Elegant Almond Bars

  • Prep 25 min
  • Total 2 hr 30 min
  • Servings 32

Ingredients

Cookie Base

Filling

  • 1 can (8 oz) or 1 package (7 oz) almond paste, crumbled into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds

Topping

  • 2 oz white chocolate baking bar, coarsely chopped (1/3 cup)
  • 2 tablespoons shortening
  • 1/4 cup sliced almonds

Steps

  • 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.

  • 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!
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 Facts

Serving Size: 1 Bar
Calories
180
Calories from Fat
90
Total Fat
10g
16%
Saturated Fat
4g
20%
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
30mg
11%
Sodium
75mg
3%
Potassium
65mg
2%
Total Carbohydrate
19g
6%
Dietary Fiber
0g
0%
Sugars
14g
Protein
3g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
4%
4%
Vitamin C
0%
0%
Calcium
2%
2%
Iron
2%
2%
Exchanges:
0 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 1/2 High-Fat Meat; 1 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
1
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
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