Swedish Squares Recipes

SWEDISH NUT BARS

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Prepare a 9 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan by lining bottom with either waxed paper or parchment paper. Grease the paper.
• Separate the eggs and reserve the whites. Beat egg yolks until thick and tripled in volume. Add sugar slowly, beating until very thick. Slowly fold in nuts and extract. Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry. Fold them into the yolk mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake for one hour or until done. Cool in pan for 10 minutes then turn out and remove paper. Cool completely. Cut as needed.

SWEDISH SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Lightly grease an 9 inch square baking pan.
• In a large bowl beat together butter and brown sugar until creamy.
• Beat in the egg, mix throughly.
• Beat in the vanilla, mix thoroughly.
• Beat in the flour and salt until well combined.
• Press mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and while still hot spread with the raspberry jam.
• Sprinkle with coconut.
• Cool completely and cut into squares.

SWEDISH RASPBERRY ALMOND BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add flour and mix well. Press onto the bottom of a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake 18-20 minutes or until lightly browned., Spread jam over crust. In a large bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff peaks form. Fold in coconut and 1/2 cup almonds. Spread over jam. Sprinkle with remaining almonds. Bake 18-22 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack. Dust with additional confectioners' sugar if desired.

SCANDINAVIAN ALMOND BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°.
• Stir together flour, baking powder and salt.
• In a large bowl beat margarine or butter till softened.
• Add sugar and beat till fluffy.
• Add egg and the 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract and beat well.
• Add the flour mixture and beat till well mixed.
• Divide the dough into fourths, form each portion into a 12 inch roll.
• Place 2 of the rolls 4 to 5-inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Flatten each roll till it is about 3 inches wide.
• Repeat with the remaining rolls.
• Brush each flattened roll with milk and sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of almonds each.
• Bake in a 325° oven for 12-14 minutes or till edges are lightly brown.
• While still warm, cut crosswise on the diagonal into 1 inch strips.
• Cool completely on a wire rack.
• Stir together the powdered sugar, the almond extract and enough of the 3-4 teaspoons of milk to make a drizzling consistency.
• Drizzle over the cool bars.

SCANDINAVIAN ALMOND BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• In a medium bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add egg and almond extract; mix until fluffy. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt; mix well.
• Divide dough into 4 pieces, and roll each one into a log about 12 inches long. Place 2 logs per cookie sheet 4 to 5 inches apart. Flatten each roll by hand until it is about 3 inches wide. Brush flattened roll with milk and sprinkle with sliced almonds.
• Bake in preheated oven 12 to 15 minutes or until edges are slightly browned. While the cookies are still warm, cut them crosswise at a diagonal, into slices about 1 inch wide. When cool, drizzle with almond icing.
• Almond icing: In a small bowl, stir together powdered sugar, almond extract, and milk until smooth. Drizzle over the cookies.

SWEDISH SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy; beat in vanilla. Sift together cornstarch and flour and add to butter mixture. Mix or knead until smooth. On waxed paper, roll dough into a square 1/4" thick, then cut into 1 1/2" squares with pastry wheel or knife. Bake on buttered cookie sheets in a 350°F. oven about 10-12 minutes, or until golden.