Almond Slices

My granny used to make these yummy almond slices and lo and behold when making my mince pies this year I glimpsed a recipe on the back on the packet of flour. Yesterday was a stormy day, bitterly cold and lashing rain. A good day for baking something comforting to go with that cup of tea.

It wouldn't be me if I didn't fiddle around with the prescribed recipe, for a start I replaced the margarine with butter as I hate the feeling that you get when the margarine coats the top of your mouth. Next it called for 2 tbsp of jam - I needed 1/2 jar to cover the base with a thin layer.

Almond Slices (adapted from recipe on Odlums flour packet)

Base:
175g plain flour
pinch of salt
75g unsalted butter
2-3 tbsp cold water

Topping:
200g jam
125g unsalted butter
125g caster sugar
125g ground almonds
75g plain flour
2 eggs
1 tsp almond extract

flaked almonds to decorate

• Preheat oven to 180 degrees
  
• Sieve flour and salt together
• Rub in butter until it resembles breadcrumbs
• Add just enough water for the dough to come together
• Roll dough out and line a Swiss Roll tin (it will look like it couldn't possibly stretch that much but persevere - it will)
• Spread jam over dough in a thin layer
• Melt remaining butter and stir in sugar, ground almonds and flour.
• Beat in eggs and almond extract
• Pour topping over jam (again it will look like you don't have enough - it does rise in the oven)
• Sprinkle over flaked almonds
• Bake for 18-20 mins