Pear Squares

Photo: flickr user lepiaf.geo

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups brown sugar - (packed)

1/2 cup butter - (1 stick) softened

1 cup chopped blanched almonds

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup plain yogurt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 egg

1 can pears - (16 oz), drained, dried,

and cut into chunks

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, and butter; using your hands, mix until crumbly. Stir in the nuts. Press 2 3/4 cups of the crumb mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 9- by 13-inch baking dish.

Add the cinnamon, baking soda, salt, yogurt, vanilla, and egg to the remaining crumbly mixture; mix well. Stir in the pears then spoon evenly over the crumb bottom.

Bake for 40 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool for 1 hour. Cut into squares and serve.

This recipe yields 24 squares.

Comments: Whether you serve this as a dessert or simply a sweet treat with tea and coffee, your family will enjoy these. Pears are a nice surprise to a snack bar!

Yield: 24 squares