Almond Cream Cheese Shortbread Bars Recipes

ALMOND CREAM CHEESE SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine all crust ingredients and using two forks or your hands, cut butter into dry ingredients until evenly distributed and pea-sized lumps and sandy bits form. The softer the butter is, the quicker and easier it is.
• Turn mixture out into prepared pan and hard-pack it with a spatula or hands to create an even, uniform, flat crust layer.
• Bake crust for about 15 minutes, or just until barely set (pan is going back in oven so don't overbake or crust will be crumbly).
• While crusts bakes, prepare the filling.
• In a large bowl (same one is fine, just wipe out with a paper towel), add all filling ingredients, and whisk by hand or beat with an electric mixer until smooth and combined; it's okay filling is on the thin side. I prefer a stronger almond flavor and use 2 teaspoons extract, if you don't, scale the amount back.
• After crust has baked for about 15 minutes, remove pan from the oven, and evenly pour filling mixture over the crust. Filling will likely slide into place, but lightly spread it into corners using a spatula if necessary.
• Return pan to oven and bake for about 16 to 19 minutes, or until filling is no longer jiggly in the center and edges have begun to set up; filling will set up more as it cools.
• Remove pan from oven, and place on a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
• In a large bowl (same one is fine, just wipe out with a paper towel), add the butter, confectioners' sugar, almond extract, and slowly drizzle in the cream while whisking by hand or beating with an electric mixer. As necessary, add additional cream (or sugar) to reach desired glaze consistency.
• Evenly frost the bars, smoothing frosting lightly with a spatula as necessary.
• Evenly sprinkle with slivered almonds.
• Allow bars to cool in pan uncovered for at least 1 hour (or overnight and cover with a sheet of foil) before slicing and serving so frosting can set up.

ALMOND CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Combine flour, butter and confectioners' sugar; press onto the bottom of a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake until golden brown, 20-25 minutes. , In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and extract until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour over crust. Bake until center is almost set, 15-20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack., For frosting, beat all ingredients until smooth; spread over bars. Store in the refrigerator.

LEMON & ALMOND SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line a 20cm square loose-bottomed cake tin with baking parchment. Tip the butter, sugar and a pinch of salt into a large bowl, and beat with an electric whisk until pale and fluffy. Add the flour, ground almonds and milk. Use a wooden spoon and then your hands to bring the mixture together to form a dough.
• Use your fingers to spread the shortbread dough over the bottom of the tin, right into the corners. Bake for 35 mins until golden.
• Meanwhile, prepare the lemon topping. Whisk the lemon juice and eggs together in a jug. In a bowl, combine the sugar, flour and zest. Strain the lemon mixture through a sieve onto the sugar mixture and whisk to combine.
• When the tin is cool enough to handle, wrap the outside tightly in foil - this will prevent the lemon mixture seeping out. Pour over the shortbread and return to the oven for 15 mins. Scatter over the almonds and bake for another 5 mins until the topping has set. Cool completely in the tin, then lift out, dust with icing sugar and cut into bars. Will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.

ALMOND BARS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until lemon-colored. Beat in butter and extract; gradually stir in the four and mix well. Spread into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. , Bake at 325° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

CREAM CHEESE-ALMOND BARS

Steps:

• Combine first 4 ingredients; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.
• Gradually add flour, beating well.
• Press dough into a lightly greased 9-inch square pan. Set aside.
• Combine cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, egg, and 1 teaspoons lemon rind; beat at medium speed until smooth.
• Stir in almonds; spoon mixture over prepared dough.
• Bake at 300F for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until set.
• Combine powdered sugar, water, and cinnamon, stirring well.
• Dollop topping onto uncut warm bars.
• Let stand 1 minute; spread evenly.
• Cool in pan on a wire rack.
• Cover and chill 3 to 4 hours.
• Cut into bars.

KETO-FRIENDLY* ALMOND SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• In food processor, place almond flour, coconut flour, sugar replacement and salt. Pulse until combined. Add butter, cream cheese and almond extract; pulse 8 to 10 times or until dough begins to come together. Remove dough; shape into flattened disk. Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate about 1 1/2 hours or until firm.
• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Place chilled dough between two pieces of parchment paper; roll into 10x8-inch rectangle, about 1/4-inch thick. Peel top piece of parchment paper off dough.
• Cut into 8 rows by 4 rows. Place rectangles 1 inch apart on ungreased large cookie sheets. Prick with fork, if desired.
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool on cookie sheet 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.