Name: Apricot Oatmeal Bars Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: 48
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups Quaker Oats; 2 cups ground almonds; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 ½ cup butter; 1 ½ cup powdered sugar; 4 egg yolks; 2 tsp vanilla; 1/2 tsp almond extract; 18 oz apricot preserves; 1 cup dried apricots; 2 tbsp orange-flavored liqueur

This apricot oatmeal bars recipe is great as a pick-me-up during the middle of the day. Spike it with orange-flavored liqueur for an added buzz if you like.

How To Make Apricot Oatmeal Bars

Prep: 30 mins

Cook: 40 mins

Total: 1 hr 10 mins

Makes:

Ingredients

2 cups Quaker Oats
2 cups ground almonds , or pecans, divided
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt , optional
1 ½ cup butter, softened
1 ½ cup powdered sugar, plus 1 tbsp for topping
4 egg yolks , or 2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract
18 oz apricot preserves
1 cup dried apricots, finely chopped
2 tbsp orange-flavored liqueur, optional

Instructions

Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.
In a medium-sized bowl, combine oats, 1.5 cups ground almonds, flour and salt, mixing well. Set aside.
In a large bowl, beat butter and 1.5 cups powdered sugar until creamy. Add egg yolks, vanilla and almond extract, beating well. Stir in oat mixture and mix well.
Reserve 1 ⅓ cups of this mixture, put in a small bowl and set aside.
Spread the rest of the oat mixture on the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack.
In a small bowl, combine preserves, apricots and liqueur (optional), mixing well. Spread evenly over the partially baked base.
Add remaining ground almonds to the reserved oat mixture and mix well. Drop by 1/4 teaspoonfuls evenly over the apricot mixture.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely in pan on wire rack.
Sprinkle with 1 tbsp powdered sugar. Cut into bars and store tightly covered until ready to eat.