Margarita Bars
(from BearNakedBaker’s recipe box)
make your favorite lemon cake instead….
Need to set overnight, make day ahead.
Source: BearNakedBaker
Prep time: 60 minutes
Cook time: 60 minutes
Serves 16 people
Ingredients
- 1 box (18.25 oz) lemon cake mix, prepared as box directs
- 1/3 cup fresh lime juice (grate lime peel first)
- 1 envelope (2 1⁄2 tsp) unflavored gelatin
- 3 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 TBSP. freshly grated lime peel
- Garnish: 1 lime
Directions
- Heat oven to 350°F. Line a 13 × 9-in. baking pan with foil, letting foil extend about 2 in. above pan at both ends. Coat foil with nonstick spray.
- Spread cake batter in prepared pan. Bake as box directs. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Holding foil ends, lift from pan. Trim rounded top (hump) off cake with a long serrated knife until flat. Holding foil ends, return cake to pan.
- Pour lime juice into a small saucepan; sprinkle with gelatin. Let stand 1 minute, then stir over low heat 3 minutes until gelatin completely dissolves. Remove from heat.
- Beat cream cheese, sugar and lime peel in a large bowl with mixer on medium speed 2 minutes until fluffy. Slowly beat in gelatin mixture. Beat 1 minute to blend. Scrape onto cake, then spread evenly to edges. Refrigerate 1 hour to set, then cover loosely and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.
- To serve: Lift from pan. Cut in 42 bars (dip knife in hot water; wipe clean between cuts).
- To garnish: With citrus zester, cut peel off lime. Cut lime in quarters lengthwise then crosswise in 11 slices. Top bars with lime and peel.