Belgian Christmas Cookies

makes: 5 dozen

⅔ cup butter
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1-2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup finely chopped blanched almonds
½ teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons decorative red sugar crystals
2 teaspoons decorative green sugar crystals

Preheat oven to 375F. Greased a 15 x 10 x 1 inch jelly roll pan. Cream butter with almond extract. Add brown sugar gradually, creaming until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together. Add, in thirds, to creamed mixture, mixing until blended after each addition. Pour into pan and spread evenly to edges. Sprinkle a mixture of almonds and cinnamon over batter then sprinkle with a mixture of red and green sugars. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Cut into bars while still warm.