of mixture (about 1 1/3 cups) into bottom of 8-inch square baking pans; set remaining 2/3 cup flour mixture aside. Bake 12 minutes or until just beginning to brown. For filling, combine 2/3 cup sugar, 3 tablespoons flour, baking powder, and 1/8 teaspoon salt in medium bowl, stirring with whisk. Add lime juice and eggs, stirring with whisk until smooth. Pour mixture over crust. Bake 12 minutes. Remove pan from oven (do not turn oven off); sprinkle remaining 2/3 cup flour mixture evenly over egg mixture. Bake additional 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Remove from oven; cool in pan or wire rack. Melt white chips and drizzle over top in any pattern. Grate lime zest to garnish. Cut in desired shape and serve.
Jessica Buzzard
1st Place
West End Fair, Gilbert, PA