Holiday Chocolate Almond Bars Recipes

CHOCOLATE ALMOND BARK

Steps:

• Line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside. Put chopped almonds In a skillet. Cook, stirring often over medium high heat, until golden brown. Remove from heat.
• In a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water, melt chocolate chips and shortening until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 the toasted almonds. Spread onto the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle with remaining almonds, and chill 30 minutes, or until solid. Break into bite-size pieces to serve.

HOLIDAY ALMOND BARS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream the butter, almond paste and 2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and extract. Gradually add flour just until moistened., Spread into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining sugar; top with almonds. , Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into squares. Store in the refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND BARS

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the flour and sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Press into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire rack., In a saucepan, combine the milk and 1 cup chocolate chips. Cook and stir over low heat until chips are melted. Remove from the heat; cool slightly. Stir in egg, almonds and extract. Spread over crust. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpicks inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. In a microwave, melt shortening and remaining chips; drizzle over top. Cut into bars.

SPICED CHOCOLATE ALMOND BARS

Steps:

• Lightly butter an 8-inch square baking dish and line with parchment paper. Set aside.
• Place a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the butter and cook until the foaming settles and the butter is light brown in color and is starting to smell nutty, about 5 minutes. Remove the butter from the heat and stir in the almond butter with a rubber spatula until smooth. Add the almond flour, vanilla extract, cinnamon, ginger and salt and stir until incorporated. Add the confectioners' sugar and stir until combined. Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan and set aside.
• Add the chocolate chips and coconut oil to a small bowl. Place the bowl over a small saucepan with an inch of water in it that the bowl fits snuggly on top of. Place the pan over medium heat and cook, stirring often, until the chocolate is almost melted, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir until smooth (see Cook's Note). Pour the mixture over the almond base and spread evenly. Sprinkle with the toasted almonds. Refrigerate until just set, about 20 minutes (see Cook's Note).
• Using a small serrated knife, cut into bars and refrigerate, at least 1 hour or until ready to serve.

THE BEST WHITE CHOCOLATE ALMOND BARK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Roast almonds on 1 baking sheet in the preheated oven, stirring occasionally, until toasted, about 10 minutes.
• Microwave white chocolate melting wafers and butter in a microwave-safe bowl on medium-high for 1 minute 30 seconds; stir. Microwave until completely melted, 20 to 30 seconds more. Add almond extract and stir until smooth. Stir in toasted almonds.
• Spread chocolate mixture evenly onto the second baking sheet. Chill in the refrigerator until hardened, about 1 hour. Break into small pieces by hand.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND BARS

Steps:

• Make crust and topping:
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Beat together butter and brown sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes with a standing mixer or 3 minutes with a handheld. Reduce speed to low and mix in flour and salt just until a dough forms. Pat two thirds of dough evenly over bottom of a buttered 8- by 2-inch square metal baking pan. Bake crust in middle of oven until edge is golden, about 12 minutes. While crust is baking, work almonds into remaining dough with your hands until crumbs form, then reserve for topping. Cool crust in pan on a rack.
• Make filling while crust cools:
• Dissolve espresso powder in vanilla in a small cup. Beat together cream cheese and sugar with cleaned beaters at medium-high speed until creamy, about 2 minutes, then add egg and espresso mixture and beat well. Stir in chocolate chips.
• Pour filling onto cooled crust and crumble topping evenly over filling. Bake in middle of oven until edges are golden, about 30 to 35 minutes. Cool completely in pan on rack. Cut into 16 bars.

ALMOND BARS

Steps:

• Beat together the eggs and sugar until lemon-colored. Add the butter, flour, and almond extract; mix well.
• Spread the batter in an even layer on a buttered 13x9-inch baking pan. Sprinkle the top of the batter with sliced amonds if you wish; otherwise leave the top as is.
• Bake at 325° for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Remove pan from the oven and dust the top with a light sprinkling of confectioner's sugar, if you wish. Leave cookies in the pan to cool completely.
• When cooled, cut into bars. (I usually cut 9 vertical rows and 4 horizontal rows, to get 36 bar cookies.).