Apricot Slice (Bars)

My mum bought some of this slice from a local Country Women's Association CWA cake stall. She enjoyed it so much that she asked for the recipe. Posting this recipe for my Mum. I think it would be just as good if made with a gluten-free flour blend, though I haven't tried making it gluten-free yet.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 20

Ingredients

• 1  cup sugar
• 120  g margarine (4 oz) or 120  g butter (4 oz)
• 2  eggs
• 1  teaspoon vanilla essence
• 1⁄2 cup milk
• 1  cup plain flour
• 1  cup  dried apricot, chopped
• 3⁄4 cup  desiccated coconut

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 180°C ( 350 - 360°F ).
2. Soak the apricots in the milk and set aside for 30 minutes.
3. Using electric beaters, cream the margarine with the sugar.
4. To the cream margarine - add the eggs and beat well. Add the flour, vanilla and coconut. Then add the apricot and milk mixture.
5. Spread the mixture into a greased slice tin ( 18 x 7 inches).
6. Bake for 30 minutes
7. Slice can be topped with lemon icing if desired and more cocnut sprinkled over for decoration.
8. Cool slice in the tin and cut when cold.