Apricot-Orange Shortbread Bars

Serves: 2

Catharine Rutherford

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

40

Spice

55

Sweetness

47

Sourness

26

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.7

Difficulty

Ingredients:

3 cup

Sugar

1 tsp

Salt

Directions:

1

Press topping lightly into preserves

2

Preheat oven to 325°F

3

Butter 9x9x2-inch metal baking pan; line bottom and sides of pan with parchment paper, extending over sides

4

Butter parchment

5

Mix preserves and orange liqueur in small bowl; set aside

6

Using electric mixer, beat 1 cup butter and sugar in large bowl until well blended

7

Beat in almond extract

8

Add flour and salt; beat just until blended

9

Transfer 1 cup of dough to another small bowl; add crumbled almond paste and mix with fingertips until small clumps form

10

Mix in 1/4 cup sliced almonds; set aside for topping

11

Press remaining dough evenly onto bottom of prepared pan

12

Spread preserves mixture evenly over

13

Using fingertips, coarsely crumble topping over preserves, then sprinkle 1/4 cup almonds over

14

Press topping lightly into preserves

15

Bake shortbread until top and crust edges are golden brown, about 1 hour

16

Cool completely in pan on rack

17

Using parchment paper as aid, lift shortbread from pan

18

Cut shortbread into 4 equal strips, then cut each strip crosswise into 8 small bar cookies

19

(Can be prepared ahead

20

Store in single layer in airtight container at room temperature up to 4 days or freeze up to 2 weeks

21

) Preheat oven to 325°F

22

Butter 9x9x2-inch metal baking pan; line bottom and sides of pan with parchment paper, extending over sides

23

Butter parchment

24

Mix preserves and orange liqueur in small bowl; set aside

25

Using electric mixer, beat 1 cup butter and sugar in large bowl until well blended

26

Beat in almond extract

27

Add flour and salt; beat just until blended

28

Transfer 1 cup of dough to another small bowl; add crumbled almond paste and mix with fingertips until small clumps form

29

Mix in 1/4 cup sliced almonds; set aside for topping

30

Press remaining dough evenly onto bottom of prepared pan

31

Spread preserves mixture evenly over

32

Using fingertips, coarsely crumble topping over preserves, then sprinkle 1/4 cup almonds over

33

Bake shortbread until top and crust edges are golden brown, about 1 hour

34

Cool completely in pan on rack

35

Using parchment paper as aid, lift shortbread from pan

36

Cut shortbread into 4 equal strips, then cut each strip crosswise into 8 small bar cookies

37

(Can be prepared ahead

38

Store in single layer in airtight container at room temperature up to 4 days or freeze up to 2 weeks)