• Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a 20 × 20-cm tin with baking parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the almond flour, sugar, oil, egg, and 1 tsp of the salt until combined into a smooth dough. Remove about of 1/3rd of the dough and set aside.
• Using your hands, press the remaining dough into the bottom of the prepared pan in an even layer. Bake for 12 minutes, until lightly puffed. Cool for 5 minutes.
• In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together the pear, dates, wine, cinnamon, and remaining ½ tsp salt until pasty, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed (it should resemble mortar, just like the story of the Exodus!).
• Add the walnuts to the reserved dough and mix with your fingers to combine. Spread the charoset filling over the cooled baked dough and crumble the walnut mixture over top. Bake for 18 minutes, until browned around the edges. Cut the bars into squares and store in an airtight container (use baking parchment if layering).
• Store at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
• Freeze individually wrapped squares for up to 2 months in a zip-top bag.

Recipe adapted from Totally Kosher (Random House) 

Recipe first published in the JC April 2023