Cherry Almond Bars

Cherry Almond Bars

Base

1 2/3 cup flour

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 cup butter

Topping:

1 2/3 cup almond meal*

1 cup sugar

4 large eggs

1 teaspoon almond extract

1 tablespoon milk

3/4 cup melted butter

8 ounces of Cherry jam Or what ever jam you want 

sliced almonds for topping

* I did not have almond meal, I used my food processor and pulsed the almonds until  finely ground. 

Preheat oven to 350

In the food processor, fitted with the steel blade, pulse flour and powdered sugar till well blended.  Cut butter into bits. Add to flour mixture and pulse till the mixture looks crumbly and sticks together

Press into a 13x9 pan. I dipped my fingers in powdered sugar so they would not stick to the dough.

Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown on top. I pricked the dough with a fork so it would not shrink up

While fresh out of the oven, add the jam.

While the base is baking, make the almond layer

Mix almond meal and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Add eggs one at a time till well blended.

Add the almond extract to the milk, and add the milk mixture to the melted butter, then slowly pour into the egg almond mixture with the mixer running on low. 

Carefully pour this over the jam covered base. Do not let base cool too much. 

Bake, still at 350, for 20 minutes. 

Remove from oven, it will be very jiggly,  sprinkle the almonds on the top and put it back into the oven for 15 to 20 minutes

Let cool for at least 45 minutes, before cutting.  Cut into bars and enjoy! 

Makes 36 bars