Lime Dream Bars (White Chocolate Brownies Swirled with Lime Curd)

These bars won’t win any beauty awards, but holy yum are they delicious. Shauna Sever, in Pure Vanilla: Irresistible Recipes and Essential Techniques, describes them as a great alternative for people who love lemon bars but like something a little less messy. That is a good description. I made them with lime curd, but lemon curd and any other sweet-tart preserves would work as well. With a white chocolate brownie base, they straddle the line between fudgy and cakey, and are absolutely delicious.

I can’t think of a good segue between Lime Dream Bars and Veronica Mars (things I love? things I guarantee you will love?) so I’ll just ask: who else is super excited for the new Veronica Mars movie? And if you are not, it can only mean you did not watch Veronica Mars, in which case all I can say is get thee to the video store and check it out. Run don’t walk. Like now. Why are you still reading this!?!?!?

Seriously. And for those of you who have seen it, check out this awesome Veronica Mars movie preview! Squee! I am so excited. John and I are re-watching the entire series right now. Veronica Mars and citrus curd… 2 things I never get tired of.

Lime Dream Bars

 

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Closely adapted from Shauna Sever

Author: TheSpicedLife

Recipe type: Dessert

Cuisine: bar cookies

Ingredients

• 8 oz white chocolate, chopped
• 6 T unsalted butter, cut into cubes
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ½ t salt
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 t pure vanilla extract
• 1 t vanilla bean paste or powder
• 1 cup white whole wheat flour
• ½ cup lime curd

Instructions

1. Position a rack in the center of your oven and preheat to 350. Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on opposite sides.
2. Melt the butter and chocolate in the microwave, on 50% power in 30 second intervals. Stir smooth. Mix in the sugar and salt.
3. Whisk in your eggs, 1 at a time, and then whisk in the vanilla extract and vanilla bean paste/powder. Gently fold in the flour. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan—it will be thick.
4. Dollop the lime curd on top of the brownie batter by tablespoonfuls. Using a butter knife, swirl the curd into the batter. Bake for 25 to 28 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
5. Transfer pan to a wire rack and allow to cool completely. Using the parchment overhang, lift out the entire block and cut into squares. Try not to eat all at once.

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