Cherry Almond Bars

Elly in Canada's Note:

A rich tasting bar filled with maraschino cherries and chopped almonds, topped with a cherry almond flavoured frosting. Source: Chatelaine magazine, recipe by Carolyn Potts.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 20 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 50 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 36

Yield: 36.0 bars

Base

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup icing sugar, sifted
• 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes

Filling

• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup almonds, finely chopped
• 3/4 cup maraschino cherry, drained and chopped

Topping

• 1/4 cup maraschino cherry juice or 1/4 cup milk
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 cups icing sugar, sifted

Directions:

1. Preheat oven 350 degrees.
2. Spray 9x13 inch baking dish with oil.
3. In a bowl, using a fork, stir flour with 1/2 cup icing sugar; using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in the 1 cup of butter until coarse crumbs form.
4. OR.
5. Whirl flour with icing sugar in food processor until mixed. Add butter, pulse until coarse crumbs form.
6. Press mixture over bottom of baking dish.
7. Bake in centre of oven until light golden around the edges, 25 - 30 minutes. Remove from oven, set aside.
8. Meanwhile, in a bowl, stir flour, baking powder and salt.
9. In a separate bowl, put beaten eggs then stir in brown sugar.
10. Gradually stir in flour mixture, then add almonds and cherries.
11. Spread over warm base.
12. Bake in centre of oven until filling is set, 25 - 30 minutes.
13. To prepare topping - in a small bowl, using an electric beater, beat cherry juice with 3 tblsp butter and almond extract.
14. Gradually beat in 2 cups icing sugar until fluffy.
15. Cover and set aside. Cool bars, then spread icing evenly over top.
16. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before cutting into bars.
17. Store in an airtight container, refrigerate up to 1 week or freeze up to 1 month.
18. Note: if you use the cherry juice for the frosting it will be a nice pink colour!

Reviews

[Junes Daughter]

These are fantastic. Brought them to a picnic and they were a HIT with everyone. The edges carmalized while they baked, and I thought I'd just toss them - but after trying them, they were just as good as the rest - just a little chewie. Shared the recipe with everyone.

[Ennoia]

WOW - these are spectacular! I made them for the office and they were raved about over and over. (So much so that I had to foward the recipe to one of my co-workers too!) I think these will become an annual favourite now!

[**Tinkerbell**]

Decadent! My family loves the cherry & almond combination & this recipe is definitely going to be a favorite. The crust is light & flaky; the filling is rich but also a well-crafted balance of cruncy nuts & chewy cherries. I had just under 1/4 cup cherry juice, so topped it off with milk & my only complaint would be to double the topping next time. It spread a bit thin & I'm just one of those people that my sister would say is, "All about the frosting!". Thanks for sharing, Elly. This one is a gem! Made in gratitude for encouraging my interest in photo taking.