Key Lime Squares

Equally delicious to its lemon counterpart, the recipe for these key lime squares was collected from a Chicago newspaper, either the Tribune or possibly the Southtown Economist.  My husband gave these a big thumbs-up!  The green food color helps distinguish them from the lemon bars and makes a rather festive addition to a mixed plate of Christmas cookies.

1/2 cup butter

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup confectioners' sugar

1/8 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 cup granulated sugar

3 Tbsp lime juice

1 tsp lime rind

3 Tbsp all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp salt

5 drops green food coloring

Cut butter into combined 1 cup flour, 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar and 1/8 tsp salt until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Press over bottom of a buttered 9-inch square baking pan.  Bake in a preheated 350-degree F. oven, 18 to 20 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Combine eggs, 1 cup granulated sugar, lime juice and rind, 3 Tbsp flour, baking powder, 1/8 tsp salt and green food coloring.  Beat 2 minutes on medium speed with electric mixer.  Pour mixture over baked layer.  Return to oven and bake 18 to 20 minutes longer, or until set.  Cool.  Refrigerate.  Dip knife into war water; cut into squares.  3 dozen 1-1/2 inch squares.

I made the bar part of the cookie in my KitchenAide stand mixer and the lime curd with a hand-held mixer, using fresh limes to obtain the juice and rind.  I refrigerated overnight and cut the bars the next morning.  Again, no artificial flavors, and food coloring was vegetable-based.  This is a recipe I'll make again!