Fresh Lime Bars with White Chocolate Chips

FRESH LIME BARS WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIPS
I love lemon bars…but these I love even more…a great summer dessert for kids from 1 to 92.

Crust:
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered (or confectioners’) sugar
1 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Topping:
2 large eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon grated lime zest
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from 3 limes)
1/4 cup white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Grease and line bottom and sides of 8 inch square pan with aluminum foil, grease again.

Prepare crust.  In medium bowl and using an electric mixer, cream butter and confectioners’ sugar.  Beat in flour.  Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan and prick dough with fork.  Bake until light golden, 15 minutes.  Remove from oven and set aside.

Prepare topping.  In the same medium bowl, beat eggs until light and fluffy with electric mixer.  Add 1/2 cup sugar gradually.  Stir in vanilla extract and lime zest.    On low speed, mix in flour, cornstarch, salt and lime juice.  Pour topping over pre-baked crust and bake for 20 minutes.  Remove from oven and  sprinkle white chocolate chips.  Return to oven and bake and additional 5 – 10 minutes.

Cool and sprinkle a very thin layer of powdered sugar over top.  Cut into bars.