Almond Cream Cheese Squares Food

ALMOND CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Combine flour, butter and confectioners' sugar; press onto the bottom of a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake until golden brown, 20-25 minutes. , In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and extract until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour over crust. Bake until center is almost set, 15-20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack., For frosting, beat all ingredients until smooth; spread over bars. Store in the refrigerator.

AWARD WINNING ALMOND DESSERT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F with rack on lower middle position. Grease a 9x13 pan and set aside.
• Make the Crust: In a large bowl, combine the butter and powdered sugar; using electric (or stand) mixer fitted with paddle attachment, mix together on medium high speed until light and fluffy, 3-4min. Gently add flour and mix on low speed just until combined. Mixture will be crumbly, so use hands to form a dough ball. Press evenly into prepared glass pan to form bottom crust (I use bottom of a flat glass cup to press down evenly.) Bake 18 minutes or until lightly browned and set. Remove from oven, but leave oven on.
• While the crust is baking, make Filling: In a large bowl, combine eggs, very-soft cream cheese, and sugar. Whisk together until creamy and no lumps remain (it really helps if your cream cheese is quite soft to start with.) Add almond extract and mix to combine. Evenly pour the filling over crust, using rubber spatula to scrape all filling. Bake 15-20 min or until set. Let dessert cool completely on wire rack.
• Frost the Bars: In a bowl, combine all frosting ingredients. Whisk until smooth and no more lumps. Evenly frost over cooled dessert bars (be sure bars have cooled completely before frosting.) Cover, chill, and serve with almond slices on top.

ALMOND CREAM CHEESE SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine all crust ingredients and using two forks or your hands, cut butter into dry ingredients until evenly distributed and pea-sized lumps and sandy bits form. The softer the butter is, the quicker and easier it is.
• Turn mixture out into prepared pan and hard-pack it with a spatula or hands to create an even, uniform, flat crust layer.
• Bake crust for about 15 minutes, or just until barely set (pan is going back in oven so don't overbake or crust will be crumbly).
• While crusts bakes, prepare the filling.
• In a large bowl (same one is fine, just wipe out with a paper towel), add all filling ingredients, and whisk by hand or beat with an electric mixer until smooth and combined; it's okay filling is on the thin side. I prefer a stronger almond flavor and use 2 teaspoons extract, if you don't, scale the amount back.
• After crust has baked for about 15 minutes, remove pan from the oven, and evenly pour filling mixture over the crust. Filling will likely slide into place, but lightly spread it into corners using a spatula if necessary.
• Return pan to oven and bake for about 16 to 19 minutes, or until filling is no longer jiggly in the center and edges have begun to set up; filling will set up more as it cools.
• Remove pan from oven, and place on a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
• In a large bowl (same one is fine, just wipe out with a paper towel), add the butter, confectioners' sugar, almond extract, and slowly drizzle in the cream while whisking by hand or beating with an electric mixer. As necessary, add additional cream (or sugar) to reach desired glaze consistency.
• Evenly frost the bars, smoothing frosting lightly with a spatula as necessary.
• Evenly sprinkle with slivered almonds.
• Allow bars to cool in pan uncovered for at least 1 hour (or overnight and cover with a sheet of foil) before slicing and serving so frosting can set up.

CREAM CHEESE (ALWAYS RAISES TO THE TOP) ALMOND BAR

Steps:

• 1. CRUST DIRECTIONS: Mix and press crust ingredients into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
• 2. FILLING DIRECTIONS: A: Beat cream cheese and sugar for the filling in a processor or mixer.
• 3. B: Add the rest of the filling ingredients and beat until just mixed.
• 4. C: Pour filling mixture over crust and bake for another 15 minutes.
• 5. FROSTING DIRECTIONS: A: Combine all frosting ingredients; powered sugar, butter, milk and almond extract with a mixer. B: Frost bars when they are cool and top with sliced almonds, if desired.
• 6. C: Cut into approx. 24 squares and serve immediately or serve chilled.
• 7. Store in refrigerator or you can even freeze! Have a cup and coffee and remember, Cream Always rises to the top!

ALMOND BARS

Steps:

• Beat together the eggs and sugar until lemon-colored. Add the butter, flour, and almond extract; mix well.
• Spread the batter in an even layer on a buttered 13x9-inch baking pan. Sprinkle the top of the batter with sliced amonds if you wish; otherwise leave the top as is.
• Bake at 325° for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Remove pan from the oven and dust the top with a light sprinkling of confectioner's sugar, if you wish. Leave cookies in the pan to cool completely.
• When cooled, cut into bars. (I usually cut 9 vertical rows and 4 horizontal rows, to get 36 bar cookies.).

CREAM CHEESE-ALMOND BARS

Steps:

• Combine first 4 ingredients; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.
• Gradually add flour, beating well.
• Press dough into a lightly greased 9-inch square pan. Set aside.
• Combine cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, egg, and 1 teaspoons lemon rind; beat at medium speed until smooth.
• Stir in almonds; spoon mixture over prepared dough.
• Bake at 300F for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until set.
• Combine powdered sugar, water, and cinnamon, stirring well.
• Dollop topping onto uncut warm bars.
• Let stand 1 minute; spread evenly.
• Cool in pan on a wire rack.
• Cover and chill 3 to 4 hours.
• Cut into bars.

CREAMY ALMOND BARS

Steps:

• 1. Mix and press crust ingredients into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
• 2. Meanwhile, beat cream cheese and sugar for the filling with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the rest of the filling ingredients and beat until just mixed. Pour filling mixture over crust and bake for another 15 minutes.
• 3. Combine all frosting ingredients with a mixer. Frost bars when they are cool and top with sliced almonds, if desired. Cut into 24 squares and serve immediately or serve chilled. Store in refrigerator.
• 4. *These bars freeze very well!

ALMOND BARS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until lemon-colored. Beat in butter and extract; gradually stir in the four and mix well. Spread into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. , Bake at 325° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

APRICOT ALMOND CREAM CHEESE SQUARES

Steps:

• Set oven 350 degrees.
• Set rack to second lowest position.
• Butter a 13x9 baking pan.
• In a bowl, combine cake mix and melted butter; mix at low speed until crumbly.
• Stir in almonds.
• Reserve 1 cup base mixture.
• Press remaining mixture in bottom of greased pan.
• Carefully spread 1-1/2 cup preserves over base.
• In another bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, flour, salt, vanilla and egg until well blended.
• At low speed, mix in 1/3 cup preserves.
• Carefully spread mixture over base.
• Combine reserved 1 cup base mixture and coconut; sprinkle over filling.
• Bake for 30-40 mins, or until very lightly golden brown, and center is set.
• cool, and then refrigerate overnight.
• Cut into small squares.