Best 3 Apricot Date Bars Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

Apricot date bars are a delightful combination of sweet, tart, and nutty flavors, all wrapped up in a tender, buttery crust. These delectable treats are made with a filling of dried apricots, dates, and walnuts, which is nestled between two layers of a flaky pastry crust. The bars are then baked until golden brown and the filling is bubbling, creating a mouthwatering aroma that will fill your kitchen. This recipe provides detailed instructions for making classic apricot date bars, as well as variations such as vegan, gluten-free, and sugar-free options. With step-by-step instructions and helpful tips, this recipe is perfect for bakers of all skill levels. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a novice in the kitchen, you'll be able to create these delicious and satisfying apricot date bars with ease. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and let's embark on a culinary journey that will leave your taste buds dancing with joy!

Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!

APRICOT-DATE BARS



Apricot-Date Bars image

A makeover of the old date bars, these bars have a delightful sweet-tart filling, are thin and crispy. Really nice with a cup of tea or coffee. Store in a tightly sealed container.

Provided by Jan Mowbray

Categories     Desserts     Cookies     Fruit Cookie Recipes     Date

Time 1h40m

Yield 49

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 ¾ cups quick-cooking oats
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups packed brown sugar, divided
¾ tablespoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup butter, softened
1 ¼ cups pitted and chopped dates
1 ¼ cups chopped dried apricots
1 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Mix oats, flour, 1 cup brown sugar, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl. Stir in butter until mixture is crumbly.
  • Press a little over half of the crumbly mixture into the bottom of a 10x15-inch baking pan.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until starting to brown, 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Combine remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar, dates, apricots, and orange juice in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook and stir until thickened, breaking up any clumps, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Cool filling slightly, about 5 minutes.
  • Drop spoonfuls of warm filling over the crust. Spread evenly with an offset spatula. Sprinkle remaining crumbly mixture evenly over the filling; press gently into the filling.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until top is lightly browned, about 25 minutes. Cut into 1-1/4x2-inch bars with a pastry cutter while still hot. Cool bars in the pan, about 20 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 96.6 calories, Carbohydrate 16.9 g, Cholesterol 7.5 mg, Fat 3.1 g, Fiber 0.9 g, Protein 1.1 g, SaturatedFat 1.8 g, Sodium 88.4 mg, Sugar 11.2 g

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

APRICOT - DATE BARS



Apricot - Date Bars image

A moist type bar cookie. Delicious!

Provided by Esther Kenagy

Categories     Desserts     Cookies     Fruit Cookie Recipes     Date

Yield 24

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 cup dates, pitted and chopped
1 ¾ cups drained stewed apricots
½ cup white sugar
2 tablespoons apricot nectar
¾ cup shortening, melted
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups quick cooking oats
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Steps:

  • To Make Filling: Cook together the dates, drained cooked apricots, white sugar and apricot juice. Cook for about three minutes, or until it resembles jam.
  • To Make Crust: Mix together melted shortening (part butter), brown sugar, all-purpose flour, baking soda, quick cooking oats, and vanilla.
  • Press half of the crust mixture on bottom of well greased 9 x 12 x 2 inch pan. Cover with filling. Top with rest of crumbs. Press down gently.
  • Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Nutrition Facts : Calories 205.1 calories, Carbohydrate 34.5 g, Fat 7 g, Fiber 1.9 g, Protein 2.3 g, SaturatedFat 1.7 g, Sodium 56.5 mg, Sugar 20.8 g

Tips:

  • Use ripe apricots and dates: This will ensure that your bars are naturally sweet and flavorful. If your apricots or dates are not ripe, you can soften them by soaking them in hot water for 10 minutes before using.
  • Don't overcook the filling: The filling should be thick and bubbly, but not dry. Overcooking will make the filling tough and chewy.
  • Press the filling firmly into the crust: This will help to prevent the filling from puffing up and cracking during baking.
  • Bake the bars until the crust is golden brown and the filling is set: This will take about 30-35 minutes. To check if the filling is set, insert a toothpick into the center of the bars. If the toothpick comes out clean, the bars are done.
  • Let the bars cool completely before cutting them: This will help to prevent the filling from oozing out.

Conclusion:

Apricot date bars are a delicious and easy-to-make treat that are perfect for any occasion. They are made with a simple shortbread crust and a sweet and tangy apricot and date filling. These bars are a great way to use up ripe apricots and dates, and they are sure to be a hit with your family and friends.

Related Topics