Apple Almond Squares

Last night, I hosted my neighborhood Bunco group. (If you've never heard of it, Bunco is a dice game, kind of like Yahtzee). I experimented with a new dessert - the recipe was in our local newspaper's food section last week with an AP byline. According to the accompanying article, the recipe was developed by Pam Simmons.

Apple Almond Squares
1 (7-oz) pkg. almond paste
1 cup flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp apple-pie spice*
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 large eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup milk
1 cup peeled, diced, firm apple (like Granny Smiths)
1/4 cup slivered almonds

1. Preheat oven to 350' Grease and flour a 9 inch square pan.
2. Add almond paste, flour, oats, baking powder, apple-pie spice and salt to a food processor fitted with a metal blade and pulse until mixture is the texture of sand. OR cut together in a bowl with a pastry blender. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, combine butter, and sugars. Beat until well mixed. Add eggs one a time, beating together until light and fluffy. Add milk and beat until mixed.
4. Add flour mixture and apples to butter-sugar mixture. Stir until just combined. Pour into prepared pan and sprinkle with almonds.
5. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar, if desired
YIELD: 16 squares

*NOTES: I substituted a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice for the apple-pie spice (too cheap to buy yet another spice!)
Be sure it's cooked through. I took it out a little early, and it was super "moist" when I tried to cut it.

Everyone seemed to like it - although it was a bit crumbly. I'd never used almond paste before - boy, does it smell good!

Enjoy!