Maple Apricot Bars

WaterMelon's Note:

Fairly healthy recipe. Adapted from Alicia's Kitchen (internet).

• Total Time: 1 hrs 10 mins
• Prep Time: 35 mins
• Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 16

• 2 cups dried apricots
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• water
• 3/4 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 2 tablespoons soymilk or 2 tablespoons milk

TOPPING

• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons soymilk or 2 tablespoons milk

Directions:

1. Place the apricots and maple syrup in a small saucepan, add water just to cover.
2. Cook until tender then remove from heat; cool briefly before blending to a paste.
3. Mix the oats, flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder in a stainless bowl.
4. Using a fork, mix in the soymilk and OJ into the dry ingredients, be careful not to over mix.
5. Make the topping by cutting the butter into the flour and sugar and then using a fork to just mix in the soymilk.
6. Spray a (given as 7x11 Pyrex from website, I used a 8" square) pan with nonstick spray and press in the oat mixture evenly with your fingertips.
7. Spread the apricot mixture over it evenly and smoothly.
8. Cover with the topping and bake in a preheated oven until golden brown on top and bubbling (temp no indicated on website, I baked at 375F for about 35-40mins).
9. Cool completely before cutting into squares.