MARGARITA CHEESECAKE BARS

MARGARITA CHEESECAKE BARS image

Number Of Ingredients 15

Shortbread base:
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
Cheesecake:
16 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 cup lime juice
1 1/2 ounces tequila
1 1/2 ounces triple sec
1 tsp lime zest (1 lime)
hot shortbread base

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Shortbread base: Cut butter into 1/2-inch pieces. In a food processor process all ingredients until mixture begins to form small lumps. Sprinkle mixture into a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan and with a metal spatula press evenly onto bottom. Bake shortbread in middle of oven until golden, about 20 minutes. While shortbread is baking, prepare topping. Cheesecake topping: In a bowl whisk cream cheese until smooth. Whisk in sugar, cornstarch, lime juice, tequila, & triple sec. Whisk in eggs & zest. Evenly spread over hot shortbread and pour cream-cheese mixture over it. Bake in middle of oven until slightly puffed, about 30 minutes. Cool completely in pan and cut into 24 bars. Bar cookies keep, covered and chilled, 3 days.