Almond Apricot Bars

Yield: about 24 bars

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup dried apricots
• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup cold unsalted butter
• 1 cup sliced almonds, toasted and divided
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/4 teaspoon grated lemon peel
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Instructions

1. Place apricots in small saucepan. Add just enough water to cover the apricots, bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook 10 minutes.
2. Drain well and coarsely chop and set aside.
3. Blend 1 cup all-purpose flour with granulated sugar.
4. Cut in butter until crumbly. (I do this in a food processor - pulse a few times and that's it. Be careful not to over process.)
5. Add 1/2 cup almonds and stir or pulse a few times to mix.
6. Pat into an UNGREASED 9 inch square pan.
7. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes.
8. Beat eggs and brown sugar.
9. Add extracts, peel, lemon juice baking powder and the remaining 1/3 cup all-purpose flour and stir to blend.
10. Stir in chopped apricots.
11. Pour over partially baked crust.
12. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup almonds.
13. Bake for 25 minutes more.
14. Cool in pan on a rack.
15. Cut into squares.

Attribution

Posted by Chyrel at Recipe Goldmine 1/11/2002 3:12 pm.