Almond Cream Cheese Shortbread Bars

Almond Cream Cheese Shortbread Bars

Crust and Topping.

• • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 3/4 cup cold, unsalted butter, cut into chunks

Filling.

• • 8 ounces cream cheese

  • 8 ounces almond paste

  • 1 egg

  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

  • 1 tablespoon bourbon (optional)

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350 and spray an 8x8 baking dish with non stick spray.

In a food processor, or with a pastry cutter, combine the crust ingredients until pea-sized pieces of butter remain. Reserve one cup of the crumbs for the topping, and press the remainder of the crumbs firmly against the bottom of the baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, beat the filling ingredients with an electric mixer until smooth. Carefully spread the filling over the hot crust, and sprinkle the filling with the reserved crumbs. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the topping is a pale golden.

Cool completely before cutting. Yields about 9-16 servings.

Recipe from Curly Girl Kitchen