3.7 from 114 votes
Scandinavian Almond Bars
Scandinavian Almond Bars are easy dessert bars for serious almond lovers!
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings: 20 bars
Calories: 165 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
Scandinavian
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup almond meal or flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp milk or cream
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
glaze
- 1 cup confectioner's sugar
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- milk or cream to thin
Instructions
- Set oven to 325F Butter a 9x13 pan and set aside.
- Cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy.
- Beat in the egg and the extract.
- Whisk the flours, baking powder, and salt together and add slowly to the bowl. Mix until everything is well combined.
- Press the dough into the pan with your fingers. I find it it easiest if I scatter the dough in crumbles across the pan and then pat it down. If you don't have quite enough dough to fill your pan, you can stop it a little shy of one edge...the dough will stay put as it bakes. Take a little time with this step to ensure you've got an even layer of dough.
- Brush the top of the dough with the milk or cream, and then top it with the sliced almonds. Press them down gently with your hands.
- Bake for 18-22 minutes, or just until the dough is drying out and just beginning to brown along the edges. The bars will appear under-cooked, but will firm up as they cool.
- Let the bars cool for 5 minutes in the pan, and then slice them. If they seem too soft, let them cool a bit longer. Carefully remove the slices to a rack to cool completely before you ice them.
- To make the glaze, stir the sugar together with the extract, and enough milk or cream to thin to a glaze. Drizzle over the cooled bars.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- *Recipe slightly adapted from Barefeet in the Kitchen (Mary's recipe is gluten free)
- You can use cake flour for an especially tender bar.
- If you don't have almond flour, just use all regular flour.
Nutrition Information
Calories
165kcal
(8%)
Carbohydrates
23g
(8%)
Protein
2g
(4%)
Fat
8g
(12%)
Saturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
2g
Trans Fat
0.2g
Cholesterol
22mg
(7%)
Sodium
34mg
(1%)
Potassium
72mg
(2%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
16g
(32%)
Vitamin A
157IU
(3%)
Calcium
34mg
(3%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 20bars
Amount Per Serving
Calories 165
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 165kcal | 8% |
| Carbohydrates | 23g | 8% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 8g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Trans Fat | 0.2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 22mg | 7% |
| Sodium | 34mg | 1% |
| Potassium | 72mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 16g | 32% |
| Vitamin A | 157IU | 3% |
| Calcium | 34mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.