Coconut Key Lime Bars Food

COCONUT KEY LIME BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray an 8x8-inch baking pan with vegetable cooking spray. Line the pan with parchment paper long enough to create a sling, coming up and over the sides of the pan.
• Place the coconut in a small nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Toast the coconut, stirring frequently, until light golden brown. Remove the coconut from the skillet to a medium mixing bowl and set aside.
• Add the flour, sugar, salt and butter to the bowl of a food processor. Process just until the mixture resembles coarse sand. Do not over-mix or allow the mixture to come together like dough. Pour the crust mixture into the bowl with the toasted coconut and mix to blend. The mixture will be dry.
• Pour the crust mixture into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Press the mixture firmly compressing the crust. Place the unbaked crust in the freezer for 15 minutes.
• Remove the crust from the freezer and bake until light golden brown, about 20 - 25 minutes. Set aside. Reduce the oven temperature to 300°F.
• While the crust is baking, prepare the filling. In a medium mixing bowl whisk the eggs until blended. Add the sugar, flour and cornstarch and whisk until combined. Add the key lime juice and whisk again until smooth. Pour the filling over the warm baked crust and immediately place in the 300°F oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the center does not jiggle when tapped. Cool completely on a wire rack then refrigerate for at least 2 hours before cutting.
• Remove the coconut key lime bars from the pan using the parchment to lift onto a cutting board. Run a very sharp, thin knife under hot running water then carefully dry the blade. This will give you razor sharp cuts for a beautiful presentation. Repeat until the bars are cut.
• Garnish with a dusting of powdered sugar and/or a dollop of lightly sweetened cream, toasted coconut and key lime wedges and serve.

COCONUT-KEY LIME SQUARES

Steps:

• Crust: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly butter an 8-inch square baking pan. Line bottom and 2 sides of pan with parchment, leaving a 1-inch overhang; lightly butter the parchment.
• Combine flour, brown sugar, and salt in a food processor, and pulse a few times to combine. Add butter, and pulse until largest pieces are the size of peas. Add coconut and white chocolate, and pulse a few more times, just until mixture holds together. Transfer mixture to pan, and pack down firmly with the bottom of a measuring cup. Bake until crust is deep golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven, and reduce heat to 300 degrees.
• Filling: Whisk together eggs and granulated sugar in a bowl, then whisk in flour. Gently stir in lime juice (do not whisk or stir vigorously or batter will become foamy).
• Pour filling over hot crust, and bake until filling is set, about 15 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
• Run the tip of a knife along the 2 sides of the pan not lined with parchment, then remove from pan by lifting with parchment overhang. Transfer to a cutting board, dust with confectioners' sugar, and cut into 1-inch squares.

KEY LIME COCONUT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread coconut on a rimmed baking sheet, and toast until golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes, tossing every 2 minutes to ensure even browning. Remove from oven; transfer to a plate to cool.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and sugar, and add half the toasted coconut. Using 2 knives or a pastry cutter, cut the butter into the flour-coconut mixture until it resembles coarse meal. Pat mixture into a 9-by-13-inch pan, and bake until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Allow to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, beat together egg yolks and condensed milk with a whisk until thick. Gradually beat in lime zest and juice. Pour into cooled crust, sprinkle with remaining toasted coconut, and bake until just hot, 6 to 8 minutes. Cool completely, then chill until ready to serve. Cut into six 2 1/3-inch rows; cut rows on a diagonal to form diamonds. Before serving, sprinkle with confectioners' sugar, and garnish with lime zest, if desired.

COCONUT LIME BARS RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8x8" pan with cooking spray.
• In a small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar, and lime zest until the crumbs are moist.
• Press the mixture firmly in to the bottom of the 8x8 pan, and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely.
• After the pan has cooled, whisk together the egg yolks and sweetened condensed milk in a medium-sized bowl. Slowly add in the lime juice, and mix until it starts to thicken slightly.
• Pour the lime filling over the graham cracker crust, and then top with coconut.
• Bake for 15 minutes, or until just set.
• Cool to room temperature and then refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

KEY LIME BARS IN COCONUT CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°; lightly grease a 9x3 inch baking pan.
• Make the crust: combine all crust ingredients in a food processor; process until the mixture is crumbly.
• Set aside 1 cup of the crumbs; press the remaining crumbs into the bottom of the prepared pan.
• Bake the crust for 16-18 minutes, until it is golden brown.
• Make the filling: In a bowl, beat the cream cheese until soft.
• Add in the sugar and salt; beat until well blended.
• Stir in the flour, then beat in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Stir in the lime juice, mixing until smooth; pour the filling onto the crust.
• Bake the bars for 15 minutes; sprinkle with reserved crumbs and bake 10 more minutes, or until set around the edges but still slightly wobbly in the middle.
• Remove from the oven and cool at room temperature for 1 hour.
• For easiest slicing, refrigerate for several hours.