Almond Cherry Pepita Bars Recipes

PEPITA BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees. Thoroughly butter a 9 x 13inch baking pan with 2inch sides and line the base with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine the brown sugar, oats, flour, baking powder, and salt. Toss together with your hands, then add the melted butter and continue working with your hands until the mixture is crumbly. Pat the crust mixture evenly over the base of the pan and bake for 10 minutes. Cool on a rack.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, coconut, almonds, pepitas, and sesame seeds, and set aside. In a medium heavy saucepan, combine the honey, brown sugar, and butter. Over medium heat, stir together until the butter is melted. Pour the butter mixture over the dry ingredients and stir until evenly combined. Spread this topping over the crust base and return to a 275 degrees oven for about 20 minutes, or until the center is lightly browned and puffy.
• Cool completely. Cut across the pan lengthwise to separate into 2 long, thin sections, then cut each one into 5 equal bars, approximately 5 x 2 inches. Trim the edges to make them even.
• In the top of a double boiler, combine the chocolate and the clarified butter. Over gently simmering water, melt the chocolate, stirring. Dip the tops of the bars into the melted chocolate mixture and immediately sprinkle with one or more of the following: flaked coconut, pepitas, sesame seeds, and toasted almonds. Allow the chocolate topping to harden before serving.

CHERRY ALMOND BARS

Steps:

• HEAT oven to 350 degrees F. Line bottom and sides of 8 x 8-inch pan with foil, extending foil over edges of pan. Coat lightly with no-stick cooking spray.
• STIR together flour, brown sugar and salt until mixed. Add oil, water and almond extract. Combine with fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pat evenly in bottom of prepared pan.
• BAKE 15 minutes.
• SPREAD preserves evenly over warm crust. Mix almonds, brown sugar and oil until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over top of preserves.
• BAKE 20 minutes. Cool completely. Lift out of pan using foil. Cut into 16 bars. Store in refrigerator.