My friend Luscious Liana, who hails from the great state of Hawai`i, is currently on a two-week tour of the continental United States (or “The Mainland” if you’re Hawai`ian). The City of Angels is her final stop before hopping back to the islands. I figured that after she spent a week-and-a-half in the icebox that is the Midwest, a tropical-inspired sweet would really welcome her to California. With lime zest and coconut flakes baked within the custard, these bars are texturally more interesting than regular Lemon Bars, and definitely just as delicious. A dollop of fresh whipped cream makes for a decadent final touch.
- 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, cut into bits
- 1/3 cup sweetened flaked coconut, toasted and cooled
- 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For custard
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from about 5 limes)
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated lime zest (from about 2 limes)
- 1/3 cup sweetened flaked coconut, toasted and cooled
In a bowl blend together with fingertips flour, butter, coconut, confectioners’ sugar, and salt until mixture resembles coarse meal. Pat mixture into prepared pan and bake in middle of oven 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
Reduce oven temperature to 300°F.
Make custard
In a bowl whisk together eggs and granulated sugar until combined well and stir in flour, lime juice, and zest.
Pour mixture over crust and bake in middle of oven 20 minutes. Top custard with coconut and bake 5 to 10 minutes more, or until just set. Cool confection in pan on a rack and chill 1 hour.
Makes 16 two-inch squares.
Gourmet, January 1995
Hi, I’m Liana– my friend Cathy the Gastronomer made these delicious treats as a arms-wide-open welcome to glorious Pasadena (quite unexpectedly, I might add!), and I am in LOVE with these bars! To be fair, she is quite the cook, and as you might well be, too, I highly recommend trying them. I’m not a real fan of bars of any sort, but these bars will light a delightful fuse every time you take a bite… and they are absolutely to-die-for when devoured with freshly whipped cream!
These sound great! Huge coincidence – yesterday I was googling recipes with lime and coconut looking for something (sweet) to make with both, and here this is – thanks!!
Thank you! Great recipe. I did this for my grandma’s birthday and sent her pics as she’s in China. My friends said it’s like specialty store dessert. 🙂 Enjoyed…
seaching for the perfect key lime dessert other than pie and came across these delicious treats…THANKS