Lady Arianna's Coffee Crunch Bars

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 50 mins

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar, finely packed
• 2 tablespoons instant espresso powder
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup almonds, sliced

Recipe

• 1 preheat the oven to 325 degrees f.
• 2 in a medium mixing bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder and salt to blend.
• 3 in the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until blended (about 2 minutes). add the almond extract and the espresso powder and continue beating for 1 more minute.
• 4 stir in the flour mixture in 3 stages, mixing until each stage has been absorbed. add in the chocolate chips and sliced almonds (dough will be fairly thick).
• 5 turn the dough out an ungreased rimmed baking sheet. press the dough into a 12 inch square. using a fork, pierce the dough at 1 inch intervals.
• 6 bake until the edges are lightly browned and beginning to crisp, about 45-50 minutes. cool on the baking sheet for 1 minute then cut into 48 squares. immediately transfer the bars to a wire rack to finish cooling. they will crisp as they cool.