Today’s treat is inspired by the classic Dutch letter pastry. Dutch Immigrants took the beloved flavors from their home country and baked them into a simple, but delicious bar. If you’ve ever been to Pella, Iowa for their annual Tulip Festival, chances are you’ve tried one of these famous treats. Made with only 5 ingredients, it doesn’t get much easier than this treat! Let’s get into how they’re made…
When we say these are simple, we mean it. Just five ingredients, most of which you likely have on hand. Butter, sugar, eggs, flour, and almond paste come together to recreate the signature sweetness and chewy texture that Dutch Letters are known for. There’s no special shaping or folding here, just straightforward mixing and baking that delivers big flavor with minimal effort.
Whether you’re reminiscing about a past visit to the Tulip Festival or just love almond flavored desserts, these bars make it easy to bring the Dutch tradition into your own kitchen. They’re quick to prep, always a crowd pleaser, and great for the holidays. Give the recipe a try and we’re sure you’re going to love it!
Makes: 12 bars
WeightWatchers Points: 4 Points per bar
Ingredients
- 1 cup self-rising flour
- ½ cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp light butter, melted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp zero-calorie sweetener (granulated)
- ½ tsp almond extract
Filling
- 1 cup almond flour
- ¼ cup powdered zero-calorie sweetener
- 2 tbsp unsweetened applesauce
- 1 egg white
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 2 tbsp unsweetened almond milk (if needed)
Topping
- 1 egg white, beaten
- 1 tsp coarse sugar (optional, for sparkle)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Mix the flour, Greek yogurt, melted light butter, vanilla, sweetener, and almond extract until a soft dough forms.
- Press about ⅔ of the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Stir together the almond flour, powdered sweetener, applesauce, egg white, almond extract, and almond milk until smooth.
- Spread the almond filling evenly over the dough.
- Crumble or gently flatten the remaining dough over the filling.
- Brush with beaten egg white and sprinkle with the coarse sugar, if using.
- Bake for 22–26 minutes, until lightly golden.
- Cool completely before slicing into 12 bars.
WeightWatchers Points: 4 Points per bar (12 servings)