Best 8 Apricot And Date Bars Recipes

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Indulge in a delightful culinary journey with our exquisite Apricot and Date Bars. These delectable treats are a harmonious blend of sweet, tangy, and chewy textures that will tantalize your taste buds. Each bar is meticulously crafted with a combination of dried apricots and dates, providing a burst of natural sweetness and a chewy bite. They're nestled in a tender oat crust that adds a nutty flavor and a satisfying crunch.

Savor the Apricot Bars, a classic delight that showcases the vibrant flavors of sun-ripened apricots. The Apricot-Pecan Bars elevate this classic with the addition of crunchy pecans, adding an extra layer of texture and a nutty aroma. For a more tropical twist, try the Pineapple-Apricot Bars, where the tangy pineapple complements the sweetness of the apricots. And for those who prefer a more decadent treat, the Apricot Cream Cheese Bars are simply irresistible, featuring a creamy filling nestled between layers of apricot goodness.

Our Date Bars offer a chewy and flavorful alternative. The Classic Date Bars are a timeless treat, with their rich date filling and a hint of warm spices. The Chocolate-Date Bars introduce a delightful combination of chocolate and dates, creating a decadent and indulgent treat. And for a unique twist, the Orange-Date Bars infuse a burst of citrusy freshness into the classic date filling.

Each recipe is carefully curated to ensure that every bite is an explosion of flavor and texture. Whether you prefer the classic apricot bars or the indulgent date bars, these recipes will guide you in creating homemade treats that are sure to impress your family and friends. So, put on your apron, gather your ingredients, and let's embark on a delightful baking adventure with our Apricot and Date Bars.

Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!

APRICOT DATE SQUARES



Apricot Date Squares image

Memories of her mom's fruity date bars inspired Shannon Koene of Blacksburg, Virginia to create this wonderful recipe. "I've had great results replacing the apricot jam with orange marmalade," notes Shannon.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 1h5m

Yield 3 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 cup chopped dates
1/2 cup 100% apricot spreadable fruit or jam
1-3/4 cups old-fashioned oats
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup cold butter, cubed

Steps:

  • In a small saucepan, combine the water, sugar and dates. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30-35 minutes or until mixture is reduced to 1-1/3 cups and is slightly thickened, stirring occasionally. , Remove from the heat. Stir in spreadable fruit until blended; set aside. In a food processor, combine the oats, flour, coconut, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Add butter; cover and process until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. , Press 3 cups crumb mixture into a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Spread date mixture to within 1/2 in. of edges. Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture; press down gently. , Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into squares.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 147 calories, Fat 5g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 10mg cholesterol, Sodium 65mg sodium, Carbohydrate 25g carbohydrate (17g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 1g protein.

APRICOT OAT BARS



Apricot Oat Bars image

Provided by Giada De Laurentiis

Time 1h47m

Yield 24 bars

Number Of Ingredients 13

Vegetable oil cooking spray
1 (13-ounce) jar apricot jam or preserves (about 1 1/4 cups)
8 dried apricots, chopped into 1/4-inch pieces (about 1/3 cup)
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 packed cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 3/4 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup (4 ounces) coarsely chopped walnuts
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
1 egg, at room temperature, beaten
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Steps:

  • Put an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 by 13 by 2-inch metal baking dish with vegetable oil cooking spray. Line the bottom and sides of the pan with parchment paper. Spray the parchment paper with vegetable oil cooking spray and set aside.
  • Filling: In a small bowl, mix together the jam and the apricots. Set aside.
  • Crust: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Stir in the oats and walnuts. Add the butter, egg and vanilla and stir until incorporated.
  • Using a fork or clean fingers, lightly press half of the crust mixture onto the bottom of the prepared pan. Using a spatula, spread the filling over the crust leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edge of the pan. Cover the filling with the remaining crust mixture and gently press to flatten. Bake until light golden, about 30 to 35 minutes. Cool for 1 hour. Cut into bars and store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 232 calorie, Fat 11 grams, SaturatedFat 5 grams, Cholesterol 28 milligrams, Sodium 112 milligrams, Carbohydrate 31 grams, Fiber 1 grams, Protein 3 grams, Sugar 16 grams

DATE OR APRICOT SQUARES



Date or Apricot Squares image

Provided by Mark Bittman

Categories     dessert

Time 1h

Yield About 16 squares

Number Of Ingredients 7

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces, more for greasing pan
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 pound pitted dates or dried apricots
2 eggs
1 cup light brown sugar
Pinch salt

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan (not necessary with nonstick pan).
  • Combine butter, 1 cup flour and the granulated sugar in a food processor. Pulse until ingredients are pebbly and crumbly; mixture will be quite dry. Press into pan, and bake for 15 minutes or until shell is evenly cooked.
  • If fruit is very dry, stew it in water to cover in a small saucepan until soft, 5 to 10 minutes. Drain very well, then chop. Combine in a bowl with eggs, brown sugar, remaining flour and salt.
  • Remove pan from oven, and pour fruit batter over crust. Bake until lightly browned and firm on edges but still a little soft in middle, about 30 minutes. Cool, then cut into squares and serve. Store, covered and refrigerated, for up to 2 days.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 177, UnsaturatedFat 2 grams, Carbohydrate 29 grams, Fat 6 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 2 grams, SaturatedFat 4 grams, Sodium 31 milligrams, Sugar 20 grams, TransFat 0 grams

FIRST PLACE APRICOT-DATE BARS



First Place Apricot-Date Bars image

This recipe goes way back; I grew up loving these bars. I entered this in the Jefferson County Fair on August 28, 2010. It won First Place.

Provided by Judi Harris

Categories     Desserts     Cookies     Fruit Cookie Recipes     Date

Time 2h10m

Yield 48

Number Of Ingredients 11

½ cup brown sugar
1 cup pitted Medjool dates, cut into small pieces
8 ounces dried apricots, cut into small pieces
½ cup apricot nectar (such as Kern's®)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
¾ cup vegetable shortening, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups rolled oats

Steps:

  • Place 1/2 cup of brown sugar into a saucepan along with the dates and apricots; pour in the apricot nectar. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, and cook, stirring constantly, until the nectar has mostly evaporated and the mixture is sticky, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.
  • Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl; set aside. Grease a baking sheet.
  • Stir the melted shortening and vanilla extract into 1 cup of brown sugar in a large bowl until no lumps remain. Stir in the flour mixture and oats; work well with your hands until the mixture is evenly combined. Press half of the oat mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Spread the cooled apricot mixture evenly over the oats, then press the remaining oat mixture evenly over top.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until the top is golden brown, about 30 minutes. Cool completely before cutting into bars and serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 107.8 calories, Carbohydrate 18.6 g, Fat 3.5 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 1.2 g, SaturatedFat 0.8 g, Sodium 77.5 mg, Sugar 11.5 g

ORCHARD DATE-APRICOT BARS



Orchard Date-Apricot Bars image

Betty Crocker's Heart Healthy Cookbook shares a recipe! Enjoy these delicious bars spread with date-apricot filling that's perfect for a dessert.

Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Dessert

Time 1h50m

Yield 36

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 1/4 cups dates (8 ounces pitted)
1 1/2 cups dried apricots, cut-up (8 ounces)
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup canola or soybean oil
3/4 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed or flaxseed meal
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats

Steps:

  • In medium saucepan, mix all filling ingredients until well blended. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Cool completely.
  • Heat oven to 400°F. Spray rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches, with cooking spray.
  • Mix brown sugar and oil in large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients; mixture will be moist and crumbly. Press half of the crumb mixture evenly in bottom of pan. Spread with date-apricot filling. Top with remaining crumb mixture; press lightly.
  • Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool in pan on wire rack about 1 hour. For bars, cut into 6 rows by 6 rows.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 150, Carbohydrate 23 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Fat 1, Fiber 2 g, Protein 2 g, SaturatedFat 0 g, ServingSize 1 Bar, Sodium 90 mg, Sugar 17 g, TransFat 0 g

WINNING APRICOT BARS



Winning Apricot Bars image

This recipe is down-home baking at its best, and it really represents all regions of the country. It's won blue ribbons at county fairs and cookie contests in several states! Easy to make, it's perfect for potluck suppers, bake sales, lunchboxes or just plain snacking.-Jill Moritz, Irvine, California

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 45m

Yield 2 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 9

3/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1-1/3 cups sweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 jar (10 to 12 ounces) apricot preserves

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. In a small bowl, whisk flour and baking powder; gradually add to creamed mixture, mixing well. Fold in coconut and walnuts., Press two-thirds of dough onto the bottom of a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Spread with preserves; crumble remaining dough over preserves. Bake 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 195 calories, Fat 10g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 23mg cholesterol, Sodium 72mg sodium, Carbohydrate 27g carbohydrate (16g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein.

FIRST PLACE APRICOT-DATE BARS



First Place Apricot-Date Bars image

This was in my mother's handwritten cookbook. It's a family favorite and so yummy! It won First Place at the Jefferson County Fair on August 28, 2010.

Provided by Judi Harris-Nulle

Categories     Cookies

Time 50m

Number Of Ingredients 14

FIRST PLACE APRICOT-DATE BARS
CRUMB MIXTURE
3/4 c melted shortening
1 c brown sugar, firmly packed
2 c all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 c old-fashioned oats
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
APRICOT FILLING
1 c pitted dates cut into small pieces
1 8 ounce package dried apricots, cut into small pieces
1/2 c brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 c kern's apricot nectar

Steps:

  • 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • 2. For the crumb mixture, in a large bowl blend shortening, sugar and vanilla. Sift flour, soda, and salt and add to bowl. Add the oatmeal; work well with hands. Press 1/2 of the mixture onto a medium greased cooking sheet, pressing down firmly.
  • 3. For the apricot filling, put the pitted dates, dried apricots, brown sugar, and apricot nectar in a sauce pan and cook for about 5 minutes until thick. Stir constantly as it can easily burn. The apricot nectar should evaporate while it cooks. Cool slightly (about 5 minutes) before spreading on crumb mixture. Once cool, spread apricot mixture on top of the crumb mixture. Top with the rest of the crumb mixture, pressing down firmly. Bake for 30 minutes or until top is brown. Cool before cutting and serving.

APRICOT AND DATE BARS



Apricot and Date Bars image

A hearty cobbler, loaded with dried fruits and nuts - in bar form. Betty Crocker® snickerdoodle cookie mix makes this wonderful dessert easy to make.

Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Dessert

Time 2h10m

Yield 24

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 cups orange juice
3/4 cup chopped pitted dates
3/4 cup chopped dried apricots
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/3 cup apricot jam
1 pouch Betty Crocker™ snickerdoodle cookie mix
1/2 cup cold butter, cut into pieces
3/4 cup chopped pecans

Steps:

  • In 2-quart saucepan, mix orange juice, dates, apricots and cherries. Heat to boiling over medium heat. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 30 minutes. Drain. In small bowl, mix dried fruit and apricot jam.
  • Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, place cookie mix and cinnamon-sugar packet. Cut in butter, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through mix in opposite directions), until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the crumb mixture. Press remaining mixture in bottom of pan. Bake 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool.
  • Top partially baked crust with fruit mixture. Mix reserved 1 1/2 cups crumb mixture and the pecans. Sprinkle over fruit mixture.
  • Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely in pan on cooling rack, about 1 hour. Cut into 6 rows by 4 rows.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 190, Carbohydrate 30 g, Fat 1 1/2, Fiber 2 g, Protein 1 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 170 mg

Tips:

  • Use ripe apricots and dates: This will ensure that your bars are naturally sweet and flavorful. If you can't find ripe apricots, you can substitute dried apricots that have been soaked in hot water for 30 minutes.
  • Don't overcook the bars: Otherwise, they will be dry and crumbly. The bars are done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached.
  • Let the bars cool completely before cutting them: This will help them to hold their shape.
  • Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Conclusion:

Apricot and date bars are a delicious and healthy snack or dessert that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. They are a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and they are also naturally gluten-free. With just a few simple ingredients, you can make these bars at home in just a few minutes. So next time you're looking for a healthy snack or dessert, give apricot and date bars a try!

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