Cookie Club Recipe #6

Are y'all ready for another scrumptious recipe this week? I can't wait to make this one. It is for Key lime bars, similar to the lemon bars but in my book so much better.
They aren't exactly a cookie but who cares? They taste amazing with all of their tangy sweet goodness. Enjoy every bite and hide a few for later. If you don't the little leprechaun's of the house will devour them.

♥Key Lime Bars♥

Crust:

1 cup plus 2 1/2 Tbs. graham cracker crumbs

1/3 cup sugar

5 Tbs. butter (melted)

Filling:

3 large egg yolks

1 1/2 tsp. grated lime zest

1 14oz. can sweetened condensed milk

2/3 cup KEY LIME JUICE

( GREEN food coloring if you want to be festive for St. Patrick's Day)

Garnish:

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1/4 sugar

2 tsp coconut flavoring (this makes the best flavor of homemade whipped topping)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make crust: Stir together graham cracker crumbs, sugar and butter in a small bowl. Press evenly into the bottom of an 8 in square glass baking dish. Bake until dry and golden brown about 10 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack.

Make filling: Put egg yolks and lime zest in the bowl of electric mixer. Mix on high speed until very thick, about 5 minutes. Reduce speed to medium. Add condensed milk in a slow steady stream. Raise speed to high; mix until thick, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to low. Add lime juice; mix until combined.

Spread filling evenly over crust using a spatula. Bake, rotating halfway through, until filling is just set, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or over night.

Make the garnish: Cut bars into 2 inch squares. Pour cream into clean bowl of mixer with whisk attachment. Add sugar and flavoring. Mix on medium high speed until stiff peaks form. Garnish bars as you serve them with whipped topping and a lime slice.

Un-garnished bars can be stored in an airtight container in fridge for 3 days.