Cherry Brandy Blondies

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup brandy or 1/3 cup orange juice
• 1 cup dried cherries
• 1 cup chopped almonds, toasted
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup icing sugar
• 2 tablespoons brandy or 2 tablespoons orange juice

Recipe

• 1 in small saucepan, bring brandy to a boil; stir in cherries and almonds.
• 2 let cool.
• 3 meanwhile, in bowl, beat butter with sugar until fluffy; beat in eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each. beat in vanilla and almond extract.
• 4 in separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; stir into butter mixture just until combined. stir in almond and cherry mixture. scrape into parchment paper-lined 13 x 9 inch (3.5 l) metal cake pan, smoothing top.
• 5 bake in 325 degree oven until cake tester inserted in centre comes out clean, about 45 minutes.
• 6 glaze: in small bowl, whisk sugar with brandy; brush over bars. let cool on rack. cut into bars.