Key Lime Bars

I wanted to make a key lime dessert for a dear friend who had requested a key lime dessert in the past. Pie dough seemed a bit beyond my one-handed abilities right now, but this bar recipe seemed do-able. Easy or not, it was a delicious success. Thank goodness I had previously juiced and zested key limes in the freezer!

One year ago: Chocolate Cupcakes

Key Lime Bars (from Farmers' Market Desserts)

Ingredients
crust
1 1/2 cups ap flour
1/3 cup confectioner's sugar
1/2 tsp key lime zest
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp butter, cut into 10 pieces
filling
1 2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup ap flour
1/4 tsp kosher salt
5 eggs
3/4 cup key lime juice
1 tsp key lime zest
1/4 cup half and half

1. Preheat oven to 350. Line bottom and sides of 13x9 pan with parchment paper.
2. Stir together dry crust ingredients. Scatter butter on top and cut in butter with pastry blender.
3. Scatter mixture in pan and pack down. Bake until light golden, 20 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, stir together sugar, flour, and salt.
5. Add eggs and stir until smooth.
6. Add juice, zest, and half and half. Mix slowly until smooth.
7. Reduce oven to 325.
8. Pour filling on hot crust. Return to oven and cook until set, 20 - 25 min.
9. Cool completely in pan, then refrigerate 30 min.
10. Lift out of pan, cut into bars. Store between layers of wax paper.