Chocolate Mocha Almond Bars

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 8 ounces almond paste, at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 eggs
• 4 ounces sweet baking chocolate, chopped
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons powdered instant coffee (put several teaspoons of instant coffee granules in a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin)
• 1/3 cup finely chopped toasted almond

Recipe

• 1 to make bottom layer: blend butter and sugar together.
• 2 add eggs and vanilla.
• 3 mix well.
• 4 add combined dry ingredients, a little at a time, mixing well between additions.
• 5 pat dough into greased 10 1/2 x 15 1/2 x 1 inch jelly roll pan.
• 6 to make middle layer: combine almond paste, butter, sugar, egg and vanilla.
• 7 beat until smooth.
• 8 add eggs and mix well.
• 9 spread over dough in pan.
• 10 bake at 350 f for 20-25 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
• 11 let cool in pan on wire rack.
• 12 to make frosting: melt together chocolate, cream, and coffee powder.
• 13 stir well to combine.
• 14 pour over cooled layers in pan and spread evenly.
• 15 top with chopped almonds.
• 16 when frosting has set (after about 30 minutes), cut into bars.