Luscious Apricot Bars Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-by-8- by-2-inch baking pan, and set aside.
• Place apricots in a small saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to simmer, and cook until plumped, about 15 minutes. Drain through a fine sieve, and chop fine. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine 1 cup flour, butter, and granulated sugar. Using a handheld electric mixer on medium speed, blend until crumbly and combined. Transfer mixture to prepared pan. Using your hands, pat crust evenly into pan. Bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool.
• Combine remaining 1/3 cup flour, reserved chopped apricots, brown sugar, eggs, walnuts, baking powder, vanilla, and salt. Using a handheld electric mixer on medium speed, beat until combined; scrape down sides of bowl twice. Pour mixture over crust, and return to oven. Bake until top is golden, about 20 minutes.
• Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool. Cut into 2-inch squares. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line an 8x8-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
• Beat butter and caster sugar together in a bowl until smooth; beat in egg, almond extract, and vanilla extract.
• Whisk flour, almond flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl. Stir flour mixture into butter mixture until a smooth dough forms.
• Press 1/2 of the dough into the prepared baking dish. Spread apricot jam evenly over the dough. Drop remaining dough in small spoonfuls evenly over the jam.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden, about 25 minutes. Allow to cool before cutting into squares and serving.

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.