Pear Squares

This is the kind of cake that you need to make and share when you get a new neighbor. Just one bite of these pear squares shouts, "Welcome to the neighborhood!"

Serves: 24

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 1 cup chopped blanched almonds
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 (16-ounce) can pears, drained, dried, and cut into chunks

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
    
2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, and butter; using your hands, mix until crumbly. Stir in the nuts. Press 2-3/4 cups of the crumb mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 9" x 13" baking dish.
    
3. Add the cinnamon, baking soda, salt, yogurt, vanilla, and egg to the remaining crumbly mixture; mix well. Stir in the pears then spoon evenly over the crumb bottom.
    
4. Bake for 40 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool for 1 hour. Cut into squares and serve.