Zazu's Jaspers

I've been hunting for something like Starbucks' Toffee Almond Bars. I found this at eGullet.org in one of their forums, but it was credited to an old Los Angeles Times Sunday magazine. Don't know how close it comes to Starbucks' version, but it sure looks tasty!

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Yields: 24 bars

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 lb unsalted butter
• 1 2⁄3 cups brown sugar, packed
• 2  cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 3  eggs, lightly beaten
• 2  teaspoons  almond extract
• 3⁄4 cup  crumbled  Heath candy bar (4 ozs)
• 3⁄4 cup white chocolate chips

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, melt the butter and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally and adjusting heat so the butter bubbles gently and turns slightly golden but does not burn.
2. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the brown sugar. Stir until the sugar is incorporated, then let the mixture stand until it cools to lukewarm. Don't worry if the butter and sugar separate. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.
3. When the butter/sugar mixture is lukewarm, add the eggs one at a time stirring until incorporated. Then add the almond extract. Stir in the dry ingredients, then gently fold in the crumbled Heath Bars (or my preferred Skor Toffee Chips). Spoon the batter into a greased 9x13 inch pan and sprinkle white chocolate chips over the top. Bake for 35 minutes at 350. Cool and cut to desired size.