Magical Margarita Bars

Courtesy Helen Lampkin

What can I say, I was tired of the usual “southern lemon bar” and decided to give it a twist to fit into my southwestern love of lime. So, with  a quick switch to limes and adding a shower of salt has made the most unforgettable bite you will ever have. Like the recipe says, “magical”.

Crust Ingredients:

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temp
• one half cup sugar
• 2 cups flour
• one half teaspoon. kosher salt

Crust Directions:

1. Cream butter & sugar in a food processor until light & fluffy.
2. Blend flour and salt into butter until just blended.  
3. Shape into a flattened disc.
4. Press dough into a 13x9x2 baking pan with moistened hands. Press it up on the sides about an inch. Chill.  
5. Preheat oven to 350* Bake for 15-20 minutes until slightly brown. 
6. Cool Completely.

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Filling ingredients:

• 6 large eggs at room temp
• 3 cups sugar
• zest of 2 limes
• 1 cup fresh lime juice (no substitute)
• 1 cup flour

Garnish: Confectioner Sugar, Lime zest

Filling Directions:

1. Mix all filling ingredients, eggs, sugar, lime zest, lime juice, and flour together. 
2. Pour over the cooled crust.  
3. Bake in a 350* oven for  30-35 minutes. 
4. Cool completely.
5. Sprinkle it with powdered sugar, kosher salt, and lime zest.  
6. Cut into squares.

Yields approximately 24 bars.