Fudgey Almond Bars

Ingredients

 * ¾ cup (1½ sticks) butter or margarine, softened
 * ¾ cup powdered sugar
 * 1½ cups all-purpose flour
 * ⅓ cup butter or margarine
 * ½ cup Hershey's cocoa
 * 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)
 * 1¼ cups almonds, toasted and coarsely chopped (*)
 * ½ cup hot water
 * 2 eggs, well beaten
 * ½ tsp almond extract
 * ⅛ tsp salt

Directions

 * 1) Heat oven to 350°F.
 * 2) Beat ¾ cup butter and powdered sugar in large bowl until well blended.
 * 3) Add flour; mix well.
 * 4) Press mixture evenly onto bottom of ungreased 13x9x2-inch baking pan.
 * 5) Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
 * 6) Meanwhile, in medium saucepan over low heat, melt ⅓ cup butter; stir in cocoa.
 * 7) Remove from heat; stir in sweetened condensed milk, almonds, water, eggs, almond extract and salt.
 * 8) Pour evenly over prepared crust.
 * 9) Return to oven.
 * 10) Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until center is set.
 * 11) Cool completely in pan on wire rack.
 * 12) Cut into bars.
 * 13) Cover; store in refrigerator.
 * 14) To toast almonds: heat oven to 350°F.
 * 15) Spread almonds in thin layer in shallow baking pan.
 * 16) Bake 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until light golden brown; cool.