White Chocolate and Lime Cheesecake Bars

Ok so I cheated again.  I didn’t find this recipe in a cookbook.  I needed a fast recipe that I could put together for a get-together in less than three hours and this one looked delicious!  I adapted it from the Epicurious Website.  It sounded refreshing and like something that would be delicious in the summer time.  It is trying to be summer around here.  It is still a long ways away, but every once in awhile the sun will come out.  I also see hints of spring in yard.  I have one daffodil that comes up every year and it is almost flowering.
This recipe, “White Chocolate and Lime Cheesecake bars are so easy.  There are only a few steps to the recipe and only a few ingredients.  I used Ghirardelli white chocolate because I love the creaminess of it.  You can use whatever brands you like.  Make sure when you are melting the chocolate that you have your bowl just barely over the simmering water.  Also, make sure you don’t slosh any of the water into the chocolate or you are going to have a terrible mess on your hands.

It is best to line the bottom of the pan with foil.  The cookie crust, in my opinion needed a bit more moisture to hold it together.  Lining the pan will allow the bars to come out in one piece.  When cutting them keep a glass of warm water to wipe the blade of the knife so it makes a nice clean cut. 
Enjoy!

White Chocolate and Lime Cheesecake Bars
adapted from Epicurious
7 ounces high-quality white chocolate, chopped

27 chocolate sandwich cookies
1/2 cup chilled whipping cream
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoons finely grated lime peel
Lime slices for garnish

1.  Prepare an 8x8 square baking dish with flour, extending over all the sides, so you can lift the bars out of the pan. 

2.  Stir chopped white chocolate in a small bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water.  Stir until the chocolate is melted and smooth.  Remove bowl from water and set aside.

3.  In a food processer finely grind the sandwich cookies.  Add two tablespoons of the melted white chocolate and blend until the mixtures starts to come together.

4.  Firmly presses the cookie mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan.


5.  Beat whipping cream in a medium bowl until peaks form.  Beat cream cheese, sugar, lime juice, and lime zest in a large bowl until smooth.

6.  Beat in remaining melted chocolate .
7.  Carefully fold in the whipped cream in two additions.  Do this step very carefully.  You don’t want to loose the air that you whipped into the cream.
8.  Spread the cream mixture evenly over the bars. 


9.  Refrigerate at least two hours for the bars to set.  Once set garnish with lime wedges.