Although the recent weather trends seem as though we are trapped in a perpetual spring (with the occasional days of 2°F to keep things fresh), St. Patrick’s Day reminds us that the official season of spring is just around the corner. Grey skies will soon be a thing of the past, so celebrate with these tart and refreshing bars! If you need to make sure you have everything, here are the ingredients and supplies you’ll need (don’t worry- everything will be listed in the recipe as well, so you won’t have to glance back up for measurements.)

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cup of crushed graham crackers
• ⅓ cup of granulated sugar
• 6 tablespoons of melted butter
• 28 ounces of sweetened condensed milk (2 cans)
• 4 ounces of softened cream cheese
• ¾ cup of lime juice (preferably key lime)
• Zest of 4 key limes or 2 limes

First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Make the crust by combining 1 ½ cup of crushed graham crackers with ⅓ cup of granulated sugar and 6 tablespoons of melted butter. Evenly spread the mixture in a glass 8” square baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes, and set aside to cool. Meanwhile, use a hand mixer to beat 4 ounces of cream cheese until fluffy. Add 28 ounces of sweetened condensed milk, ¾ cup of lime juice and the zest of 4 key limes or 2 limes, and continue mixing until combined. Add food coloring if you’d like, and evenly spread over the crust. Bake for 10 minutes, cool for 30 minutes, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Cut into squares, decorate with whipped cream and toppings, and serve!