Bee Sting (Bienenstich) Bars

• Almond Syrup↗
• butter or 1/2 cup margarine↗1⁄2 cup
• sugar↗1⁄4 cup
• honey↗2 tablespoons
• milk↗2 tablespoons
• almonds, chopped↗1 cup

  slivered will also work

• almond extract↗1 teaspoon
• Dough
• butter or 1/2 cup margarine, firm↗1⁄2 cup
• sugar↗1⁄2 cup
• all-purpose flour↗1 3⁄4 cups
• salt↗1⁄4 teaspoon
• egg↗1

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. 2

   ALMOND SYRUP: In a small pan, combine all ingredients over medium-high heat. Stir until mixture reaches a rolling boil. Remove pan from heat.

3. 3

   DOUGH: In a mixing bowl, stir together dry ingredients (flour,sugar, baking powder, and salt).

4. 4

   Cut butter into pieces and, with a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut into flour mixture until mixture is very crumbly and no large particles remain. Add egg and mix with a fork until dough holds together.

5. 5

   Press dough evenly over bottom of an ungreased 10x15-inch rimmed baking pan. Pour almond syrup over dough, spreading evenly.

6. 6

   Bake in a 350°F oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until topping is deep golden. Let cool in pan on a rack.

7. 7

   Cut into 2-inch squares; for smaller cookies, cut each square diagonally into 2 triangles. (Note: yield is based on number of cookies, not triangles.) Store airtight.