“Almond Croissant Cookie Bars” Are the Best Thing I’ve Made All Year (I’ve Already Baked 3 Batches!)

When I first tested these almond croissant cookie bars, I knew right away they were a keeper. I love almond croissants (especially the rich, nutty frangipane filling), and this recipe captures all of that flavor in bar form. Layered with a homemade almond filling and topped with sliced almonds and powdered sugar, these bars are soft and chewy just like blondies. I’ve already made them twice since testing the recipe, and everyone I’ve shared them with keeps asking for more.

Get the recipe: Almond Croissant Cookie Bars

The thing that makes these cookie bars really stand out is the frangipane filling. It’s soft, rich, and full of almond flavor. I tested the recipe using almond meal, and it worked beautifully. Almond meal is slightly coarser than almond flour, as it’s made with whole almonds (including the skins), but either will give you that nutty flavor and soft, tender texture in the filling. The base is buttery and chewy, and it pairs perfectly with the almond layer on top. A handful of sliced almonds gives them a bit of crunch, and a dusting of powdered sugar at the end makes them look like something you’d pick up from a fancy bakery.

Bonus: The batter comes together quickly, and you don’t need to worry about blind baking the crust. Just spread the base, top with the almond filling, and bake. It’s the kind of dessert that looks impressive without being overly complicated, which is always a win in my book.

• Line the baking pan with two sheets of parchment paper. This is the key to getting clean slices! Position them perpendicular to each other so that the parchment hangs about 2 inches over all four sides of the pan to form a sling. Then when you’re ready to cut the bars, grasp the excess parchment, lift the slab onto a cutting board, and cut into 16 pieces.
• Use almond extract. Along with the almond meal and sliced almonds, a touch of almond extract in the crust and the filling gives these bars their signature flavor. You can also use almond extract in other desserts like bee sting pound cake, rainbow cookies, and ricotta cookies.

Get the recipe: Almond Croissant Cookie Bars

This article originally published on The Kitchn. See it there: “Almond Croissant Cookie Bars” Are the Best Thing I’ve Made All Year (I’ve Already Baked 3 Batches!)