Baking My Way: Jan Hagel Bars

This is the second bar I made for the anniversary celebration. It's dutch so I thought that was fitting seeing as a lot of the family is dutch.  This bar is a nice change from all the American recipes in this book and you can tell it's European and I love that. It's soft and I love the sugar and nuts on top; for some reason it makes me feel like a kid.

Ingredients

• 1/2  cup sugar
• 1  cup margarine or butter, softened
• 1/4  teaspoon almond extract
• 1  egg, separated
• 2  cups All Purpose or Unbleached Flour
• 1/2  teaspoon cinnamon
• 1  tablespoon water
• 1/2  cup sliced almonds
• 1/4  cup sugar

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 15x10x1-inch baking pan. In large bowl, combine 1/2 cup sugar, margarine, almond extract and egg yolk; blend well. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. Add flour and cinnamon; mix well. Press evenly in greased pan.
2. In small bowl, beat water and egg white until frothy; brush over dough. Sprinkle evenly with almonds and 1/4 cup sugar.
3. Bake at 350°F. for 17 to 22 minutes or until light golden brown. Immediately cut into 3x1-inch bars. Cool completely in pan.