Apricot Almond Bars

---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05

Title: Apricot Almond Bars
Categories: Cookies
Yield: 72 servings

Almond topping------
1 1/2 c Sugar
3 c Almonds, blanched, sliced
4 Egg whites (save 2 yolks
-for crust)
2 tb Flour
1/2 ts Cinnamon
1/4 ts Freshly grated nutmeg
Crust------
2 1/2 c Flour
1/2 c Sugar
1 c Butter
2 Egg yolks
Apricot glaze-----
1/2 c Apricot preserves
1 tb Water
Chocolate glaze------
3 oz Semisweet chocolate
1 oz Unsweetened chocolate

Recipe by: Old Farmers Almanac, Second Prize, 1989
Preheat oven to 350F. Line a jelly-roll pan with foil.
Almond topping: In top of double boiler over hot water, combine all
ingredients. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture reaches 110F on
candy thermometer. Remove from heat and set aside.
Crust: In a large bowl combine flour and sugar. Cut in butter until
mixture is crumbly, add egg yolks. With hands, mix into a smooth dough.
Press into prepared pan and prick with fork. Bake for 15 minutes.
Remove from oven and spread almond topping over crust. Return to oven
and bake for 20 minutes longer.

Apricot Glaze: Meanwhile, in a small saucepan melt the apricot preserves
with water over low heat. Strain through a fine sieve. Brush blaze over
baked almond topping imediately after pan comes out of the oven. Cool pan
on rack. Cut into 2" squares when cool.
Chocolate Glaze: In top of double boiler over hot water, melt semisweet
and unsweetened chocolate together. Drizzle on top of cookies. Allow to
set. Makes about 6 dozen

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