Apricot Cherry Bars

This recipe comes from the 10-12 Dec 2004 issue of the USA Weekend newspaper. It's a great tasting fruit bar, but you do need to watch out for any stray cherry pit.

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 50

Ingredients

• 1  cup all-purpose flour
• 1  cup old fashioned oats
• 3⁄4 cup light brown sugar
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 8  tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2  cups sweetened flaked coconut
• 2  cups  sliced almonds
• 2  cups dried cherries (about 10 oz)
• 2  cups  dried apricots, coarsely chopped (about 16 oz)
• 21  ounces sweetened condensed milk

Directions

1. Move a rack to a lower-middle position in the oven & preheat to 325 degrees F.
2. Spray a 13"x9" glass baking dish with vegetable cooking spray, & set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, mix the flour, oats, brown sugar & salt.
4. Stir in the butter with a fork until well mixed & clumps have formed.
5. Spread 1 1/2 packed cups of this mixture over the bottom of the baking dish, pressing to form a thin crust.
6. Mix the coconut, almonds, cherries, apricots & milk in a large bowl, blending well.
7. Pour this filling over the crust, distributing evenly & pressing it down.
8. Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the dried fruit filling.
9. Bake about 30 minutes, until lightly golden, then cool to room temperature on a wire rack.
10. Can be stored, covered, at room temperature up to 2 days.
11. When ready to serve, cut into 1 1/2" squares.