Key Lime Coconut Bars

May 11, 2018

You can use the baby key limes in this recipe or regular limes, which taste almost identical.

Ingredients

1 cup shredded sweetened coconut, plus more for garnish

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

½ cup powdered sugar

10 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut in small pieces

6 egg yolks

2 (14-ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk

4 teaspoons grated key lime or regular lime zest

1 cup key lime juice (about 2 pounds of key limes)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Spread the coconut on a rimmed baking sheet, and toast it until it is golden brown, about 6 to 8 minutes, tossing every 2 minutes to ensure even browning. Remove the pan from the oven, and transfer the coconut to a plate to cool.

3. In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, and 1 cup toasted coconut. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal. Press the mixture into a 9 x 13-inch pan, and bake until the crust is golden, about 15 to 20 minutes. Allow it to cool slightly.

4. Meanwhile, in a large bowl beat together the egg yolks and condensed milk with a whisk until thick. Gradually beat in the lime zest and juice.

5. Pour the egg and milk mixture onto the cooled crust, and bake the bars 8 to 10 minutes.

6. Let the bars cool completely, then chill them until you are ready to serve (at least 3 hours). Cut into bars and serve chilled. Before serving, sprinkle with toasted coconut and garnish with lime zest, if desired.

Reprinted with persmission from So Much To Celebrate: Entertaining the Ones You Love the Whole Year Through by Katie Jacobs, 2018, Thomoas Nelson. Find Katie at StylingMyEverday.com.