Salad in a Jar

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Lime Coconut Squares

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Lime Coconut Squares (or Lemon Almond Squares) have a tasty shortbread base layered with lime or lemon curd and toasted coconut or almonds on top.

LIME COCONUT SQUARES

In keeping with the “wearing of the green” happening this Wednesday, I have something green for you to eat.  And it’s not lettuce for a change.

These simple fruit bars have a tasty shortbread base combined with a thin layer of lime curd and toasted coconut on top. They remind me of traditional lemon squares except they are thinner and easier to make. At 116 calories per serving, these are the perfect little treat for a healthy diet based on moderation.

If lime is not your thing, try substituting lemon curd, strawberry jelly or any other preserves for the lime curd. If you don’t get excited about coconut, try almonds, pistachios, pecans or  powdered sugar (sprinkled on top after baked cookies are chilled).  The results will be delicious!

lemon almond squares

Lemon Almond Squares

 

One note of warning: These are FRAGILE–handle with care. DO make a sling to remove bars from the pan.  They  slice cleaner and taste best if chilled before eating.

storyboard lime coconut squares

Press dough mixture into parchment or foil lined 8-inch pan. If using foil, spray with vegetable oil or use non-stick foil. You will be sorry if you skip this step as cookies are thin and difficult to remove from pan after baked. Making a sling as pictured enables easy removal.

  

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Lime Coconut Squares

  • Author: Adapted from The Perfect Recipe for Losing Weight & Eating Great by Pam Anderson
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 16 squares
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: oven-baked
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

Microwave Lemon Curd with Lime and Orange VersionsA tasty shortbread base combined with a thin layer of lime or lemon curd and toasted coconut or almonds on top

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup sweetened flaked or shaved coconut
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup prepared lime or lemon curd (instructions for making your own in the microwave here. I HIGHLY recommend it for the freshest flavor. Homemade lime curd is yellow and will need a drop or two of green food coloring if desired.)

Instructions

  1. Toast coconut (or nuts). If using flaked coconut, toast in the microwave as seen here. If using shaved coconut (my favorite), toast on cookie sheet in the oven at 350 degrees. I like to toast the whole bag and save the rest to eat as a snack–one tiny piece at a time.
  2. Whisk together flour, sugar, and salt. Pour melted butter over flour mixture and stir with a fork. Then use fingers to moisten all flour completely. Dough should begin to stick together.
  3. Press dough mixture into parchment or foil lined 8-inch pan. If using foil, spray with vegetable oil or use non-stick foil. You will be sorry if you skip this step as cookies are thin and difficult to remove from pan after baked. Making a sling as pictured enables easy removal.
  4. Bake crust for bars until golden brown, about 20 minutes.
  5. Remove from oven and spread curd (warmed first in the microwave to make it more spreadable) over crust. Sprinkle with toasted coconut or nuts. Return to oven and bake another 20 minutes until curd is bubbly. Let cool for 5 minutes and use sling to remove uncut cookies to cooling rack. Chill in refrigerator before cutting and serving.

Notes

116 calories per square based on 16 squares per recipe

Keywords: bar cookies, lime, lemon, cookie recipes

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  1. Must admit that they were tasty. If I were color blind, they would probably taste great. I especially like the shaved coconut on top. Maybe next year you can just color the coconut green and not the curd. :+)

    Reply

  3. I will have to put this on my must try list. I have someone at my house that is addicted to anything lemon or lime. Thanks again for a great recipe.

    Reply

  5. 1st question: can this be made in a microwave? And is there any pastry cream involved? Wow…. GREAT recipe! And you’ve made them look so tempting. I bet in addition to the lime, they’d be great with lemon too… hm…. maybe lemon-lime for St. Paddy’s Day. Very refreshing change from the chocolate/irish cream recipes floating out there!

    Reply