Cranberry-Apricot Bars

Submitted by mer5901

"I was intending to make a batch of these bars long before now, but it just hasn't happened. So I'm posting it here so I can find it easily and to share with everyone else, as well. This is from Betty Crocker's Fall Baking."

 

• Ready In: 2hrs
• Ingredients: 9
• Yields: 16 bars
• Serves: 16

ingredients

• Crust

• 1 1⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine, softened
• 1⁄4 cup sugar

• Filling

• 1⁄2 cup chopped dried apricot
• 1⁄2 cup dried sweetened cranberries
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1⁄4 cup honey
• 3 tablespoons orange juice

directions

1. Heat oven to 350. Line an 8 inch square pan with foil, spray with cooking spray.
2. In large bowl beat crust ingredients with electric mixer on low speed until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Press in pan.
3. Bake 28 to 30 minutes or until light golden brown. Meanwhile, in medium bowl, mix filling ingredients.
4. Remove partially baked crust from oven. Reduce oven temperature to 325. Spread filling over crust.
5. Bake 9 to 12 minutes longer or until mixture is set and appears glossy. Cool completely, about 45 minutes.
6. For bars, cut into 4 rows by 4 rows.