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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. To serve: Lift from pan. Cut in 42 bars (dip knife in hot water; wipe clean between cuts).
  6. 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.

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