Lemon-Coconut Bars

These Lemon-Coconut Bars are a perfect treat during Summertime. The marriage of the two main ingredients, coconut and lemon are a match made in heaven. As my husband claims, these Lemon- Coconut Bars are the best dessert bars he ever had! He is my No.1 food critique. He said that in this recipe, the coconut is the key, it provides an out of this world flavor and a bit of chewiness to the butter cookie crust. The filling is as beautifully bright as a Spring day and it is a perfect blend of sweet and tart. A recipe like this is worth sharing, so go ahead and share this to your friends and network.

Lemon-Coconut Bars Recipe
Source: Bon Appétit

Ingredients:

 Crust
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sweetened flaked coconut, toasted, cooled
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

  Filling
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon (packed) finely grated lemon peel
1 teaspoon all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
1/4 cup powdered sugar ( I substitute with flaked coconut )

Cooking Directions:

 

For crust

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 8x8x2-inch metal baking pan with foil, leaving overhang. Butter foil. Combine flour, sugar, and salt in processor; blend 5 seconds. Add coconut and butter; process until mixture resembles fine meal and begins to clump together. Gather dough into ball. Press dough evenly over bottom of prepared pan. Bake crust until golden at edges, about 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare filling:

• Combine 3/4 cup sugar, eggs, lemon juice, lemon peel, flour, baking powder, and salt in processor. Blend filling until smooth.
• Remove crust from oven. Pour filling evenly over hot crust. Return to oven and bake until filling begins to brown at edges and is just set and springy to touch in center, about 30 minutes. Transfer pan to rack; cool lemon bars completely.
• Using foil as aid, transfer lemon bars to work surface. Flatten foil edges. Cut into 16 bars. Sift powdered sugar over. (Can be made 5 days ahead. Store airtight in single layer in refrigerator.)