Norwegian Almond Bars: A Sweet Take on Shortbread with Marzipan Filling. Also known as Scandinavian Almond Bars! My family has a very deep Scandinavian heritage so I was thrilled to find this recipe! Now these cookies will not win any beauty contest, they are addicting!

This was a recipe Passed down from my grandma’s collection, discovered in a Pillsbury’s Best cookbook from the 1950s. Despite any reservations about marzipan, this cookie is to die for.

What is Marzipan?

Essentially an almond paste, marzipan adds a unique flavor that elevates traditional shortbread with a very subtle flavor. Norwegian bars are a very easy recipe to make, and are a delicious cookie! They do not take long to whip up; anyone will be happy to have this treat at their table.

Norwegian almond bars can be made with pre-made marzipan, or I will include how to make the almond filling from scratch!

How to make your own Marzipan

Marzipan is a delightful addition to many desserts and is particularly wonderful in these Norwegian almond bars. This sweet concoction is traditionally made from ground almonds and sugar, creating a soft texture that is both flavorful and versatile. When used in Norwegian almond bars, marzipan lends a moist, dense quality to the cookies, making them irresistibly rich.

If you’re intrigued by the idea of making your own almond paste for these bars, it is a straightforward process. You will need finely ground almonds, sugar, and an egg white. The ingredients are mixed together until a thick, pliable dough forms. This homemade version not only adds a personal touch to your baking but also allows you to adjust sweetness and texture to suit your taste.

Ingredients you will need

Recipe Tips & Tricks

Shortbread is most easily made in a food processor, but it can also be mixed with a Danish dough whisk (better than a normal whisk and the butter doesn’t get stuck inside;)) I have even found that using my hand always works well. But always be careful not to overmix shortbread or the cookie will get tough!

You can use a standard round 9-inch cake pan, a 9×9 square pan, or a special pan made for shortbread! None of the pans you use will change how the recipe is made, the change will be the bake time, if the crust is thicker, it will likely need a longer bake time.

This recipe has an almond filling- also known as marzipan. You can make the almond filling from scratch or you can buy premade marzipan. This is the exact package I used, and one- 7oz package is the perfect size for the filling!

Baking tools I used

Once the marzipan or almond filling is prepared, it is layered onto a buttery shortbread base and topped with a simple almond-flavored icing. The resulting cookie bars are a perfect balance of nutty marzipan and crisp shortbread. These bars are ideal for serving as a special treat during holidays, family gatherings, or as a sweet snack to enjoy any time!

How to make Norwegian Almond Bars

Click to watch a video on how to make Norwegian Almond Bars

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Norwegian Almond Baars

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 35

Simply sweet shirtbread with a delicious almond filling@

Ingredients

Shortbread

2 cups Flour
2 tsp Baking Powder
½ cup Sugar
1 cup Butter (softend)
1 Egg (beaten)

Marzipan Filling – From Scratch (or you can use storebought Marzipan)

2 cups Powdered Sugar
1 ½ cups Blanched Almond Flour
1 Egg White
2 Tbs water

Instructions

Sift together the flour, baking powder, and sugar in a mixing bowl.
Cut in the butter, and mix with a dough hook or by hand until the butter is the size of small peas. You can also add the mixture to a food processor.
Add in one beaten egg and mix until the dough comes together. It will still be a bit crumbly, but it should generally form a ball.
Add ⅔ of the shortbread mixture in a 9 in round pan or 8×8 pan.
If you are using store-bought marzipan, roll it out until it is the shape of your pan, then add it on top of the. shortbread.
Use the remaining shortbread to create a lattice pattern on top of the marzipan.
Brush the strips of the lattice with an egg wash
Bake at 350° for 35-40 min

Homemade marzipan

To make marzipan from scratch, combine the blanched almond flour, powdered sugar, egg white, and water in a bowl and mix well until it forms a paste. Use this for the marzipan filling between shortbread layers.

Course: Dessert

Keyword: almond, norwegian, shortbread