Grandma Files: Apricot Bars

Apricot bars. A homey, old fashioned treat. This recipe uses dried apricots instead of fresh, and a few more very common ingredients, so it can be made year round.

I don't remember eating these, but I do remember eating dried apricots. I liked them as a child, for the most part... there were always a few that I thought tasted 'off' or bitter. As a teen my mom and I had two apricot trees in our backyard. I think that was the first time I tasted a fresh apricot. They were amazing! (I am not suggesting you swap the dried for fresh in this recipe though.)

I do know that my Grandma liked sweets and desserts, and was a good cook, so I bet this recipe will be a winner! Let's find out!

Ah! the days of the electric typewriter. This was considered a time-saving device, and if you were writing a paper, it was. I am not so sure about it saving time in this case. Personally, I would not bother trying to set-up the typewriter to use a 3x5 card. But a cool toy is cool, and for people with atrocious handwriting, the typewriter provided legibility.

While there are typos in this recipe, the instructions are modern enough that I think it should be easy to follow. Let's get to it!

Rinse apricots. (I am not entirely sure why. But what's the harm?)

Cover apricots with water and boil. (Obviously, you'll need a pot to boil in.) Boil for 10 minutes.

Drain the apricots and let cool.

Chop the apricots. (I'd chop them into small pieces, maybe a little larger than a raisin.)

Pre-heat your oven to 350 F.

Combine butter, granulated sugar and 1 cup of the flour until crumbly. Pack mixture into the bottom of a greased 8 inch square pan. Bake for 15 - 18 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Beat eggs, gradually adding in brown sugar. (I'd use a stand mixer for this part, although a whisk would work as well. I'd probably add the sugar in four parts.)

In a separate bowl, sift the remaining flour with the baking powder and salt. Gently stir into egg mixture.

Add the vanilla, nuts, coconut, and chopped apricots and stir to combine.

Spread over crust and bake at 350 F for 30 minutes or until set.

Cool before cutting into bars.

This recipe is a great example of why you should read through any recipe before attempting it. We were not told we needed baking powder and salt until the instructions!

Also, I think the vanilla should have been added into the egg and sugar mixture, before adding the flour.

I would suggest folding the other ingredients into the beaten egg and sugar. It seems a waste to beat the sugar and eggs together in parts, to deflate the whole thing by dumping and stirring. Since this is supposed to be the filling, it should be distinct in texture from the crust.

You could make these fancy by sifting a little powdered sugar over the bars before serving.

I hope you're enjoying the recipes I find in my Grandma's file! I enjoy sharing them! Thanks for being here!