Apricot Bars

AUTHOR:Maike Corbett PUBLISHED: MODIFIED:
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Impress your guests with these beautiful Apricot Bars.

Juicy apricots and crunchy walnuts sit on a crispy shortbread cake. Perfect for an afternoon treat or after-dinner dessert!

Apricot Bars recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

Apricot Dessert Bars Recipe Highlights

  • FLAVOR – Dried apricots and walnuts are a winning flavor combination.
  • TEXTURE – The crunchy shortbread works beautifully with the moist apricot and walnut cake. Sprinkling a light layer of powdered sugar makes it look like a dessert treat from a fancy bakery.
  • MAKE A HEAD – This dessert treat can be made a day in advance.
  • BRUNCH – Perfect to feed a brunch crowd.

Ingredient Notes

Please check the recipe card below for a detailed, printable ingredient list.

Ingredients needed to make Apricot Bars.

APRICOTS – You can find dried apricots in most major supermarkets. My favorites are the ones from Costco. They are very flavorful, moist for a long time, and well-priced.

NUTS – Walnuts add a bit of crunch.

FLOUR – all-purpose flour works great for this dessert recipe.

BUTTER – Make sure to use unsalted butter that is chilled. Meaning it should come straight out of the fridge.

SUGAR – For this recipe, we’ll use granulated sugar (for the crust) and brown sugar for the filling.

EGGS – Add to the structure moisture, texture, and richness of the apricot walnut dessert bars.

VANILLA – A splash of vanilla extract adds flavor and aroma.

RELATED RECIPE: Love apricot-filled desserts? Be sure also to check out our incredibly easy 4-ingredient Apricot Tarts.

How To Make Apricot Walnut Bars

Please check the printable recipe card below for more detailed instructions.

Steps showing how to make the shortbread crust.
Process steps showing how to make the filling for the dessert bars.
  1. MAKE CRUST – Blend flour, sugar, butter, and salt in a food processor.
  2. FIRST BAKE – Transfer the dough to a pre-greased baking dish and mold it into the bottom. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the center is golden-brown. Remove and set aside.
  3. MAKE FILLING – Beat eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract with an electric mixer on medium-high in a large bowl until creamy. Add flour, baking powder, and salt and combine well. Fold in apricots and walnuts.
  4. SECOND BAKE – Pour the batter over the pre-baked crust and bake for 30-35 minutes at 350° Fahrenheit. Cool and dust with powdered sugar.
A stack of freshly baked apricot dessert bars.

More Delicious Desserts

German Spekulatius Cookies – Winter cookies are perfect with a cup of coffee or tea.

Bee Sting Cake – An easy version of a classic German recipe.

Ice Cream Bread – Just 2 ingredients!

Blueberry Cheesecake Bars – A simple-to-make and delicious back-to-school snack.

Pistachio Cookies – A really easy cookie made with a pudding mix.

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a slice of freshly baked apricot bars dusted with powdered sugar

Apricot Bars

Author: Maike Corbett
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Serving Size 16
A rich and moist apricot cake served over crunch shortbread.
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Ingredients

Apricot Topping

Dusting

Instructions

Prep

  • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit. Grease an 8×8-inch baking dish. Set aside.

Crust

  • Combine flour, sugar, and butter in a food processor. Add a pinch of salt. Process in a food processor until well combined and crumbly.
  • Transfer the dough to a pre-greased baking dish and mold it into the bottom of the dish. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the center is golden-brown. Remove from the oven and set aside.

Topping

  • Use a large mixing bowl and beat eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract with an electric mixer on medium-high until creamy. Add flour, baking powder, and salt to the creamy eggs and combine well. Stir in apricots and walnuts.
  • Pour the batter over the baked baselayer. Bake for 30-35 minutes at 350° Fahrenheit. Once cool, dust with confectioner's sugar. Cut into squares and enjoy.

Equipment

8x8 Baking Dish (glass).
8×8 Baking Dish (glass)

Notes

Optional Step: If the apricots are very dry cook them for 2 minutes in boiling water to rehydrate a bit. Drain and pat dry with a paper towel. Chop coarsely and proceed with the recipe. 

Nutritional Information

Calories: 202
Carbs: 32g
Fat: 8g
Protein: 2g

Nutritional Disclaimer

Cheerful Cook team members are not trained nutritionists or medical professionals. Calorie information and nutritional values are estimates. If you have nutritional concerns, we recommend using a nutritional calculator.

Maike Corbett is the founder and food blogger of Cheerful Cook, a popular recipe website featuring comfort food recipes from the US and Germany. She has been featured in numerous media outlets, including the AP Wire and MSN.

5 from 2 votes

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Recipe Rating




4 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    My Mom used this same recipe and I have been using it for over 50 years. They are delicious…Always a hit!

    Reply

  2. I was thinking about making these squares, but I wondered if I could make ahead of time and freeze them? They sound delicious

    Reply