Friday, May 28, 2010

Almond Caramel Bars

Surprise the brown baggers in your family by tucking in one of these cookies with the usual lunchtime fare. Chewy and easy to make, they are topped with a rich caramel-nut glaze.

¾ cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
½ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup chopped almonds
¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 tablespoon milk

In a medium-size bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, eggs, granulated sugar, ½ cup of the almonds and ½ cup of the brown sugar; beat until well blended. Spread batter evenly in a greased 9-inch-square baking pan. Bake in a 350 degrees oven until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean (about 20 minutes).

Meanwhile, melt butter in a small pan over low heat. Stir in remaining 1/4 cup almonds, remaining ¼ cup brown sugar, and milk. Remove pan from heat.

Spread almond-sugar mixture evenly over hot baked cookies. Broil about 4 inches below eat until topping is bubbly all over and golden brown (about 2 minutes). Let cool in pan on a rack. To serve, cut into bars. Make about 24 cookies.