Marzipan Bars for the Office

From the Website:

OFFICE-PARTY CROWD-PLEASER: Marzipan Bars

Prep time: 35 minutes
Baking time: 1 hour

Photo Credit: Tina Rup

Crust

• 2 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3⁄4 cup sugar
• 1⁄2 tsp salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut up
• 1 large egg, beaten

Filling

• 1 1⁄4 cups sugar
• 3⁄4 cup blanched or natural almonds
• 3⁄4 cup hazelnuts, toasted, skins removed
• 1⁄4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tsp pure almond extract
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 to 3 drops green food coloring, if desired
• 1⁄2 cup seedless raspberry jam
• 6 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 2 tsp vegetable shortening

1. Crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 15 1⁄2 x 10 1⁄2-inch jelly-roll pan with foil, letting foil extend 2 inches at ends. In a food processor, pulse flour, sugar, and salt to combine. Add butter and pulse until mixture is the texture of coarse meal. Add egg and pulse until dough begins to hold together. Press dough evenly over bottom and sides of pan. Refrigerate 15 minutes. Bake 20 to 22 minutes, or until crust is browned at edges and golden in the center. Cool on rack while making filling.

2. Filling: In food processor, process sugar, almonds, hazelnuts, and flour until nuts are very finely ground. Add butter and 1 egg. Process until smooth. Add remaining eggs, almond extract, vanilla extract, and green food coloring if using. Process until blended.

3. Spread jam over bottom of crust. Spoon filling over jam and spread to cover. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, until filling is golden brown and firm in center. Let cool completely on a wire rack.

4. Melt chocolate with shortening. Spread over filling. Refrigerate until chocolate sets. Cut into squares and decorate if desired.

Makes about 3 dozen bars.