Coconut Lemon-Lime Bars with Shortbread Crust – delicious dessert and sweet snack recipe!
When you buy eggs do you ever wonder what types of farms they come from? The conditions the animals are raised in?
I do and my kids do too.
Why should we care? What does it matter what sort of conditions that egg-laying hens live in?
For one thing it’s a matter of food safety: cramped cages are breeding grounds for bacterial outbreaks such as Salmonella which can be transferred to us….to our kids.
Most importantly, it does matter how every living thing spends it’s life. Did you know that the vast majority of egg laying hens live their entire lives in small cages the size of an iPad? We can choose to support farmers that produce cage-free eggs and we can choose to support animals raised in a humane way.
Today I’m sharing a yummy lemony dessert that your whole family will love and it’s a perfect way to bake with cage-free eggs!
Coconut Lemon-Lime Bars with Shortbread Crust :
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup cold butter cut up into 1/2 pieces
- 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 4 cage free eggs, beaten
- 1/3 cup 35% cream
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp sweetened coconut
- 1 teaspoon shredded fresh lime zest
- 1/3 cup lime juice
- 1 teaspoon shredded fresh lemon zest
- 1/3 cup lemon juice
- Strips of lemon and lime peel for topping
- Sweetened shredded coconut for topping
- Powdered sugar (optional)
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease 9 x 13 x 2 inch baking pan.
2. In bowl combine the 1/2 cup sugar, cornstarch and 2 cups flour.
3. Cut in butter until mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
4. Press into bottom of pan.
5. Bake 15 minutes.
6. Whisk together 35% cream, eggs, sugar and 3 tbsp flour.
7. Add lemon and lime zest, coconut, lemon and lime juice.
8. Pour coconut lemon-lime filling over hot crust.
9. Bake 20 minutes or more until filling is set.
10.Cool completely in pan then refrigerate for 2 hours to set.
11. Cut into squares or bars.
12. Top with lemon and lime strips, more coconut and powdered sugar.
13. Store in refrigerator.
These dessert bars have such a flaky crust!
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Kristin @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia says
THese look amazing Heather! (Did you know lemon bars are my favorite dessert and I think this is just about the same) Anything that is cruelty free to animals I’m 100% in!
Heather SettingforFour says
I’m so glad you love lemon bars too Kristin!! Thanks so much for supporting the Cage-Free Initiative!
Danielle says
These look wonderful! x
Heather SettingforFour says
Thanks Danielle – they are tart and sweet and yummy!
Melissa@TheHappierHomemaker says
This is great Heather, I can’t wait to try the recipe…I’m a HUGE advocate for cage free eggs…I actually left my pre-veterinary degree program in college because I opposed the farm production courses I was required to participate in. Going to sign the pledge now!
Heather SettingforFour says
THanks Melissa – yes it’s so sad knowing how a lot of these farm animals are treated. Thanks for signing the pledge! Every person’s efforts help!
Karen Cooper says
Yum! These look amazing! I can’t wait to try the recipe. I only buy cage-free eggs.
Jessica says
Love this recipe AND cage free eggs!
Sharon @ mrshinesclass says
This is actually very important to me and my family as well, Heather. We have started buying cage free eggs, cage free, no hormone, grain fed chicken and grass fed organic beef. Thank for sharing and I’ll be happy to take the pledge.
malia says
A great cause and a beautiful recipe!
Kelley Howell says
Love this, pinning this recipe!
Amy Anderson says
Cage free eggs are a big deal to me – it’s all I will buy! This recipe looks yummy!
Heather SettingforFour says
I’m so glad you support the Cage-Free Initiative Amy! Enjoy the recipe – it’ll satisfy your sweet tooth!
Heather SettingforFour says
Fabulous Sharon! Thanks so much for taking the pledge – every person’s efforts count!!
Mary Beth says
These bars look absolutely delicious, Heather. Thank you for sharing the information about Cage Free Eggs….I honestly had no idea 🙁 I appreciate you bringing awareness to this matter and I have taken the Pledge.
Jennifer Curtis says
This recipe looks delicious. I clicked through to take the pledge! My husband and I only buy grass fed chicken eggs that are raised on a farm and sold at our local farmer’s market. Happy to do our part to make our family a little healthier and help protect these animals.
Roeshel says
Those look so good! Heading over to sign up! Thanks for sharing, Heather!
Meredith @ Wait Til Your Father Gets Home says
These look amazing! Pinning ;o)
Michele {The Scrap Shoppe} says
These bars look super yummy! I have been working to incorporate healthier/happier food products into our meals, mainly the meats, but I had not considered the eggs. I will definitely be on the lookout for free run chicken eggs during my next grocery trip!
Claire @ A Little Claireification says
These look delicious!! Pinned and I took the pledge too – cage free eggs are the best!! Thanks for spreading the word – Claire
heather says
Thanks for supporting this amazing Cage-Free egg initiative!!
mary@athomeonthebay says
Oh yum! I love lemon bars and the coconut is a perfect touch!
heather says
Thanks Mary! I’m glad you like lemon bars as much as me!
Robin All Things Heart and Home says
ummmm, Heather, the photo looks good enough to eat! gorgeous. Pinning xo
heather says
I’m glad you like my cage-free egg lemon bar recipe Robin!
Carolsue says
If these taste even half as good as they look, I really need to learn how to make them!
Kathleen says
Heather! You featured these lemon bars just in time for me to “make & take” to an Easter Dinner this weekend! SO excited! Thanks!
heather says
Great!! You’re welcome!!!That’s amazing! I hope you like them – we love them, so lemony sweet!!!! Have fun at your Easter dinner 🙂 xo Heather