Jam & Almond Cookie Bars
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1 cup of your favorite jam
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease and/or line an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray (and parchment paper).
In a medium bowl, whisk flour, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder together. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugars for 2-3 minutes until pale and fluffy. Add the egg and extracts and mix well. Add the flour mixture and stir till combined. Divide the dough in half (it may be a bit crumbly) and mix the almonds into one half of the dough.
Pinch off lumps of the plain dough and scatter them over the bottom of the prepared pan. Gently press into the bottom and to the edges of the pan until the whole bottom is evenly covered. Give your jam a good stir to loosen it up and spread it evenly over the dough. Scatter small, rough lumps of the dough with nuts evenly over the top of the jam.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the top is nicely browned. Let the bars cool completely in the pan before removing and cutting into squares.