Apricot Oatmeal Bars Just Like You Remember Food

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-CHERRY BARS WITH OATMEAL CRUMBLE TOPPING

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position; heat oven to 325 degrees. Spray a 13-by-9-inch Pyrex baking pan with vegetable cooking spray. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, mix flour, oats, brown sugar and salt. Stir in butter with a fork until well mixed and clumps have formed. Spread 1 1/2 packed cups of oat mixture over the bottom of the pan, pressing to form a thin crust.
• Mix coconut, almonds, cherries, apricots and milk in a large bowl. Pour over crust, using a rubber spatula to evenly distribute and press down. Sprinkle remaining oat mixture over dried fruit filling.
• Bake until lightly golden, about 30 minutes. Cool to room temperature. (You can cover and store at room temperature up to 2 days.)
• To serve, cut into generous 1 1/2-inch squares.

APRICOT OAT BARS

Steps:

• Put an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. 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.
• In a small bowl, mix together the jam and the apricots. Set aside.
• 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 OATMEAL BARS, JUST LIKE YOU REMEMBER!

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray bottom of a 9-by-13-inch rectangular pan with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
• Place the apricots in saucepan and cover with water. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat and drain. Set aside.
• In work bowl of electric mixer, combine flour, oats, sugar, baking soda and salt.
• Add butter and beat on low speed until a crumbly mixture is formed, about 1 minute. Place half the mixture into the pan and press firmly into an even layer.
• Spread apricots evenly over surface, then sprinkle remaining crumbs over the top. The pan will be almost full.
• Bake in center of oven until light golden brown, about 50 minutes. Remove to a rack and cool completely (do not cut while warm or bars will be too crumbly). Gently cut into 24 pieces with a small, sharp knife.
• Store in airtight container or cookie tin between layers of parchment or waxed paper.

APRICOT OATMEAL BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly oil an 8x12 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
• In a large bowl, work together oats, flour, brown sugar, salt and baking soda with your fingertips until no lumps of brown sugar remain. Drizzle oil and fruit juice over the oats and mix in with your fingertips until evenly moistened and crumbly.
• Set aside 1/2 cup for the topping; press the remainder evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Spread apricot preserves over the top. Sprinkle with reserved oat topping.
• Bake 30 to 40 minutes, or until golden.
• Let cool in the baking dish on a rack. Cut into 15 bars.

OATMEAL APRICOT SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray.
• Combine flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Mix almond extract into the beaten egg and stir into the crumb mixture.
• Press half of the crumb mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread apricot preserves over it. Top with the remaining crumbs, and gently press down. Sprinkle almonds evenly over the top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 30 minutes.
• Remove from oven, cool on a wire rack, and then cut into squares.