Cinnamon Nut Bars

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a bowl, mix flour with 1/2 cup sugar. Cut in butter until mixture resembles small peas. In a small bowl, beat one egg and stir into dough until well blended and smooth. With lightly floured hands, press and flatten dough into bottom of an ungreased jelly roll pan. Bake on bottom rack 12 to 15 minutes or until center is set.
3. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, beat remaining 2 eggs. Stir in remaining cup sugar along with nuts, cinnamon and salt until well blended. Using a small, wet spatula, spread nut mixture evenly over crust. Return to oven and bake 20 minutes or until golden brown.
4. Cool slightly before cutting into bars. Allow to cool in pan then dust with powdered sugar.

Almond Bars

Instructions

Pulse almond paste in a food processor until broken up into small bits, then add salt and 1/4 cup sugar and continue to pulse until finely ground, about 1 minute.

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9-inch square baking pan, then line with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 opposite sides, and butter foil.

Beat together butter and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes in a stand mixer (preferably fitted with a paddle attachment) or 6 minutes with a handheld. Add almond mixture, egg yolk, and almond extract and beat until combined well, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to low, then add flour and mix until combined. Spread batter evenly in pan with an offset spatula. Lightly beat egg white in a small bowl, then brush some of it over batter and sprinkle evenly with almonds.

Bake until top is golden, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely in pan on a rack, about 1 hour. Transfer with foil to a cutting board, then discard foil. Cut into squares or rounds.