Apricot Bars

Found this recipe in an old cookbook and gave it a try...they are very tasty and have a wonderful apricot flavor.

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 8
• Yields: 2 1/2 dozen

Ingredients

• 2⁄3 cup  dried apricot
• 1⁄4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 1⁄3 cups flour, divided
• 1⁄2 cup butter, softened
• 2  eggs
• 1  cup brown sugar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1⁄2 cup walnuts, chopped
•  powdered sugar, for dusting

Directions

1. Rinse the apricots, place in a small saucepan, cover with water and simmer 10 minutes. Drain, cool, chop the fruit and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl sift together the powdered sugar and 1 cup of the flour. Cut the butter into flour mixture until well mixed and crumbly. Press mixture into a greased 8 x 8 x 2 - inch pan and bake in a preheated 350F oven from 22 - 25 minutes, until just barely brown. Cool for at least 15 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl beat the eggs until well mixed and slowly add the brown sugar, beating until blended. Sift together 1/3 cup flour, the baking powder, and salt and blend into egg mixture. Blend vanilla, chopped apricots, and muts into egg mixture and pour over the baked layer. Return the pan to the 350F oven for an additional 30 minutes. Remove the pan to a rack and cool completely. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and cut in 1 1/2" squares.