Key Lime Bars

Photo from Martha Stewart

Source: Martha Stewart

Makes about 16

For the crust:

1 cup plus 2 1/2 tablespoons finely ground graham cracker crumbs

1/3 cup sugar

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

For the filling:

3 large egg yolks

1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest, plus 2/3 cup fresh Key lime juice (about 23 Key limes total)

1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

For the garnish:

1/4 cup heavy cream

2 Key limes, thinly sliced into half-moons

1. Make the crust: Preheat oven to 350º. Stir together graham carcker crumbs, sugar, and butter in a small bowl. Press evenly onto bottom of an 8-inch square glass baking dish. Bake until dry and golden brown, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack. (Leave oven on.)

2. Make filling: Put egg yolks and lime zest in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Mix on high speed until very thick, about 5 minutes. Reduce speed to medium. Add condensed milk in a slow, steady stream, mixing constantly. Raise speed to high; mix until thick, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to low. Add lime juice; mix until just combined.

3. Spread filling evenly over crust using a spatula. Bake, rotating dish halfway through, until filling is just set, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Refrigerate at least 4 hours (or overnight).

4. Cut into 2-by-2-inch bars. Put cream in the clean bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the clean whisk attachment. Mix on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Garnish bars with whipped cream and a slice of lime. Ungarnished bars can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 3 days.