Almond Bars

Ingredients

• 440g all-purpose flour (3 1/2 cups)
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 400g granulated sugar (2 cups)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon almond extract

Instructions

1. In a mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Add in eggs and almond extract. Beat until combined.
2. Mix dry ingredients together in a separate bowl; flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Slowly add in flour mixture. Mixing until well blended.
4. Cut parchment paper to fit in a 9x9 baking pan, covering the bottom and two sides
5. Fill the baking pan with the dough, tapering slightly narrower toward the edges, try to get the top as smooth as possible
6. Bake 30 minutes at 325º
7. Cool at room temperature and then pull the uncut bars out using the parchment paper, place on a cutting board in the freezer
8. Bars need to be solid to the touch, but not completely frozen through in order to cut cleanly

• Cut edges off, then half, then half the halves for four strips
• Turn 90º and cut strips in half
• Evenly space out four cuts on each of these halves so there are ten strips total on this side
• The bars are close to 5/8" x 1 1/2"

Yields 40