With St. Patrick’s Day fast approaching, here is a dessert recipe with a subtle Irish flair. They really do come out a vibrant green making them look beautiful on a platter. The lime taste is prevalent over the lemon taste and make these bars zesty and fun. I squeezed 5 large limes to make just about 1/3 cup of juice and therefore just reduced the lemon extract to 1 tablespoon to even back out the flavors. Oh and a tip, if you don’t have a pastry blender use your fingers to make the butter and flour mix into crumbs better.

©EverydayCookingAdventures 2014

Everyone enjoyed them and there are only a few left after just one day! I hope you will brighten up your table on St. Patrick’s Day, Christmas-time or for a summer picnic or potluck with these pretty little treats. Here are my +McCormick Gourmet Lemon-Lime Bars:

+McCormick Gourmet Lemon-Lime Bars ©EverydayCookingAdventures 2014

Lemon-Lime Bars

Makes: 16 square bars
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients
Crust:

• 1 cup flour
• 1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon McCormick® Ginger, Ground
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold butter, cut into chunks

Lemon-Lime Filling:

• 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 teaspoons McCormick® Pure Lemon Extract
• 4 drops McCormick® Green Food Color

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. For the Crust, mix flour, confectioners’ sugar, ginger and salt in large bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resemble coarse crumbs.

2. Pat mixture into greased foil-lined 9-inch square baking pan. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until crust is lightly browned. Remove from oven.

3. While the crust is baking, make the filling. Mix granulated sugar, flour and baking powder in large bowl. Add lime juice, eggs, lemon extract and food color; whisk until blended. Pour filling over warm baked crust. Bake 20 to 25 minutes longer or until filling is set. Cool in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.