Indulge in the sweet and tangy delight of homemade apricot bars, a classic treat that offers a perfect balance of flavors and textures. These delectable bars feature a buttery shortbread crust, a layer of luscious apricot filling, and a crumbly oat topping, creating a symphony of flavors in every bite. With two variations of this timeless recipe, you can choose between a simple apricot filling made from dried apricots or a more extravagant apricot-pineapple filling that adds a tropical twist. Both versions promise an explosion of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more.
Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!
APRICOT BARS
Shortbread Apricot Bars with dried apricots are covered in a mouthwatering buttery shortbread crust of coconut and pecans. You don't have to wait for apricot season to enjoy sweet apricots. Serve these for dessert or serve these at a gathering!
Provided by Barbara Curry
Categories Dessert
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350º. Line a 9 x 13 pan with parchment paper.
- In a small saucepan, cover apricots with water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 20 minutes until soft. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup water. Place 1/4 cup water back in the saucepan and add 3/4 cup sugar. Cook over medium heat until sugar has dissolved.
- Chop apricots and add to saucepan, turn off the heat.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine butter and 1 cup sugar and beat until fluffy, about 2 minutes. In a separate bowl, whisk together four, soda and salt. Add to butter mixture and mix until combined. Add toasted coconut and pecans.
- Place 3/4 of the mixture into prepared pan, pressing it with the bottom of a measuring cup. Bake for 10 minutes until it is golden brown. Remove from oven and spread apricot mixture over the crust. Sprinkle the remaining crust over the top and bake an additional 25-30 minutes until the top is golden brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 180 kcal, Carbohydrate 29 g, Protein 2 g, Fat 7 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Cholesterol 13 mg, Sodium 95 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 20 g, ServingSize 1 serving
APRICOT OAT BARS
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Time 1h47m
Yield 24 bars
Number Of Ingredients 13
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
APRICOT BARS
These hearty bars are a fruity and flavorful treat!
Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Dessert
Time 2h25m
Yield 16
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- In 1-quart saucepan, cook all filling ingredients, stirring constantly, just to boiling over medium heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until apricots are tender and filling has thickened. Cool.
- Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 9-inch square pan with cooking spray. In medium bowl, mix 1 cup whole wheat flour, the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In large bowl, beat egg, brown sugar, oil, orange juice concentrate and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Stir in flour mixture until blended. Reserve 1/2 cup dough mixture for topping.
- Pat remaining dough in pan. Spread filling over dough. Add remaining 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour and the butter to reserved dough mixture. With pastry blender or fork, mix until crumby; sprinkle over filling.
- Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until top is golden and firm. Cool completely, about 1 hour. For bars, cut into 4 rows by 4 rows.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 150, Carbohydrate 30 g, Cholesterol 15 mg, Fiber 2 g, Protein 3 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, ServingSize 1 Bar, Sodium 105 mg
Tips:
- For a chewier bar, use more brown sugar than white sugar. For a crispier bar, use more white sugar than brown sugar.
- If you don't have any dried apricots, you can use other dried fruits, such as raisins, cranberries, or cherries.
- If you want a more intense apricot flavor, you can add some apricot extract to the batter.
- Be sure to grease and flour the baking pan before adding the batter, so that the bars don't stick.
- Bake the bars until they are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Conclusion:
Apricot bars are a delicious and easy-to-make treat that are perfect for any occasion. They are made with simple ingredients and can be customized to your liking. Whether you prefer them chewy or crispy, with apricots or other dried fruits, these bars are sure to be a hit. So next time you are looking for a sweet and satisfying snack, give apricot bars a try!
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