Ridiculous raspberry Almond Bars

These bars are UNBELIEVABLE!!! Easy to prepare. Buttery, thick, fruity, and decadent. Made healthier with applesauce, wheat germ (adds to the nutty flavor) and splenda these bars are decadent and full of flavor. Not too sweet and definitely bakery quality.

Prep Time:
15 Min
Cook Time:
40 Min
Ready In:
55 Minutes plus hour to cool

Recipe Yield 36 servings

1 1/2 cups butter, softened
1 cups sugar
1 cup granulated splenda
2 eggs
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 cups whole almonds
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (you can skip the almond flour and wheat germ and use 5 cups flour)
1/2 cup wheat germ
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 (18 ounce) jar raspberry jam (seedless preferred)
1 tablespoon sugar
Pinch nutmeg
3 tablespoons butter

In your food processor, grind 1 cup almonds into almond "flour". Reserve.

Chop the remaining almonds into small pieces. With a fork, mash 3 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon sugar, and nutmeg into the chopped almonds. Reserve.

Whisk flour, wheat germ, almond flour, and baking powder together in a mixing bowl. Set aside.

Cream room temp butter with sugar for 3 minutes or until pale and fluffy. Add room temp eggs one at a time until incorporated. (put then in hot water for 5 minutes to bring to room temp,) Add extracts. Gradually incorporate flour mixture. DO NOT OVERMIX!

Warm jam in microwave for 45 sec. Stir thoroughly.

Using wet hands Pat 2/3 of the dough into a 9x13 pan. Spread jam over dough. Crumble remaining 1/3 dough over the jam layer. Sprinkle nut mixture on top and bake for 40 minutes at 350 rotating pan half way through. Let cool for an hour and cut into bars....then enjoy.

Kristan original.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 59 g
Amount Per Serving
Calories 245Calories from Fat 106
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 11.8g18%
Saturated Fat 5.8g29%
Trans Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 33mg11%
Sodium 65mg3%
Total Carbohydrates 32.6g11%
Dietary Fiber 1.3g5%
Sugars 15.2g
Protein 3.7g
Vitamin A 6% • Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 3% • Iron 6%
Nutrition Grade D+
* Based on a 2000 calorie diet