CREAMY LIME-COCONUT BARS

CREAMY LIME-COCONUT BARS

Filling Ingredients:
1 cup lime juice
2 (14-ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon freshly grated lime peel
1 to 2 drops green food color

Crust Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup slivered almonds, ground*
1/2 cup cold unsalted Butter


Topping Ingredients:
1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut

Heat oven to 350F. Combine all filling ingredients in large bowl. Set aside. (Mixture will thicken slightly.)

Combine flour, sugar and ground almonds in large bowl; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Pat mixture evenly into ungreased 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake for 16 to 18 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

Pour filling mixture over hot, partially baked crust. Sprinkle with coconut. Continue baking for 15 to 17 minutes or until filling is set. Cool completely. Cut into bars. Cover; store refrigerated.

*Substitute 1/2 cup finely chopped macadamia nuts.

TIP: No need to add sugar to the filling in this easy bar. Sweetened condensed milk is a mixture of whole milk and sugar. Water is evaporated off the milk before canning, making a sweet and sticky product. Store unopened sweetened condensed milk at room temperature for up to 6 months. After opening, refrigerate any unused milk in an airtight container and store for no more than 5 days.

TIP: Reduce oven temperature to 325F. if using dark or nonstick baking pan.