Honey Almond Squares

The perfect recipe for Rosh Hashanah: honey almond squares. A crisp layer of dough with a golden almond topping in a mixture of honey and butter. Simple to make but impressive, for anyone who wants to make something sweet and delicious with ease.

Ingredients for honey almond squares

For the crust:

• 140 g soft butter.
• 200 g all-purpose flour (1½ cups minus 1 tablespoon).
• 70 g almond flour (½ cup + 2 tablespoons).
• 60 g sugar (¼ cup).
• A pinch of salt.
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon (optional).
• 1 large egg.

For the almond layer:

• 200 g sliced almonds.
• 60 g sugar (¼ cup).
• 60 g honey.
• 60 g butter.
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional).
• 100 ml heavy cream.

Instructions

1. Start with the crust: preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
2. In a wide bowl, combine the flour, almond flour, sugar, salt and the soft butter cut into cubes, and knead into a crumbly mixture. Add the egg and knead again into a smooth, slightly sticky dough.
3. Roll the dough out between 2 sheets of parchment paper into a thin, even square (it doesn't have to be symmetrical; after baking you straighten the edges and cut it into squares).
4. Peel off the top sheet of parchment and carefully transfer the dough to a baking sheet. Prick the dough with a fork and give it a short bake of about 10 minutes.
5. The almond layer: in a saucepan, combine the sugar, butter, vanilla, honey and heavy cream. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until bubbles appear. Add the sliced almonds and stir well until all the almonds are coated.
6. Pour the mixture over the par-baked crust and spread it into a thin, even layer with an offset spatula.
7. Bake at 340°F (170°C) for about 15 minutes, or until browned. Note: because they're baked without a pan, the liquid from the almond mixture runs off the dough, so the edges may burn.
8. Let cool completely, trim off the burnt edges, then cut into squares.

Honey almond squares are a wonderful way to celebrate the new year with sweetness and symbolism: a dessert that's simple to make, impressive and special, and everyone will love it. Happy holiday and Shana Tova!