Raspberry Almond Bars

These bars sound so good! I'm already thinking that I'll have to include these on my Christmas cookie trays! This recipe is from the 2002 Taste of Home Annual Recipes cookbook.

• Ready In: 1 hr 40 mins
• Serves: 24

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup butter or 1⁄2 cup margarine
• 1 (10 -12 ounce) package  vanilla chips or 1 (10 -12 ounce) package white chocolate chips, divided
• 2  eggs
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 1  teaspoon  almond extract
• 1  cup all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 cup  seedless raspberry jam
• 1⁄4 cup  sliced almonds

Directions

1. Heat oven to 325°F.
2. In a saucepan, melt butter. Remove from heat; add 1 cup chips (do not stir).
3. In a small mixing bowl, beat eggs until foamy; gradually add sugar.
4. Stir in chip mixture and almond extract.
5. Combine flour and salt; add to egg mixture until justcombined.
6. Spread half of the batter into a greased 9-in. square baking pan.
7. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
8. In a small saucepan, over low heat, melt jam; spread over warm crust.
9. Stir remaining chips into the remaining batter; drop by teaspoonfuls over the jam layer.
10. Sprinkle with almonds.
11. Bake 30-35 minutes longer or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
12. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars.