Strawberry Bars

To make the strawberry filling: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Cook for 5–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the strawberries soften and start to break down. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water to make a slurry. Pour into the strawberry mixture and stir well. Cook for 1–2 more minutes until the filling thickens and looks glossy. Remove it from the heat and let it cool.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper. Set aside.

In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Set aside. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugar for 3-5 minutes. Add the eggs, vanilla, and almond extract, mixing until fully combined. Add the dry mixture and mix until just incorporated. Reserve 1/3 of dough.

Press the remaining dough into the prepared pan and top with strawberry filling. Drop the reserved dough in small pieces over the filling. Bake for 45–50 minutes or until golden brown. Let the bars cool completely.

Whisk together the powdered sugar and milk to make the glaze and drizzle over the bars.