Apricot Almond Bars
Rich and buttery almond bars topped with apricot jam and crunchy chopped almonds for a layered texture.
Ingredients
unsalted butter (softened)
14 tbsp (1¾ sticks)
sugar
1/2 cup
all-purpose flour
1¾ cups
salt
1/4 tsp
almond paste (scant 1/2 cup)
3½ oz
sliced almonds (plus 2 tbsp for sprinkling)
1/3 cup
apricot preserves
1/3 cup
Instructions
1
Preheat oven & prep pan
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with foil so that it extends about 2 inches over two opposite sides. Generously butter the foil, making sure the sides and the bottom are well coated.
2
Make crust dough
Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl until creamy. With the beaters on low speed, mix in the flour and salt just until blended. The dough will be crumbly, but it will feel moist when pinched.
3
Prepare topping
Scoop out 1 cup of the dough and set it aside in a small bowl. Crumble the almond paste into small bits and toss with the reserved dough in the bowl. Mix in 1/3 cup of the almonds.
4
Bake crust
Press the remaining dough evenly in the prepared pan. Bake the crust for 23 to 25 minutes or until golden. Cool for 5 minutes.
5
Assemble & bake
Spread the apricot preserves over the baked crust. Sprinkle the almond paste–crumb topping evenly over the preserves. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tbsp of almonds. Bake for 32 to 35 minutes or until the preserves are bubbling and the topping is nicely golden. Cool completely in the pan on a rack.
6
Cut & serve
Holding on to the foil overhang, lift the bars from the pan and place on a cutting board. Peel the foil away from the sides of the bars. Using a sharp knife or a bench scraper, cut into 4 equal strips, then cut each strip crosswise into 6 bars.
