Warning! This dessert is for adults 21 and over ONLY!!!
I kind of love being able to start posts with the above disclaimer, it means there is some fun to be had today! Not to say we don’t always have a good time here at the Little Red Kitchen, but baking with a little booze just adds a little sumpin’ sumpin’ if ya know what I’m saying. 🙂
I’m so happy to be back with my #holidayfoodparty crew today to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with all of you. Â We all had such a blast during St. Patrick’s Day, that we needed to party together once more. Â Fifteen fabulous recipes are gathered here today, everything from drinks to appetizers, main courses and desserts.
I made these lime margarita bars last year as a little experiment, but never had the chance to share them with you. Â Let me tell you, I am so grateful I didn’t, imagine a lemon bar made with limes and a serving of tequila thrown in for good measure. Â First bite of these bars and you can already imagine drinking a cool, refreshing margarita while sitting on the beach in Cabo.
The key to these bars though is the lime zest, it really brings out the true flavor of the fruit. Â All the zest ends up floating the top after you bake the bars, so the inside still remains luscious and creamy.
The best part? Â Customizable. Do you like bars with a thick crust and custard filling? Â Then go ahead and follow the directions I have below. Â More a fan of thinner bars? Â Not a problem, just place everything in a 9X13 pan and continue as follows.
First though, the important part, check out what everyone else has created today and stop over to say hello!
1. Alfajores from Roxana’s Home Baking
2. Spicy Fish Tacos with Avocado Yogurt Sauce from Crumb Blog
3. Classic Flan from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
4. Dulce de Leche Milkshake with Coconut Milk Whipped Cream from Chocolate Moosey
5. Lime Margarita Bars from The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
6. Shrimp and Avocado Ceviche from Magnolia Days
7. Tropical Fiesta Cocktail from Hungry Couple NYC
8. Paletas – Mexican Popsicles from Pineapple and Coconut
9. Bizcochitos Cookies from Jen’s Favorite Cookies
10. Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes from Gotta Get Baked
11. Vegan Taco Salad from What Smells So Good
12. Gluten Free Tres Leches Cake from Kelly Bakes
13. Queso Blanco from The Messy Baker
14. Gorditas with Picadillo from Juanita’s Cocina
15. Strawberry Margerita Slurpee from Chocolate Chocolate and More
Ingredients
- For the crust:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4 inch pieces
- 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- For the filling:
- 3 tablespoons lime zest
- 1 cup lime juice (from about 8 limes)
- 1/2 cup tequila
- 1 1/2 cups granulated white sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
- powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees F. grease and line a 8x8 square baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the sugar, flour and salt. With a pastry cutter or using your hands cut the butter into the flour until it resembles coarse meal.
- Press the crust into the bottom and sides of the pan, creating an even layer.
- Bake for 25 minutes. You want the edges to be slightly golden brown but the center still pale.
- While the crust is baking, in a medium bowl, whisk together the lime zest, juice, tequila, sugar and flour. Whisk in the eggs one at a time until well combined.
- Pour the mixture over the baked crusted and sprinkle the top with the coarse seat salt.
- Bake for 25 minutes, the top will be slightly brown, but you want a little wiggle in the center when you shake the pan.
- Let cool completely on the counter, before placing in the refrigerator. Cool for at least an hour before removing the bars from the pan and cutting into squares.
- Dust with powdered sugar prior to serving.
- Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
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Oh these look super yummy! Who’d have thought… Margarita bars… yes please. Because you see, it doesn’t have to be 5 o’clock to enjoy these babies. Great recipe hon!
Oh, yeah! These look fantastci! I could do some major damage to a batch 🙂
I might not be able to drink tequila straight anymore but I could put a serious dent in these bars. Yum!
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What a dessert for Cinco de Mayo (or any party for that matter). I love when alcohol or wine is incorporated into desserts. So fun and tasty!
We definitely share a love of booze, Susan! These look and sound amazing – exactly what I need at 10 am on a Friday or anytime, really! When I was in Hawaii, I drank every single day and I must say, my life was improved by it. I can’t wait to try these bars and wash them down with a real margarita 😉
I love a customizeable recipe! 🙂 These sound so refreshing and fun! Well done, Susan!
Looks delicious, Susan! Here’s my version:
Susan, I’m so glad you pointed out the customizable element to these because that’s one of those things that as I read I thought, ‘oh! what a great idea!’ but would never think to do on my own! Anyway, I love lime desserts and lemon bars, so these are straight up my alley!
I want to come to your house. And live in your fridge.
I never mind eating my cocktail. These look so creamy and delicious!
I have been waiting for this recipe!!! I cannot wait to make this! What would you recommend in place of tequila? Could I just leave it out all together?
You can absolutely leave it out! I actually meant to say that in the post. If you wanted to keep it adultish still I’m thinking perhaps rum or vodka might also work.
These look awesome, Susan! I’m more of a thin bar kinda gal, so I like the customization suggestions you made… though really, thick or thin, I don’t really care much when there’s lime and tequila involved. 🙂
YAY for tequila! How can something this good be bad?
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Party at Susan’s! So if I take these into work, I can’t get in trouble right? Because, you know, the alcohol bakes off and all 😉
Susan, these sound wonderful, I’m a lemon bar lover so I will have to give these Lime bars a try!
I’m all over these bars Susan. Just gorgeous and I bet they taste out of this world.
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Oh yummmy!!!! I hope you stop by to share…we love recipes- http://atozebracelebrations.com/2013/04/link-party-14.html
Nancy
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Do you think I could add a box of strawberry jello mix to the filling?
Hi Anne, I wouldn’t recommend adding strawberry jello mix to the filling. The gelatin will change the texture, plus add additional sugar to the recipe. If you are looking to make these strawberry flavored I would switch out some of the lime juice for strawberry puree.
Thank you! I’m making them as we speak 🙂
You’re welcome! I hope they turn out well for you and you enjoy them! 🙂