Name: Dutch Almond Bars - Boterkoek
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: Dutch
Ingredients: 2/3 cup butter, softened at room temperature; 1 cup sugar; 3/4 tsp. almond extract; 1 large egg, beaten; 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 tsp. baking powder; Topping; 1 egg, beaten; 2 tsp. milk; 1/2 cup sliced almonds

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Rich in almond flavour, these shortbread-like Dutch Almond Bars will satisfy your sweet tooth. Ready in under an hour with basic ingredients.

Dutch Almond Bars sitting on blue and white checkered napkin

How to make Dutch Almond Bars-Boterkoek

I found this recipe in my binder, buried with many old recipes on scraps of paper. It had 1991 written on it. Well, that is dating myself a little bit!!

It's a really simple recipe with a basic shortbread-type crust with a nice crumb to it. The almond flavouring is the feature in this recipe, along with the chewy edges that form for the pieces along the sides of the pan.

The photo below is the basic ingredients needed and a show of our pretty zinnia flowers that I am absolutely in love with. The little yellow flowers are from a lettuce plant that I let go to seed and the flower is so pretty I couldn't bring myself to dig it up. The butterflies love it!

ingredient needed for Dutch Almond Bars sitting on counter with flowers in background

Ingredients you will need

Butter - softened to room temperature. Take out that butter about 30 to 60 minutes before you make this recipe. Margarine will not work as a substitute in this recipe.

Granulated sugar - the sweetness of the sugar blends with the almond to give this bar it's unique flavour

Almond extract - A little goes a long way with almond extract. Measure carefully.

Large egg - Similar to the butter at room temperature, you want your egg to be at room temperature as well. Take it out 30-60 minutes before baking.

All-purpose flour - provides the structure for these bars

Baking Power - to increase the volume and lighten the texture

Milk - you may use whatever type of milk you have on hand. I've made this recipe with 1%, 2%, whole milk. There's a very small amount in the recipe.

Sliced almonds - you may use the blanched sliced almonds or the toasted sliced almonds for the topping. Both are equally tasty!

Let's get started!

KitchenAid mixer with ingredients for Dutch Almond Bars

Start by creaming butter and sugar together in a large mixing bowl or with a stand mixer. Next add in the almond extract. Beat the egg in a small bowl and then blend it in with the butter mixture.

In a separate medium-sized bowl, mix the flour and baking powder together.

Gradually add it to the butter mixture.

At this point, you can continue stirring it, however I prefer to get my hands dirty and mix by hand until it is smooth.

Spread it into an 8x8 inch square baking dish.

Crust for Dutch Almond bars in an 8x8 inch baking dish

Press down gently until it is (somewhat) smooth. In a small bowl, beat the egg and milk together. Brush it over the dough. Don't worry if you don't have a pastry brush. Spread it out with a spoon.