Apricot Cookie Bar Food

WINNING APRICOT BARS

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.

APRICOT SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray an 8x10 baking dish with baking spray.
• To your stand mixer add the butter and sugar and cream on medium speed until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
• Add in egg yolks and vanilla extract until creamy.
• Add flour, baking powder, and salt until just combined.
• Spread about half the mixture into the baking dish and press gently.
• Spread apricot jam over the shortbread.
• Sprinkle remaining shortbread mixture over the apricot jam.
• Bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown.
• Cool completely before slicing.

APRICOT OAT BARS

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.

APRICOT COCONUT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Place butter, sugar and 1 cup flour in a large bowl.
• Cut butter in with a pastry blender until coarse crumbs form.
• Press crumbs firmly into bottom of a greased 9 inch square pan to make a crust.
• Bake for 25 minutes.
• Remove pan from oven to a wire rack to cool.
• Combine the remaining 1/3 cup flour, baking powder, salt, eggs, condensed milk, coconut, and apricots in a medium bowl.
• Mix well.
• Spread mixture evenly over crust.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.
• Cool in pan.

APRICOT BARS WITH SHORTBREAD CRUST

Steps:

• Set oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease an 8x8-inch baking dish.
• For the shortbread crust: blend flour, sugar and salt together for about 10 seconds in a processor.
• Add in cold butter using on/off turns, and process until coarse meal forms.
• Press crumbs firmly into bottom of the pan.
• Bake for about 25 minutes, or until the center is golden, remove and keep oven heat on to same temperature.
• To make the filling: place apricots in a small saucepan and add enough water to cover; bring to a boil and simmer until soft (about 4 minutes) drain, and set aside.
• In a small bowl sift together flour, baking powder and salt.
• Using an electric mixer beat eggs in a large bowl for about 2 minutes.
• Add in brown sugar and vanilla and beat until thick.
• Stir in flour mixture.
• Mix/mix in the apricots and nuts.
• Spread over the shortbread crust.
• Bake for about 35 minutes, or until puffed and dark golden brown.
• Cool in dish.
• Cut into small squares or triangles, and dust lightly with powdered sugar.

APRICOT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F & grease an 8-inch square baking dish.
• In a small saucepan, cook apricots in water over medium heat for 10 minutes or until softened, then drain, cool & chop, before setting aside.
• In a large bowl, cream butter & powdered sugar until light & fluffy, then gradually add 1 cup of the flour until well blended.
• Press into the prepared baking dish & bake for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, beat eggs & brown sugar until blended.
• In another small bowl, whisk together the baking powder, salt & the remaining 1/3 cup of flour, then gradually add this flour mixture to the egg mixture.
• Beat in the vanilla, then stir in the apricots & nuts before pouring this mixture over the crust.
• Bake for 30 minutes or until set, then cool on a wire rack.
• When cooled, if desired, dust with powdered sugar, then cut into bars. Store any left-over bars in the refrigerator.

APRICOT OATMEAL COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In large bowl, with mixer on medium speed, beat butter and sugars 2 minutes or until creamy, occasionally scraping bowl.
• Reduce speed to low; beat in eggs, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, almond extract, and 1/2 teaspoon salt just until blended.
• Stir in oats and remaining ingredients.
• Drop dough by rounded measuring tablespoons, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake cookies 14 to 15 minutes or until tops are golden.
• Cool cookies on wire racks.
• Repeat with remaining dough.