Cosmo Cocktail Cookie Bars

These cookies bars marry the orange, lime and cranberry flavors of the popular Cosmopolitan cocktail with the classic lemon bar. A rich shortbread crust with a hint of lime is topped with a cranberry curd.

Prep: 15 min | Bake: 40 min | Yield: 36 servings

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 tablespoon finely shredded lime peel
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) cold butter, cut into pieces
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 (6 ounce) can frozen cranberry juice concentrate, thawed
• 1 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Orange Extract
• 1 tablespoon vodka (optional)

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Mix 2 cups of the flour, confectioners’ sugar, lime peel and salt in large bowl.
3. Cut in butter with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resemble coarse crumbs.
4. Press mixture evenly into greased foil-lined 13 x 9 inch baking pan.
5. Bake for 20 minutes or until edges of crust are golden brown.
6. Meanwhile, mix eggs, granulated sugar, cranberry juice concentrate, remaining 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, extract and vodka in large bowl until well blended.
7. Pour evenly over hot crust.
8. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until filling is set.
9. Cool in pan on wire rack.
10. Sprinkle with additional confectioners' sugar and finely shredded lime peel.
11. Cut into bars.

Nutrition

per serving: calories: 116 Fat: 4g Carbohydrates: 19g Cholesterol: 34mg Sodium: 53mg Fiber: 0g Protein: 1g

Attribution

Recipe used with permission from: McCormick