Creamy Lime (Lemon) Bars

I brought this to my sisters baby blessing this past weekend and they were a hit.  They were the only dessert that was gone by the time I left.  I chose to dye the filling green so they looked like lime, but I instantly regretted that decision, I did not like the way the green looked, it made it look pistachio instead of lime.  I think next time I make these I will leave the original yellowish color and just top the baked bars with lime zest and powdered sugar.

Creamy Lime (or Lemon) Bars
From: Our Best Bites
Yields: 9x13 pan, cut the bars as big or small as you like
Time: 1 hour 15 minutes, plus a day to chill
Print Recipe

40 Nilla Wafers, finely crushed
1 cup flour
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold real butter
2 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese (you can use 1/3-less fat cream cheese)
2 cup granulated sugar
4 eggs, at room temp (just place eggs in a bowl of warm water for about 10 mins)
1/4 C flour
2 Tbsp. lime zest, extra for topping (3-4 T)
1/2 cup fresh lime (or lemon) juice (don’t even think about opening a bottle!)
1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line 9x13 baking pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides of pan. Spray lightly with non-stick spray and set aside. 

In a bowl, combine Nilla Wafer crumbs, 1 cup flour and the brown sugar. Chop butter into small pieces and then cut into crumb mixture with a pastry blender.If you don’t have a pastry blender,  just use your fingers to break up the butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Press crumb mixture firmly onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake 15 min.

While crust is cooking, beat cream cheese and granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, 1/4 C. flour, and baking powder; mix well. Blend in 2 Tbsp. lime zest, and lime juice and then pour mixture over crust.

Bake 25 to 30 min. or until center is set. Cool completely. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours, but preferably overnight. These bars improve with time. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and grated lime peel just before cutting into squares to serve. Store leftover squares in refrigerator. (As if you’ll have leftovers!)