Homemade Dutch Letter Bars

Dutch letter bars are a wonderfully simple almond treat that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen, but honestly, you didn’t. These chewy, buttery bars bring the beloved flavors of a classic Dutch pastry into an easy-to-make form that any home cook can master.

I first fell in love with these at a local festival, and I knew I had to figure out how to make them at home. The beauty is in their simplicity: just five basic ingredients, no fancy shaping, and a straightforward bake that delivers big almond flavor every single time.

Whether you’re looking for a holiday treat or just craving something a little different, these bars are going to become a regular in your rotation. Let me walk you through how easy they really are to pull together.

What You'll Need

These bars come together with just a handful of pantry staples. The combination of butter, sugar, and almond paste creates that signature chewy texture and rich flavor, while eggs and flour bind everything together into a simple, satisfying bar.

• Unsalted butter, Room temperature butter creams beautifully with sugar and helps create that light, tender crumb. Make sure it’s soft before you start mixing.
• Granulated sugar, Two cups goes into the dough, plus a bit more for topping. It sweetens the bars and helps create that slightly crispy surface when sprinkled on top.
• Almond paste, This is the star ingredient that gives these bars their signature chewy texture and authentic almond flavor. Look for it in the baking aisle near the nuts and extracts.
• Eggs, These add structure and help bind the dough together. Room temperature eggs mix in more smoothly than cold ones.
• All-purpose flour, Keeps the bars from spreading too much and gives them a tender, cake-like crumb.

Homemade Dutch Letter Bars: Step by Step

The whole process is straightforward and takes just a few minutes of hands-on work before you pop them in the oven.

Step 1: Get Your Pan Ready

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and lightly butter a 9×9-inch baking pan (or use a 9×13-inch pan if you prefer thinner bars). Having everything ready before you start mixing saves you time and keeps the dough from sitting around.

Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugar

In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and 2 cups of sugar together for about 3 to 4 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step is important because it incorporates air into the dough, which helps the bars bake up tender and moist.

Step 3: Add Eggs and Almond Paste

Beat in the eggs one at a time, making sure each one is fully mixed before adding the next. Then add the almond paste and mix until everything is well combined and smooth.

Step 4: Fold in the Flour

Add the flour and mix just until no dry spots remain. Don’t overmix at this stage, you want a tender bar, not a tough one.

Step 5: Spread and Top

Spoon the dough into your prepared pan and spread it evenly to all the edges. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar over the top for a subtle crunch and sparkle.

Step 6: Bake Until Golden

Bake for 45 minutes in a 9×9-inch pan, or about 35 minutes in a 9×13-inch pan, until the top is golden brown. Let the bars cool completely in the pan before slicing, this helps them set up nicely and stay together.

Reasons to Make This Tonight

• Only five ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your pantry right now.
• Packed with real almond flavor that makes them taste homemade and special without any fuss.
• Perfect for busy weeknights or weekend baking when you want something impressive but quick.
• Great for feeding a crowd at potlucks, holiday gatherings, or just because.
• They stay fresh and chewy for days, making them ideal for meal prep or gifting.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

Store

Keep your cooled bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. They stay wonderfully chewy and fresh.

Freeze

Wrap individual bars or the whole pan tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

For more on safe storage, see the USDA food-safety guidance for storing leftovers.

Easy Swaps

• If you can’t find almond paste, you can use finely ground almonds mixed with a little powdered sugar and almond extract as a substitute.
• Salted butter works fine if that’s what you have, just skip adding extra salt to the dough.
• All-purpose flour is traditional, but you can use a gluten-free blend if needed (the texture may be slightly different).
• Try using half whole wheat flour for a nuttier flavor, though the bars will be a bit denser.

Angela's Best Tips

• Make sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature before you start. This helps everything mix smoothly and evenly.
• Don’t skip the creaming step, beating butter and sugar together for a few minutes really does make a difference in the texture of your bars.
• If your almond paste is very stiff, let it sit out for a few minutes or warm it slightly before mixing. It’ll blend in much more easily.
• Use the size pan that matches your preference: 9×9 for thicker, chewier bars, or 9×13 for thinner, more delicate ones.
• These bars keep well, so feel free to make them a day or two ahead of time. They actually taste even better after they’ve had time to set up.

Perfect Pairings

• Serve with a hot cup of coffee or tea for a cozy afternoon treat.
• Pack them in lunchboxes or take them to potlucks and holiday parties.
• Cut into smaller squares and arrange on a platter for a dessert buffet.
• Give them as homemade gifts wrapped in parchment paper and tied with twine.
• More Cookies Recipes to round out the menu

Fun Variations

• Add a teaspoon of almond extract to the dough for an even more pronounced almond flavor.
• Sprinkle sliced almonds on top before baking for extra texture and nuttiness.
• Dust the cooled bars with powdered sugar for a pretty presentation and subtle sweetness.
• Try swapping half the almond paste for marzipan if you want a slightly different texture and flavor.

More Easy Recipes

• Crispy Austrian Wafer Cookies
• Buttery Pecan Shortbread
• Chewy Chinese Candy

You might also like: Buttery Pecan Shortbread, Homemade Pecan Log Cookies, Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies.

Angela

Homemade Dutch Letter Bars

A simple, five-ingredient almond bar inspired by traditional Dutch pastry. These chewy, buttery treats bake in one pan and taste like you spent hours in the kitchen.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Dutch-American

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 8 oz almond paste
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, for topping

Equipment

• 9x9-inch or 9x13-inch baking pan
• Large mixing bowl
• Electric mixer or mixing spoon
• Measuring cups and spoons

Method

 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x9-inch pan with butter (you can also use a 9x13-inch pan for thinner bars) .
2. Add butter and 2 cups sugar to a large mixing bowl and mix for 3-4 minutes until light and airy. Mix in eggs one at a time, followed by the almond paste.
3. Add flour and mix until just combined and no dry spots remain.
4. Spoon dough into the prepared pan and spread to edges. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons sugar over the top.
5. Bake for 45 minutes if using the 9x9-inch pan or 35 minutes if using a 9x13-inch pan. Top should be golden when fully baked.
6. Allow bars to fully cool before slicing.

Notes

For best results, allow all ingredients to come to room temperature before mixing. These bars stay fresh in an airtight container for up to 5 days.