Cara's Aunt Pat's White Chocolate Almost Raspberry Bars

 Let's be real, anything Cara makes is amazing! These are the absolute best bars/cookies ever! They seem labor intensive, but they really aren't, and all the steps are sooooo worth it! Especially if you like the taste of almond. 

Ingredients:

1/2 C Butter

12 oz White Chocolate Chips (2 Cups)

2 Eggs

1 C Flour

1/2 tsp Salt

1 tsp Almond Extract

1/2 C Raspberry Jam

1/4 C Almonds roasted*

Method:

1. Heat oven 325. Grease and flour an 8x8 or a 9x9 baking pan. 
2. Melt butter in saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and add 1 cup of white chocolate chips. Let stand, and do not stir.
3. In a large bowl beat eggs until foamy. Gradually add sugar, beating at a high speed until lemon colored.
4. Stir butter/chocolate chip mixture, into egg mixture. Add flour, salt, and almond extract. Mix at low speed until just combined. 
5. Spread 1/2 of the batter (about 1 cup) into the greased and floured pan. Bake at 325 for 15-20 minutes or until light golden brown. 
6. Mix the remaining white chocolate chips into the remaining 1/2 of batter, set aside
7. In a small sauce pan, over low heat melt raspberry jam.
8. Spread melted jam over warm partially baked crust
9. Gently spoon the rest of the batter mixture over crust/jam
10. Sprinkle with almonds
11. Bake at 325 for an additional 25/30 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool and cut

*to toast almonds, bake at 325 for 6-10 minutes or until toasted brown. Stir once or twice.

*make 16-24 bars... if you cut them tiny