Apricot-Coconut Cookie Bars
If you enjoy gooey delicious fruit bars, this recipe is for you. I've added ground oats to the pastry, which gives it a slightly heartier consistency, mixed in apricot preserves with the chopped apricots to spread on top of the baked pastry, and added sliced almonds to the coconut mixture to give the bars a little crunch. To make these bars just a little more special, I've topped them with drizzled white chocolate, diced apricots, and chopped sliced almonds. Your family and friends won't be able to resist!
Servings:
8
yield(s)
Prep Time:
25
mins
Cook Time:
60
mins
Total Time:
85
mins
Ingredients
-
1/2
cup
unsalted butter or margarine, softened
(109 g)
-
1/4
cup
sugar
(59 g)
-
cup
sifted all-purpose flour
(148 g)
-
1/3
cup
oats, ground
(33 g)
-
1/2
tsp
baking powder
(2 g)
-
1/4
tsp
salt
(2 g)
-
2
eggs, medium, well beaten
(84 g)
-
14
floz
eagle brand sweetened condensed milk
(397 g)
-
1 1/3
cup
flaked coconut
(112 g)
-
4
tbsp
apricot preserves
(70 g)
-
1
cup
finely chopped dried apricots
(155 g)
-
1/4
cup
sliced almonds
(22.5 g)
-
4
oz
white chocolate, 1 bar
(113.5 g)
Instructions
-
In a medium-sized bowl, combine butter or margarine, sugar, 2/3 cup of flour, and oats. With two knives or a pastry blender, cut ingredients together until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.
-
Press pastry evenly into the bottom and 1 inch up the sides of a buttered 9-inch square baking pan.
-
Bake in a moderate (350 degrees) oven for about 25 minutes. Remove from oven; set aside. Keep the oven at 350 degrees while you mix the remaining ingredients.
-
In a small bowl, mix apricot preserves and chopped apricots. Once combined, gently spread it on the bottom of your baked pastry.
-
In a mixing bowl, sift together baking powder, salt, and the remaining flour. Stir in eggs, sweetened condensed milk, coconut, and almonds; mix well. Spread the mixture evenly over the apricots. Bake for 35 minutes or until the top is firm.
-
Once the bars are firm to the touch, take them out of the oven and let them cool in the pan. Once cool, cut into bars.
-
Drizzle melted white chocolate over cut bars, finely chop two apricots and sprinkle over bars with a few chopped almonds for garnish.