Baking: Cakes, Cookies, Muffins: Raspberry-Almond Bar Cookies

These are great for the lunchbox or for an afternoon snack and our Recipe Makeover means they have a 31% calorie reduction from a traditional recipe.

Author: Merisant/Equal®
Date: August 05, 2009

Serves: 24 person(s)
Yield: 24 x 1 bar servings

Preparation Time: 8 mins
Cooking Time: 22 mins

Ingredients:

This recipe makeover cuts down on calories, fat and total sugars by reducing the measure of butter and sweetener. Switching from regular jam to fruitable spread further decreases the sugar without losing the flavor.

Directions:

Combine flour, Equal® and salt in medium bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in egg, water and lemon peel. Mixture will be crumbly.

Press mixture evenly onto bottom of well-sprayed 8 x 8-inch square baking pan. Bake in preheated 350°F oven 12 to 15 minutes or until edges of crust are lightly browned.

Remove pan from oven and spread raspberry fruit over top. Sprinkle with almonds. Return to oven, and bake an additional 10 to 12 minutes or until raspberry fruit is bubbly. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into bars.

Store in airtight containers at room temperature.

Variations:

* NOTE: If desired, 1/2 cup Equal® Spoonful can be replaced by one of the following:

1) 12 packets Equal® sweetener, or
2) 1/2 cup sugar (sugar is not included in the nutritional analysis)