Apricot Dessert Bars is a showcase for apricots, a fruit loved by Eastern Europeans. Traditionally, this was made in my family by boiling dried apricots for 30 minutes and chopping them. But with the high-quality canned apricot fillings available these days, this dessert becomes ultra-easy.
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Makes 9 Apricot Dessert Bars
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 cup crushed shortbread cookies or graham crackers
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted, plus 4 ounces (1 stick) butter, softened
- 3 cups confectioners' sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 (14-ounce) can apricot filling
- 1/2 pint (1 cup) whipping cream plus 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar, whipped
- 2 tablespoons ground almonds
Preparation:
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cookie crumbs and 2 tablespoons melted butter. Pat into the bottom of a 9-inch-by-9-inch pan. Refrigerate until ready to bake.
- Cream 4 ounces softened butter with confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, and beat until well incorporated and light.
- Spread butter-sugar mixture over chilled crust. Bake 20-25 minutes or until toothpick tests clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.
- Spread apricot filling over cooled baked layer. Top with sweetened whipped cream in decorative swirls, if desired. Sprinkle with ground almonds. Refrigerate 6 hours or overnight. Cut into 9 squares.
