Spiced Chocolate Almond Bars Recipes

ALMOND SPICE BARS

Steps:

• Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang; coat with cooking spray. Bring the honey and granulated sugar to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring to dissolve. Remove from the heat and transfer to a large bowl. Stir in the cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg; let cool slightly, 10 minutes.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Quickly stir the beaten egg into the honey-sugar mixture with a rubber spatula, then add the almonds, orange peel, vanilla, lemon zest and 1 tablespoon liqueur. Stir in the flour mixture until combined (the dough will be stiff and dry). Scrape into the prepared pan. Lightly coat a piece of plastic wrap with cooking spray and use to press the dough into an even layer. Set aside 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bake the bars until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with only a few crumbs, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Make the glaze: Whisk the confectioners' sugar, orange juice and remaining 1 tablespoon
• liqueur in a bowl until smooth. Brush the warm bars with some of the glaze; cover the remaining glaze and set aside. Let the bars cool 10 minutes in the pan, then remove to a cutting board. Cut into 1-by-2 1/2-inch bars and let cool completely on a rack.
• Drizzle the bars with the remaining glaze; top with candied orange peel.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND BARK

Steps:

• Butter a baking sheet or use a silicone baking mat (preferred).
• Bring about 1 inch of water to a simmer in a medium saucepan with a bowl fitted to sit just above the simmering water. Add the chocolate. When the chocolate is melted, remove the bowl from the heat and stir in the almonds. Spread on the baking sheet in a thin uniform layer. Let set for 5 minutes, then sprinkle with the salt. Chill in the refrigerator until firm, at least 2 hours.
• Break the bark into 1- to 2-inch pieces. Store in a cool, dry place, stacked between layers of foil or parchment in an airtight container. The bark will keep, tightly sealed in your pantry, for up to a week.

SPICED CHOCOLATE ALMOND BARS

Steps:

• Lightly butter an 8-inch square baking dish and line with parchment paper. Set aside.
• Place a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the butter and cook until the foaming settles and the butter is light brown in color and is starting to smell nutty, about 5 minutes. Remove the butter from the heat and stir in the almond butter with a rubber spatula until smooth. Add the almond flour, vanilla extract, cinnamon, ginger and salt and stir until incorporated. Add the confectioners' sugar and stir until combined. Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan and set aside.
• Add the chocolate chips and coconut oil to a small bowl. Place the bowl over a small saucepan with an inch of water in it that the bowl fits snuggly on top of. Place the pan over medium heat and cook, stirring often, until the chocolate is almost melted, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir until smooth (see Cook's Note). Pour the mixture over the almond base and spread evenly. Sprinkle with the toasted almonds. Refrigerate until just set, about 20 minutes (see Cook's Note).
• Using a small serrated knife, cut into bars and refrigerate, at least 1 hour or until ready to serve.

SPICED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Toast the almonds in a dry skillet over a medium heat, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Transfer the almonds to a bowl.
• In a small bowl, stir together the cumin, garlic, cayenne pepper and salt. Heat the oil in the skillet over medium heat. Stir the spices into the oil and cook, stirring until warm, about 30 seconds. Add the almonds and cook, stirring frequently, until the nuts are warm and the spices are evenly distributed. Add the hot pepper sauce and stir to distribute. Remove the almonds from the pan and allow them to cool before serving.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND BARS

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the flour and sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Press into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire rack., In a saucepan, combine the milk and 1 cup chocolate chips. Cook and stir over low heat until chips are melted. Remove from the heat; cool slightly. Stir in egg, almonds and extract. Spread over crust. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpicks inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. In a microwave, melt shortening and remaining chips; drizzle over top. Cut into bars.

CHOCOLATE SPICE BARS

Steps:

• Equipment: One 10 by 15 by 1-inch pan buttered and lined with parchment or foil
• Set a rack in the middle level of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, spices and salt. Stir well to mix and sift the dry ingredients onto a piece of parchment or waxed paper.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter with the sugar on low speed until just mixed. Beat in the chocolate, then the eggs, one at a time, beating smooth between each addition. Beat in the dry ingredients, scraping bowl and beater(s) several times. Off the mixer, fold in the chopped nuts. Scrape the batter onto the prepared pan and smooth the top with an offset metal icing spatula or a rubber spatula.
• Bake the bars for about 30 minutes, until firm, but not dry. Cool in the pan on a rack. Trim 1/8-inch from the edges and cut the cooled sheet into 2- inch squares, using a sharp, thin-bladed knife.
• Storage: Keep the bars between sheets of waxed paper in a tin or other container with a tight-fitting cover.