Apricot Squares
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Boil Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 20-25 minutes (crust) , 35-40 minutes (topping)
Makes: approx. 12 bars
For The Crust
♦ 1 cup whole wheat flour
♦ 1/2 cup (1 stick) regular, salted butter cut into small cubes
♦ 1/3 cup white sugar
♦ 1/8 teaspoon Kosher salt
For The Apricot Topping
♦ 1 generous cup dried apricots (use a wet/glass measuring cup for this)
♦ 2 1/2 cups water (for boiling apricots)
♦ 1 cup dark brown sugar
♦ 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
♦ 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
♦ 2 eggs
♦ 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
♦ 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
Add the apricots and water to a small sauce pan and bring them to a boil. Reduce the heat to a high simmer/low boil and cook for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and set aside to cool.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In a medium sized bowl, add the whole wheat flour, butter, white sugar and 1/8 teaspoon of salt. Using a pastry cutter or your hands, work the ingredients together until they resemble very coarse sand. Dump the mixture into an 8x8 or 9x9 inch square baking pan. Using a measuring cup, a glass, or your hands, press the mixture into the pan, starting around the edges and working toward the middle. You can use your knuckles and fingers to perfect the corners and flatten more around the edges. When you have a smooth, compacted crust, place the pan in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Set aside to cool while you make the apricot filling.
Drain the water from the apricots. In the bowl of a food processor, add the apricots, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt. Pulse the ingredients together until the apricots are well pulverized, but you still have some very small chunks. Add the eggs and pulse to combine thoroughly. Add the baking powder and flour and pulse a few more times until all of the flour has been incorporated. Scrape the mixture into the slightly cooled crust (it is ok if it is still warm, but it should not be hot) and bake the bars for 35 – 40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out mostly clean. Cool the bars completely, cut into squares and enjoy. These bars freeze beautifully.
