Berry Bars

I've been an avid LA Times Food reader even though I'm all the way in Chicago. I especially like the Culinary SOS section since it posts restaurant recipes about once a week. I saw this recipe for Berry Bars from the House of Bread Bakery last year and put it on my "must try" list. I finally got around to baking these wonderful bars, and they're absolutely divine! It's perfect for a morning pick-me-up along with a cup of coffee. Plus, it's soooooo simple to bake!

Berry Bars 

(Source: LA Times Culinary SOS)

3 cups (12.75 ounces) flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

1 3/4 cups sugar

4 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

16 ounces berry jam **

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease an 11-by-7-inch baking pan. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl using a hand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then the vanilla. Slowly beat in the flour mixture. Spread three-fourths of the batter into the pan, spreading the batter a little thinner in the center of the pan. Spoon the jam on top. Spoon the remaining batter over the jam in random dollops so the jam can still be seen. Bake the bars until golden-brown on top and firm to the touch, about 40 minutes, rotating halfway through for even baking. Cool completely on a rack before slicing.

**I used berry preserves 

Key Lime Pie Bars

I think the 6 year old version of me would be in complete shock to find out that I love Key Lime Pie now. I absolutely love the creamy, sweet, tart combination and I am addicted. So when I saw this recipe a few days ago, I knew I had to make it asap! I found this in Cooks Illustrated (do they ever let me down? Never!) and it is absolutely phenomenal. I was a tad bit nervous about using animal crackers for the crust, but I liked it a whole lot better than the typical graham cracker crust. If you're ever in a mood for Key Lime Pie, go make it ASAP! 

Key Lime Pie Bars

(Source: Cooks Illustrated)

5 ounces animal crackers

3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar

1 pinch table salt

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly

2 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

1 tablespoon grated lime zest, minced

1 pinch table salt

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1 large egg yolk

1/2 cup fresh lime juice

3/4 cup shredded sweetened coconut, toasted until golden and crisp

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325°. Cut about 12" length extra-wide heavy duty foil; fold cut edges back to form 7 1/2" width. With folded sides facing down, fir foil securely into bottom and up sides of 8" square baking pan, allowing excess to overhang pan sides. Spray foil with nonstick cooking spray. In work bowl of food processor, pulse animal crackers until broken down, about ten 1 second pulses; process crumbs until evenly fine, about 10 seconds (you should have about 1 1/4 cups crumbs). Add brown sugar and salt; process to combine, ten to twelve 1 second pulses (if large sugar clumps remain, break them apart with fingers). Drizzle butter over crumbs and pulse until crumbs are evenly moistened with butter, about ten 1 second pulses. Press crumbs evenly and firmly into bottom of prepared pan. Bake until deep golden brown, 18-20 minutes. Cool on wire rack while making filling. Do not turn off oven. While crust cools, in medium bowl, stir cream cheese, zest, and salt with rubber spatula until softened, creamy, and thoroughly combined. Add sweetened condensed milk and whisk vigorously until incorporated and no lumps of cream cheese remain; whisk in egg yolk. Add lime juice and whisk gently until incorporated (mixture will thicken slightly). Pour filling into crust; spread to corners and smooth surface with rubber spatula. Bake until set and edges begin to pull away slightly from sides, 15-20 minutes. Cool on wire rack to room temperature, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Cover with foil and refrigerate unti thoroughly chilled, at least 2 hours. Loosen edges with paring knife and lift bars from baking panusing foil extensions; cut bars into 16 squares. Sprinkle with toasted with toasted coconut and serve. Can refrigerate for up to 2 days, crust will soften slightly. Let refrigerated bars stand at room temperature about 15 minutes before serving. Can make triple citrus bars using 1 1/2 teaspoons each of grated lime zest, lemon zest, and orange zest (mince zest after measuring), and using 6 tbsp lime juice, 1 tbsp lemon juice, and 1 tablespoons orange juice.