Almond, Apricot and White Chocolate Decadence Bars

Prize-Winning Recipe 2008! Apricots, cream cheese and almond paste create the wow in rich and dreamy bars.

Prep Time

Minutes

Total Time

3:35

Hrs:Mins

Makes

bars

Cookie Base

pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix

1/2

cup butter or margarine, melted

1/2

teaspoon almond extract

egg, slightly beaten

Filling

package (7 or 8 oz) almond paste (not marzipan)

1/2

cup sugar

cup finely chopped dried apricots (6 oz)

oz cream cheese, softened

eggs

teaspoon lemon juice

Topping

bag (12 oz) white vanilla baking chips (2 cups)

2/3

cup whipping cream

1/2

cup sliced almonds

Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, stir cookie base ingredients until soft dough forms. Spread dough in bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch pan. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until set. Cool 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat almond paste and sugar with electric mixer on low speed until crumbly but blended. Add apricots; beat on low speed just until combined. Add cream cheese, 2 eggs and the lemon juice; beat on medium speed until well blended. Pour over warm cookie base.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until set. Cool 30 minutes.
Place baking chips in small bowl. In 1-quart saucepan, heat whipping cream just to boiling over low heat, stirring occasionally; pour over baking chips. Let stand 1 minute. Stir until chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Pour and spread over filling. Sprinkle with almonds. Refrigerate about 2 hours or until set. For bars, cut into 9 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

Makes 36 bars

Make the Most of This Recipe With Tips From The Betty Crocker^® Kitchens

Success

Skip the cooking spray, and instead line the pan with quick-release foil for easy cleanup and removal of bars from the pan.

Nutrition Information:

1 Serving (1 Bar)

Calories 220

(Calories from Fat 110),

Total Fat 12g

(Saturated Fat 6g,
Trans Fat 1/2g),

Cholesterol 35mg;
Sodium 100mg;
Total Carbohydrate 25g

(Dietary Fiber 0g,
Sugars 19g),

Protein 3g;

Percent Daily Value*:

Exchanges:

1/2 Starch;
0 Fruit;
1 Other Carbohydrate;
0 Skim Milk;
0 Low-Fat Milk;
0 Milk;
0 Vegetable;
0 Very Lean Meat;
0 Lean Meat;
0 High-Fat Meat;
2 1/2 Fat;

Carbohydrate Choices:

1 1/2;

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Almond, Apricot and White Chocolate Decadence Bars

Make the Most of This Recipe With Tips From The Betty Crocker® Kitchens

Make the Most of This Recipe With Tips From The Betty Crocker^® Kitchens