While there are so many types of bars you can make, these offer a unique almond taste that complements the fruity jam well.
You are also in the driver’s seat when it comes to sweetness. If you prefer a sweeter treat, choose a sweet jam. If not, choose one that has less sugar or more sour, like apricot jam.
Tools
- 8×8 square pan
- Stand or hand mixer
Ingredients
- 7 ounces almond paste
- 1 stick butter (at room temperature) + additional for buttering pan (or cooking spray)
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla or almond extract
- 1/2 cup sour cream (can also substitute with yogurt or mayonnaise)
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cup flour
- 3/4 cup strawberry jam (or other preferred fruit)
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- Butter or spray pan and set aside.
- Break up almond paste using a mixer.
- Add butter and sugar to the almond paste and cream until mixture is even and light in color (about 5 minutes). (There may be small pieces of almond paste at the end. While not ideal, that is okay.)
- Add eggs and mix until fully incorporated.
- Add sour cream and vanilla or almond extract.
- Slowly mix in flour and salt just until they are fully incorporated.
- Spread half of the mixture evenly at the bottom of the pan. (Tip: If you have a small offset spatula, that’s the easiest way to evenly distribute the dough.)
- Spread a layer of jam.
- Spread the rest of the mixture evenly on top.
- Bake on the middle rack until golden brown and a toothpick in the middle comes out clean (about 45 minutes).
- Wait for at least 1 hour for it to cool before slicing into squares.