Tropical Lime Squares

Look at this.

Now’s that’s vintage.

On Saturday, I committed a breaking and entering and stole this cookbook.  Except I’m not sure it’s considered breaking and entering if you used a key to get in and I’m not sure it’s considered stealing if you ask politely if you can take the item.

This cookbook has been in my life since I was born.  Clearly.  And while the peach cobbler recipe has always been a family favorite the lemon square recipe certainly can’t be overlooked.  I recently saw a lime square recipe and thought the gorgeous green color was worth switching out the lemons for limes in Betty’s recipe.  We’re on a first name basis.

Between margaritas, tropical burgers, a Mexican flavored side salad and lime squares I squeezed more limes than I ever want to squeeze again.  I now have carpal tunnel.

Let me be honest.  This crust is delicious.  But it’s made of butter, flour and powdered sugar so I don’t know how that could not be delicious.

And here’s where my poor little heart broke.  Turns out anything you mix with 2 eggs turns out yellow even if you expect it to turn out bright green.  Nothing 3 drops of food coloring can’t fix though.

Tropical Lime Squares

Ever so slightly adapted from the Betty Crocker Cookbook… circa 1978!

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar (+ more for dusting)
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup lime juice (about 4 limes)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. For crust, mix flour, butter and powdered sugar together.  Press into an ungreased 8x8x2 square pan, building up edges.
3. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden.
4. In the meantime, beat remaining ingredients until fluffy.  Pour over hot crust.
5. Bake until no indentation remains when touched — about 25 minutes.
6. Cool, cut and dust with additional powdered sugar, if desired.

It was the perfect dessert for a tropical-themed celebration.

Serving alongside a margarita is optional but totally recommended.

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Do you have a favorite classic cookbook?

Lemon or lime?

What’s kind of dessert with you serve with a tropical dinner?