Elegant Almond Bars (cookie Mix)

Total Time: 2 hrs 55 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients

• 1 (17 1/2 ounce) package betty crocker sugar cookie mix
• 1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine, melted
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 egg
• 1 (8 ounce) can almond paste, crumbled into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup butter or 1/4 cup margarine, melted
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 2 ounces chocolate baking bar, coarsely chopped (1/3 cup)
• 2 tablespoons shortening
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds

Recipe

• 1 heat oven to 350°f.
• 2 in large bowl, stir cookie base ingredients until soft dough forms.
• 3 spread in ungreased 13x9-inch pan. b.
• 4 ake 15 to 18 minutes or until light golden brown.
• 5 meanwhile, in large bowl, beat almond paste, sugar and 1/4 cup melted butter with electric mixer on low speed until blended.
• 6 add 2 eggs; beat until well blended (mixture may be slightly lumpy).
• 7 spread almond paste mixture over partially baked base.
• 8 sprinkle with 1/2 cup almonds.
• 9 bake 15 to 20 minutes longer or until filling is set (filling will puff up during baking).
• 10 cool completely, about 1 hour.
• 11 in 1-quart heavy saucepan, melt chocolate and shortening over low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth.
• 12 pour and spread over cooled bars.
• 13 sprinkle with 1/4 cup almonds.
• 14 let stand about 30 minutes or until topping is set.
• 15 for bars, cut into 8 rows by 4 rows.
• 16 store covered at room temperature.