BLACKBERRY-ALMOND SHORTBREAD SQUARES

Blackberry-Almond Shortbread Squares image

Provided by Martha Stewart

Time 1h

Yield Makes 12 squares

Number Of Ingredients 9

10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, plus more for pan
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1/2 cup whole blanched almonds (2 ounces)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar, plus more for dusting
1/4 teaspoon pure almond extract
1 pound blackberries (about 4 cups)
1 orange zest, freshly grated

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Line with parchment; butter lining. Dust with flour; tap out excess. Arrange nuts in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until golden, 15 minutes; let cool. Grind in a food processor until fine.
Whisk together flour, nuts, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl; set aside. Put 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar and the butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Mix in almond extract. Add flour mixture in 2 batches; mix until a crumbly dough forms.
Press all but 1 cup dough onto bottom of pan. Toss berries with zest; scatter over dough. Sprinkle with remaining tablespoon sugar; crumble reserved dough on top. Bake until golden, about 30 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack. Cut into 12 squares; dust with sugar.