22 22 22
recipes
cooking
baking
entertaining
how-to
Community
products
Shop

Elegant Almond Bars

Prize-Winning Recipe 2007! Who would have guessed a sugar cookie mix was the jump start of an irresistible almond lover’s bar. Both quick and easy, the bar is reminiscent of a Scandinavian bakery pastry.
Prep Time: 25 min
Total Time: 2 hours 30 min
Makes: 32 bars
Log In to Rate
full spoonfull spoonfull spoonfull spoonhalf spoon
(60 ratings)


Cookie Base
1pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
1/2cup butter or margarine, melted
1/2teaspoon almond extract
1egg
Filling
1can (8 oz) or 1 package (7 oz) almond paste, crumbled into 1/2-inch pieces
1/4cup sugar
1/4cup butter or margarine, melted
2eggs
1/2cup sliced almonds
Topping
2oz white chocolate baking bar, coarsely chopped (1/3 cup)
2tablespoons shortening
1/4cup sliced almonds
1.Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, stir cookie base ingredients until soft dough forms. Spread in ungreased 13x9-inch pan. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until light golden brown.
2.Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat almond paste, sugar and 1/4 cup melted butter with electric mixer on low speed until blended. Add 2 eggs; beat until well blended (mixture may be slightly lumpy).
3.Spread almond paste mixture over partially baked base. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup almonds. Bake 15 to 20 minutes longer or until filling is set (filling will puff up during baking). Cool completely, about 1 hour.
4.In 1-quart heavy saucepan, melt white chocolate and shortening over low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth. Pour and spread over cooled bars. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup almonds. Let stand about 30 minutes or until topping is set. For bars, cut into 8 rows by 4 rows. Store covered at room temperature.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): In step 1, bake 18 to 21 minutes. In step 3, bake 17 to 22 minutes.
Make the Most of This Recipe
Did You Know?
This recipe was one of fifteen winners in the 2007 Mix It Up with Betty! Cookie Mix Recipe Contest. More than $10,000 was awarded!
Did You Know?
Almond paste can be found in the baking section of your supermarket. It is a prepared mixture of almonds, sugar and water that comes in either a can or a tube packed in a box. Stay away from the larger 12- to 13-oz canned pastry filling because it is a different product.
Purchasing
Use the premium or premier white chocolate baking bars found next to other chocolates in the baking aisle. It will give you a better flavor and performance than almond bark.
Success
The glaze can also be prepared in the microwave. In small microwavable bowl, microwave white chocolate and shortening 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted and smooth.

Nutrition Information:

1 Bar: Calories 180 (Calories from Fat 90); Total Fat 10g (Saturated Fat 4g, Trans Fat 1g); Cholesterol 30mg; Sodium 75mg; Total Carbohydrate 19g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 14g); Protein 3Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 4%; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 2%; Iron 2Exchanges: 1 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Vegetable; 1/2 High-Fat Meat; 1 Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 1 
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Not what you're looking for? Try another search:
Search
© 2009 ®/TM General Mills All Rights Reserved
Sign up for recipe newsletters
Already a member? Log In
NEWSLETTERS
RECIPE BOX
GROCERY LISTS
RECENTLY VIEWED
COMMUNITY
 
Betty's Kitchen Poll
What's your favorite way to eat potatoes?






SEE RESULTS