Almond Swirl Sugar Cookie Bars

1.Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal later.

2.In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

3.In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together using an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.

4.Add the eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract to the butter mixture, mixing until well combined.

5.Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.

6.In a separate bowl, crumble the almond paste and mix it with the powdered sugar until smooth and well combined.

7.Spread half of the sugar cookie dough evenly in the prepared baking pan, creating a base layer. Use a spatula to smooth it out.

8.Dollop spoonfuls of the almond paste mixture over the cookie dough base. Use a knife or a skewer to swirl the almond paste into the dough, creating a marbled effect.

9.Carefully spread the remaining sugar cookie dough over the almond swirl, smoothing it out gently to cover the filling completely.

10.Sprinkle the sliced almonds evenly over the top of the cookie bars.

11.Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

12.Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Then, lift the bars out using the parchment overhang and let them cool completely on a wire rack before cutting into squares.