Key Lime Pie Bars - Au Naturale!

Who doesn't love a tangy, delicious key lime pie? These scrumptious bars are a healthy take on this yummy dessert, but with much less sugar and other refined ingredients.  

This easy recipe, which is a gluten-free, paleo treat, uses Key lime juice, which has a good amount of vitamin C. Key limes are also called Mexican or West Indian limes. They are aromatic and very juicy, with a stronger and more complex acidic flavor than Persian limes (the typical, larger limes found in grocery stores). They are also delicious in beverages, sorbets, and jams. They are excellent in marinades for fish (seviche) or meats and chicken, and used in fish and meat stews. If you can't find Key limes in your area, substitute bottled Key lime juice, like I did. 

The Flaky Crust

• 1 cup blanched almond flour or cashew flour
• 1/2 cup tapioca flour
• 1/4 cup organic coconut palm sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup soft butter OR ghee OR coconut oil
• 1/4 tsp real sea salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients together.  It will be the consistency of thick oatmeal.
2. Use a rubber spatula (or your hand in a baggie- see pic) to press the batter as flat as possible into a lightly greased 9X13 glass baking dish, or for even easier removal later, line the dish with parchment paper.
3. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
4. While it is baking, make the key lime filling.

The filling is un-baked here.

​The Key Lime Filling

• 1/2 cup coconut flour (find it here)
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1 Tbsp green powder (optional, but it's what makes the green color)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup melted grassfed butter, ghee, or coconut oil
• 1/2 cup raw, organic honey
• 1 cup key lime juice (Find it in a bottle HERE)
• 1 (5.4 oz) can of coconut cream, approx 3/4 cup  (find it here)

​Directions:

1. Mix all the ingredients together well & spread it on top of the baked crust.
2. Bake it for 45 minutes more.
3. Allow to cool completely at room temp, then chill in the fridge. (It's not too pretty at this point, but don't worry - the frosting makes it spectacular!)
4. Top with the frosting.

​The Vanilla Frosting​

Blend these ingredients until light & fluffy. ​It will take several minutes on high speed with an electric mixer.

• 1 cup Spectrum palm oil shortening or grassfed butter (room temp)
• 2 Tbsp raw honey
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup tapioca flour​

​Spread over the cooled bars and chill in the refrigerator.  ENJOY!
Store bars in the fridge.
​Best served at room temp.

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