Raspberry Meringue Bars

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 (10 ounce) jar seedless raspberry jam
• 4 egg whites
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups finely chopped walnuts

Recipe

• pre-heat oven to 350 degrees f (175 degrees c). grease a 15-1/2 x 10-1/2 x 1 inch jellyroll pan.
• cream butter, 1/2 cup of the sugar and egg yolks until well blended. add flour and mix well. pat dough evenly into bottom of prepared pan and bake for 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned.
• remove pan from oven (but leave oven on). let cool for 5 minutes then spread with the jam. beat egg whites and salt until stiff but not dry. carefully fold in remaining sugar and the chopped nuts.
• gently spread on top of the jam, making sure to seal edges and corners. return to oven for 25 minutes or until golden brown. cut into 3 x 1 inch bars while still warm. may be stored airtight at room temperature up to a week. may also be frozen. defrost covered at room temperature.