Apricot Pecan Crumb Bars 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 CRUMBLE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375F.
• Line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper or foil. Spray the dish with non stick spray.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, almond flour, sugar, and salt. Using a stand mixer or electric mixer, beat 16 Tablespoons (2 sticks, 1/2 pound) of butter at low speed into the flour until it is incorporated and looks like wet sand. (Alternatively, do this in a large bowl with your fingers, squishing the butter into the flour).
• Remove one cup of the flour mixture for the topping and set aside.
• Take the remaining flour mixture and press it into an even layer across the bottom of the dish.
• Bake the bottom crust in the dish until the edges just start to brown, approximately 15 minutes.
• While the bottom crust is baking, combine the reserved flour mixture, oats, almonds, and brown sugar in a medium bowl. Stir to combine.
• Add the remaining 2 Tablespoons of butter to the almond mixture and pinch it to combine, making clumps of the streusel. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, combine the apricot jam, diced apricots, and lemon juice. Stir to combine.
• When the bottom crust has been removed from the oven, spread the apricot jam mixture across the warm crust. Then sprinkle the streusel mixture across the top.
• Bake the crumble bars for approximately 20-25 minutes until the top is browned and the edges of the apricot mixture are bubbling.
• Let cool completely or until just slightly warm, approximately 2 hours. Use the foil or parchment to remove the bars from the dish and cut into pieces. Re-warm if desired in pieces or as a whole. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream if desired.

PEACH-PECAN BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with foil and butter the foil.
• Cook the peaches with the water and golden syrup in a saucepan until thick and jammy, mashing if needed, about 12 minutes.
• Combine the flour, pecans, confectioners' sugar, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Work in the cut-up butter until moist clumps form.
• Press two-thirds of the dough into the pan pan. Spread the peach mixture on top and sprinkle with the remaining dough. Bake at 350˚ F until browned, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan, then lift out of the pan using the foil. Cut into bars.

JOANNE'S APRICOT BARS

Steps:

• For shortbread layer:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 8x8x2-inch glass baking dish with nonstick spray. Blend flour, sugar, and salt in processor. Add butter; using on/off turns, process until coarse meal forms. Press crumbs firmly onto bottom of dish. Bake until center is golden, about 25 minutes. Maintain oven temperature.
• Meanwhile, prepare apricot layer:
• Place apricots in small saucepan; add enough water to cover. Boil until soft, about 4 minutes; drain and set aside.
• Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into small bowl. Using electric mixer, beat eggs in large bowl. Add brown sugar and vanilla; beat until thick. Stir in flour mixture, then nuts and apricots. Spread over shortbread.
• Bake cookie until puffed, dark brown, and toothpick inserted into topping comes out with small moist crumbs attached, about 35 minutes. Cool in dish.
• Cut cookie into 6 strips, then crosswise into thirds. Transfer to waxed paper. Sift powdered sugar over bars.