Key Lime Bars

Crust:

• 1 ¼ cups flour
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ¼ cup sugar
• ¼ cup chopped pecans

Filling:

• ¾ cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons fresh key lime juice
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder

Frosting:

• 1 ½ cups confectioners sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons fresh key lime juice
• 2 teaspoons grated lime zest

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Crust:

In a small mixing bowl combine flour, butter and sugar.  Mix until crumbly.  I find this is easiest with a pastry blender – one of those kitchen tools you always wish you had the two times a year when you make something that requires one but that you never remember to buy the two times a year you manage to go to a kitchen store.  Stir in the pecans.  Press the crust mixture into the bottom of a 9×9 baking pan.  Bake for 15-20 minutes until the edges are lightly browned.

Filling:

Combine sugar, eggs, flour, lime juice, and baking powder.  Stir until well blended.  Pour filling over hot, partially baked crust.  Return to the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes until the filling is just set.  Remove from oven and cool completely.

Frosting:

In a small bowl combine confectioners sugar, butter and lime juice.  Mix well.  Spread over the cooled bars.  Cut into squares.  Garnish with grated lime peel.

Don’t promise any of these to friends ahead of time.  It’s a small pan and you’re going to want to eat all of them yourself.