Cherry Lime Bars
[Vegan]

For the Filling: 

1. Soak the cashews in a bowl or large measuring cup. Add enough water to cover the nuts completely. Cover the bowl and let soak at room temperature for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight (see note).
2. Once the cashews are done soaking, preheat oven to 350°F, and grease an 8×8 square baking pan with vegan butter. Line the pan with two overlapping sheets of parchment paper, which will create a sling to lift the finished bars out of the pan.
3. Drain the cashews, then place them in a blender. Add the coconut cream, lime zest, lime juice, maple syrup, cornstarch, and salt, and blend on high speed until smooth and creamy, with no graininess.

For the Crust:

1. In a mixing bowl, blend the butter and lime zest with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
2. Place a fine-mesh strainer over the bowl, then add the sugar, powdered sugar, and salt, sifting to remove any lumps.
3. Blend until smooth, then sift in the flour. Blend until just combined and no streaks of dry flour remain.
4. Transfer the dough to the prepared baking pan, and press it into an even layer about 1/2-inch thick.
5. Bake for 15-18 minutes, until the edges begin to turn golden.
6. Remove from the oven and place the pan on a rack to cool while you prepare the cherries and filling.

For the Cherries:

1. Place the dried cherries in a food processor and blend until they form a paste, adding 1 to 2 tablespoons water to achieve a jam-like spreadable consistency. Set aside.

To Assemble:

1. Spread the cherry purée over the crust in an even layer.
2. Pour the filling over the cherry layer, then place in the oven and bake until the center is set and no longer ripples when the pan is shaken, 35-45 minutes.
3. Place the pan on a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes, then transfer to the fridge to cool uncovered until completely chilled, 2 to 4 hours.
4. When ready to serve, lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper sling, and transfer to a cutting board. Peel off the paper and cut the bars into your desired number of squares—for clean cuts, be sure to wipe off the knife between each slice.
5. Just before serving, dust with powdered sugar, and enjoy!