Chocolate Almond Raspberry Bars

Chocolate Almond Raspberry Bars

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LoveDoveFruits #CollectiveBias

Thank heaven for almonds.

Seriously, they’re food of the gods. They have protein, taste great, and are easily portable. Plus, they’re pretty durable. I have to work really hard to squash an almond.

Chocolate-covered almonds are even better, especially when the chocolate is really delicious. DOVE® Roasted Almonds covered in Dark Chocolate are totally my bag. And they’re even more fun when they get incorporated into these chocolate almond raspberry bars!

Chocolate Almond Raspberry Bars

Nothing is happier than enjoying a dessert bar while taking a little “me” break. For those of you who have not discovered the joy of “me” time, it’s probably because you have it and therefore don’t realize how precious it is. Honestly, the quiet moments in my life are very few and far between. Nobody who works in a high school would describe the environment as calm or quiet, and then I come home to more chaos. So when I get home 20 minutes before my kids, I bask in the stillness for as long as it lasts.

Sometimes my dates with myself actually occur outside the house. For instance, I have been known to take myself to the movies. I mean, why not? It’s so much easier to get up and walk out when the movie is bad if I’m alone. In fact, it’s kind of empowering. And if I like the movie, I can enjoy it without worrying if anybody else is having a good time.

Chocolate Almond Raspberry Bars

When I’m alone, I also enjoy just being still. Sitting is kind of a beautiful thing. I realize that America has been identified as the land of people who sit too much, but teachers don’t have that problem. And there’s nothing nicer than finding a lovely bench and sipping on a drink while people walk by. People watching is fun!

Another favorite spot? The store. I love going to stores alone, wandering down aisles and hunting for products. Nothing is quite as joyful as discovering new food products, which happens to me all the time at Walmart in the candy display. It’s where I found these lovely DOVE® Chocolate Fruit & Nut products, which inspired me to make these chocolate almond raspberry bars! Part of my ongoing wellness lifestyle is to give myself sanity breaks, and those should ideally include dessert! When I let myself have indulgences, it inspires me to eat mindfully for the rest of the day. And we all know that eating well is a decision you have to make every day!

Chocolate Almond Raspberry Bars

These are based on a childhood favorite of mine, which is a cookie bar base with chocolate on top. I added some flair to these by putting the DOVE® Roasted Almonds covered in Dark Chocolate both inside the cookie dough and on top of the bars. Plus, there’s a sneaky layer of raspberry jelly under the chocolate layer which brings these babies over the top. If you really want to up the ante on these, you can also use DOVE® Dark Chocolate Raspberry & Honey Roasted Almonds, which would be incredible on these bars!

Chocolate Almond Raspberry Bars

If you actually have any time to yourself, take yourself on a date. You could hit up the movie theater, a restaurant, or if you’re really lucky, you could score yourself a great deal on DOVE® Chocolate Fruit & Nut products. There’s a whole variety out there right now (including the aforementioned DOVE® Dark Chocolate Raspberry & Honey Roasted Almonds), and I’m pretty psyched about baking with them all. Whatever your situation might be, however hectic life is, take some time for yourself. You deserve it!

 

Chocolate Almond Raspberry Bars

Ingredients

Bars
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups flour
1/2 cup DOVE® Roasted Almonds covered in Dark Chocolate
Topping
1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup DOVE® Roasted Almonds covered in Dark Chocolate

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350. Line an 8-inch square pan with aluminum foil, leaving enough to hang over the sides. Coat with cooking spray.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the margarine and brown sugar until fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and mix again. Gradually add the flour, mixing until just incorporated. Mix in the DOVE® Roasted Almonds covered in Dark Chocolate.
  3. Pat the cookie dough onto the prepared pan evenly. Bake for 20 minutes.
  4. Remove the bars from the oven. Spread the raspberry jam gently onto the surface. It will melt as it warms up, which is fine. Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top of the jam layer.
  5. Turn the oven off. Return the pan to the oven for five minutes.
  6. Remove the pan from the oven and swirl the melted chocolate over the surface of the bars. It's completely fine if some of the jelly mixes with the chocolate.
  7. Press the DOVE® Roasted Almonds covered in Dark Chocolate onto the top. Allow the chocolate to harden overnight as the bars cool completely.
  8. Cut into squares. Store in an airtight container.
http://justaboutbaked.com/chocolate-almond-raspberry-bars/

 

Chocolate Almond Raspberry Bars

 

 

Mir

I fulfill many roles in life: wife, mother, teacher, everlasting learner. This site is dedicated to one role that expresses my creativity in ways that I find consistently challenging and rewarding: baker. Inventing new ways to enhance food, especially if that food involves chocolate or peanut butter (or both!), is a passion of mine. I look forward to sharing my ideas with you.

This Post Has 16 Comments

  1. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice

    Dove almonds are the best! I could seriously eat the whole bag. Love these bars, so perfect for Friday!
    Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…Banana Bread Scones with Cinnamon Cream Cheese GlazeMy Profile

    1. Mir

      They are SO good, Gayle!

  2. Kate @ Framed Cooks

    DATES WITH MYSELF. You just rocked my whole world…I’m already pondering for this weekend! Meantime, I am so with you on the whole chocolate covered almond thing (I think I need to take some on my date!!), and these gorgeous bars are the perfect way to make me share them with other people. Happy weekend, Mir!
    Kate @ Framed Cooks recently posted…Bacon and Egg SoupMy Profile

    1. Mir

      You need to try dating yourself, Kate. It’s the best! I mean, not all the time, but sometimes!

  3. Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy

    I totally agree with you! Just when you thought almonds couldn’t get any better, there are chocolate almonds. The perfect snack, but then you have shown that there is so much more than can be done with them too.
    Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy recently posted…Comment on Tall Coconut Cocktail by DanniiMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Thanks, Dannii! I love playing with chocolate!

  4. Amanda

    Some people don’t like walking out of movies because they’ve already paid for it, but personally I’ve always thought if it’s terrible I’m not going to waste both time and money.
    Fruit and chocolate is big with me, so I’m loving the chocolate raspberry combo here. And the almonds make them seem like bliss!
    Amanda recently posted…Spicy Sweet Kickin’ ColeslawMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Yeah, I agree with you. I don’t set out to waste the money, but wasting time is worse!

  5. Manali @ CookWithManali

    Oh these bars looks delicious Mir! I Love DOVE chocolate, seriously it’s gone in minutes with me around!
    Manali @ CookWithManali recently posted…Chickpea & Bean Pesto Pita WrapsMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Me too. It doesn’t stick around long!

  6. annie@ciaochowbambina

    I love this post. I’ve been taking myself on dates for quite some time. Movie dates are my favorite, but from time to time I’ll head to Hallmark just to read cards. The environment’s pretty and the reading, sentimental. These bars look delicious…DOVE is divine as is raspberry, so you’ve got a win-win here. Have a great week, friend!
    annie@ciaochowbambina recently posted…Soul SnacksMy Profile

    1. Mir

      I hang out in Hallmark sometimes too. They have cute little gifts!

  7. Michele @ Alwayzbakin

    Oh my word, these look decadent! Almonds have to be my favorite nut next to peanuts. And pairing them with raspberry is genius. 😀
    Michele @ Alwayzbakin recently posted…Butterfinger Egg Peanut Butter PieMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Thanks, Michele. I love that combo, too!

  8. Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust

    I think you and I would be friends. I love quiet, sitting, reading, and shopping the candy aisle. We’re like twinsies!!! I also love these bars. I’d eat the whole batch!
    Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust recently posted…Slow Cooker Coffee CakeMy Profile

    1. Mir

      We would be, Dorothy. I’ve noticed the twinsies thing too!! Oh, well, opposite coasts and all that. But maybe someday we’ll meet for reals!

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