Apricot-Date Bars

A makeover of the old date bars, these bars have a delightful sweet-tart filling, are thin and crispy. Really nice with a cup of tea or coffee. Store in a tightly sealed container.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 45 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 97 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup butter, softened
• ¾ tablespoon baking soda
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 ¼ cups chopped dried apricots
• 1 ¾ cups quick-cooking oats
• 1 ½ cups packed brown sugar, divided
• 1 ¼ cups pitted and chopped dates

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2

Mix oats, flour, 1 cup brown sugar, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl. Stir in butter until mixture is crumbly.

Step 3

Press a little over half of the crumbly mixture into the bottom of a 10x15-inch baking pan.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven until starting to brown, 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 5

Combine remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar, dates, apricots, and orange juice in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook and stir until thickened, breaking up any clumps, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Cool filling slightly, about 5 minutes.

Step 6

Drop spoonfuls of warm filling over the crust. Spread evenly with an offset spatula. Sprinkle remaining crumbly mixture evenly over the filling; press gently into the filling.

Step 7

Bake in the preheated oven until top is lightly browned, about 25 minutes. Cut into 1-1/4x2-inch bars with a pastry cutter while still hot. Cool bars in the pan, about 20 minutes.