Tropical Lemon Squares

*Pixie*'s Note:

Addictively good lemon squares with a brown sugar-cashew crust and moist lemony coconut topping full of bits of yummy fruit. The lemon and fruit flavour develops as the squares are cooling so these squares are better after they are out of the oven for several hours. I have no idea how long these squares will keep because they are always gone within a day or so! Note: Golden raisins are a lot softer than other types of raisins and don't leave hard chewy bits in the squares, substituting other types of raisins in this recipe would likely not have the same outcome. Submitted for Ready Set Cook Winter 2005.

• Total Time: 1 hrs
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 35

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup brown sugar
• ¾ cup butter , melted (no substitutions)
• ½ cup salted cashews , finely chopped
• 1 (300 ml) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 ½ cups flaked coconut
• 2 eggs
• ¾ cup lemon juice
• ½ cup golden seedless raisins , chopped
• ½ cup dried apricot , chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a 9x13-inch pan with cooking spray.
2. Mix the flour and brown sugar until smooth and lump free, add the melted butter and chopped cashews and mix until well combined (should look like fine crumbs).
3. Press mixture into a 9x13-inch pan and bake for 10 minutes.
4. Mix the eggs and condensed milk (I use the same bowl) until smooth and well combined, then mix in the lemon juice until smooth and well integrated.
5. Add the coconut, chopped raisins and chopped apricots and mix well.
6. Spread the coconut mixture evenly over the partially baked crust and return to the oven for 30 minutes until a light golden in colour (note the coconut in these squares is supposed to be slightly moist rather than dry so the top may look very slightly moist at this point).
7. Run a knife around the edge of the pan while still warm to prevent sides from sticking, wait until the squares are completely cool before cutting into 35.

Reviews

[GrandmaIsCooking]

These looked so good, I couldn't wait until they fully cooled to try them! They were great. Now, I have to confess, I substituted regular raisins because they were all I had, and I was very pleased with the result. I took some pictures, which I will post, so you would know I made the substitution anyway, even if I hadn't told you. — Mar 5, 2005 (Sorry, just realized I somehow forgot the stars on this review!)

[Winnipeg *Mel*]

These were tasty and full of flavour. I made the whole recipe to serve to company and as much as people commented on them being yummy, there was alot left over, because as one of my guests said, "a little goes a long way because they are so rich'. Thank-you for an interesting and tasty treat.

[yaya78006]

These bars were delicious! Easy to make. I might have used Macadamia nuts instead of the cashews for the more "Tropical" taste. But high on my list!