These apricot bars come together in just minutes with minimal ingredients you probably already have in your house! Plus they are deliciously buttery, sweet, and kid approved!
I mean, who doesn’t have that lingering jar of apricot jelly, or preserves hanging around in their fridge?
Not sure why but I always seem to have one but every time I open my cabinet, whomp there it is.
I came up with this recipe one day after having a baking craving without having much in the house. First I made teeny tiny pop tarts which were just fine, but then I realized I should have used the jam to make oatmeal crumble bars. So I left my house with the actual intention of buying a jar of apricot jelly- maybe the first time ever?
Easy Apricot Bars
What I love about this recipe is that it is the perfect dessert or treat for someone who is short on time. You don’t have to wait for the butter to soften, and the dough comes together in just one bowl!
You do have to use another bowl to mix the apricot jam and vanilla extract together, but I think its worth it. The vanilla gives the jam just a little boost of flavor which adds more depth to it.
How to make apricot bars:
These are honestly one of the easiest bar recipes I have ever made. For one its because the dough is a snap to put together. Just combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and cinnamon into one bowl. Next you have to cut in the butter.
But what does cut in the butter mean?
Cutting in the butter means to break up the little pieces of butter into the flour mixture without melting the butter. It’s easiest with a pastry cutter but you can also do it with your hands.
If I’m using my hands I like to completely cover the butter in the flour and then pinch it really smalls and mix until the consistency is like cornmeal, but a little softer. If you coat the butter before you pinch, you have a lesser chance of melting the butter from the heat of your hands.
Next add in the oats and salt, mix, and press half into the pan. Layer with the jam mixture and crumble the rest of the dough on top of the jam layer. You don’t have to press the top layer dough, just crumble it!
Bake for 20- 25 minutes, and make sure you let them cool before you cut into them, otherwise it’ll be a little messy because they need time to firm up.
You can totally also use different kinds of fillings for these bars! Some suggestions:
- Any kind of jelly
- Berry compote
- Nut butters
- Cookie butter
Seriously these apricot bars are so good, I made them twice and gave some away to friends- but next time I think I’ll keep them all to myself.
For some more bar inspirations, check out these recipes!
Sweet and Tangy Cheesecake Bars
The Most Magical Unicorn Snack Bars
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Apricot Bars with Oatmeal Crumble
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/ 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 cup butter cold and cut into small pieces
- 1.5 cup old fashioned oats
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 18 oz jar Apricot preserves
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350° F and spray a 9x13 inch pan with baking spray.
- In a medium sized bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and cinnamon and mix lightly.
- Now it’s time to cut in the butter which means to break up the butter into tiny pieces and mix it into the dough until the dough resembles a cornmeal like texture. Moving quickly, pinch the butter into the dough trying not to melt it with the heat of your hands. Next, add in the oats and mix until a dough forms.
- Take half the dough and press it into the bottom of the pan. In a small bowl combine the preserves and vanilla and mix well till combined. Layer the preserve mixture evenly on top of the oat mixture then crumble the rest of the oats on top. You don’t have to press it in, just crumble it on top.
- Bake for 20- 22 minutes or until golden brown. Let it cool before you slice or it will be a mess!
Notes
Nutrition
This is the perfect recipe for a sweet and easy to bake dessert! It’s sooooo good and was the perfect sweet ending to my day.
Aww ALLY!! Thank you so much this made my day!