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Home » Desserts » Apricot Bars

Published: Jun 21, 2021 by Kathy · This post may contain affiliate links

Apricot Bars

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Squares of apricot bars with almonds on a wooden board.

Tasty Apricot Bars made with a shortbread crust, apricot jam and sliced almonds. This easy to make dessert is perfect when you want something sweet and delicious.

Serve for a weeknight dessert or bring to a summer barbecue.

Apricot bars topped with slice almonds on a wooden board.
Table of Contents
Why make this dessert
Key ingredients
Step by step directions
To make crust without a food processor
Recipe tips and variations
Recipe Faqs
More easy recipes using jam
Apricot Bars

Why make this dessert

These apricot bars are so easy to make and are a perfectly delicious treat. The filling is made with apricot jam - you just can't get any easier than that! Use your own homemade jam or use store bought. Either way makes a delicious bar.

The crust is easily made when using a food processor, but if you don't have a food processor, you can still make the crust using just your hands.

Apricot bars are a perfect dessert to make when you want the taste of fresh fruit, but don't have it available. It's also one I make when I need to use up my remaining jars of homemade apricot jam in my pantry.

Key ingredients

Ingredients in small bowls.
  • Apricot jam
  • Almonds - Sliced
  • Almond extract - Just a touch is added to the crust
  • Butter - Salted butter, cut into small cubes
  • Sugar
  • Flour - All-purpose flour

Step by step directions

  • Place flour, sugar, butter, baking powder and salt in a food processor bowl
  • Pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs
  • A food processor bowl with flour and butter.
  • A crumbly flour mixture in a food processor bowl.
  • Lightly beat egg along with almond extract
  • Pour beaten egg. into flour mixture. Pulse 4-5 times - mixture will still look very dry.
Beaten egg being poured into a flour mixture.
  • Pour into a greased 9x13" baking dish. Press crust mixture down with your hands or the bottom of a flat measuring cup
  • Flour mixture in a glass baking dish.
  • Pressing a crust down into a glass baking dish.
  • Evenly spread apricot jam over top of crust
  • Sprinkle on sliced almonds
  • Apricot jam being spread over a crust.
  • Almond slices over the top of apricot bars.
  • Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 30 minutes
  • Allow bars to fully cool before slicing and eating
  • After 5 minutes of cooling, run a knife around the outside of the bars to help release any jam that may be stuck on the sides

To make crust without a food processor

  • Add flour, sugar, butter, baking powder and salt to a bowl. Use your hands to smoosh or flatten the cubes of butter into the flour mixture.
  • Add beaten egg and almond extract and combine lightly with a fork

Recipe tips and variations

  • Crust mixture will be very dry and crumbly. Be certain to press it firmly into a greased baking dish.
  • Baking dish size can vary from a 9x13" to an 8x11" - the smaller the dish, the thicker the crust. Baking time may increase 3-5 minutes with a smaller dish.
  • Use vanilla instead of almond extract
  • Replace the sliced almonds with chopped pecans
  • Use your favorite variety of jam - blackberry, strawberry, raspberry or rhubarb would all be great!
  • Allow bars to fully cool before serving or they will be too soft and crumbly
Apricot bars topped with sliced almonds in a baking dish.

Recipe Faqs

How long will the bars last?

The apricot bars will last for 4-5 days if covered and stored at room temperature.

Can the bars be frozen?

Yes, the bars can be frozen. Allow bars to fully cool. Cover baking dish with a double layer of plastic wrap and a layer of foil. Freeze in the baking dish.

To use, simply remove from freezer and allow bars to thaw at room temperature.

More easy recipes using jam

Jam is a great filling for so many delicious recipes. Try out these favorites:

  • Raspberry Oat Bars
  • Puff Pastry Pinwheels
  • Raspberry Bow Tie Cookies
  • Thumbprint Cookies
Apricot Almond Bars cut into squares.

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop

Be sure to check out all my delicious dessert recipes!

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Apricot bars topped with slice almonds on a wooden board.

Apricot Bars

Kathy
A tasty bar with a shortbread crust and an apricot filling topped with sliced almonds.
5 from 9 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24 Bars
Calories 167 kcal

Equipment

  • Measuring Cups
  • Measuring Spoons
  • Food Processor
  • 9 x 13" Baking Dish
  • Cooling Rack
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Ingredients
  

Crust

  • 1 ¾ cups flour
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • ¾ cup butter (1 ½ sticks cut into small cubes. I use salted butter.)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract

Filling

  • 1 ½ cups apricot jam
  • ¾ cup sliced almonds

Instructions
 

Crust

  • Place flour, sugar, butter, baking powder and salt in a food processor bowl
    1 ¾ cups flour, ¾ cup sugar, ¾ cup butter, 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder, ¼ teaspoon salt
  • Pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs
  • Lightly beat egg along with almond extract
    1 egg, ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • Add beaten egg to food processor. Pulse 3-5 times. Mixture will be very dry and crumbly
  • Add flour mixture to a greased 9x13" pan
  • Spread flour mixture evenly in pan and press firmly down with hands or the bottom of a flat measuring cup

Filling

  • Add apricot jam on top of the crust. With the back of a spoon, spread jam evenly over crust. Don't worry if the crust sticks slightly to the jam and pulls up a bit.
    1 ½ cups apricot jam
  • Sprinkle almonds evenly over the top of the jam
    ¾ cup sliced almonds
  • Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 30 minutes
  • Allow bars to fully cool before serving
  • After 5 minutes of cooling, run a knife around the outside edges of the bars to release any jam that may stick to the baking dish

Notes

To make without a food processor:
  • Add flour, sugar, butter, baking powder and salt to a bowl. Use your hands to smoosh or flatten the cubes of butter into the flour mixture.
  • Add beaten egg and almond extract and combine lightly with a fork
 
Tips and variations:
  • Crust mixture will be very dry and crumbly. Be certain to press it firmly into a greased baking dish.
  • Baking dish size can vary from a 9x13" to an 8x11" - the smaller the dish, the thicker the crust. Baking time may increase 3-5 minutes with a smaller dish.
  • Use vanilla instead of almond extract
  • Replace the sliced almonds with chopped pecans
  • Use your favorite variety of jam - blackberry, strawberry, raspberry or rhubarb would all be great!
  • Allow bars to fully cool before serving or they will be too soft and crumbly

Nutritional Disclaimer:

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition

Serving: 1BarCalories: 167kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 84mgPotassium: 75mgFiber: 1gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 218IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 27mgIron: 1mg
Keyword apricot bars, Jam Bars
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @BeyondTheChickenCoop or tag #beyondthechickencoop!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Valentina says

    June 23, 2021 at 2:55 pm

    "Sweet & delicious" is always what I want! I might even make homemade apricot jam for this one. Sounds soooo good! 🙂 ~Valentina

    Reply
  2. David @ Spiced says

    June 22, 2021 at 4:40 am

    5 stars
    What a fun recipe, Kathy! I've only dabbled with apricots/apricot jam a handful of times, but I've always enjoyed it. I love how this recipe really calls the apricot flavor to the forefront! And the toasted almonds on top would add great texture and flavor, too!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      June 22, 2021 at 4:50 am

      Hi David,
      Thanks so much! I love the brightness of flavor and color of apricots! 🙂
      Kathy

      Reply

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I'm Kathy, a busy working mom who loves to cook from scratch, grow a garden, and raise farm animals. Take a look around and find all my recipes, gardening tips, and country living antics.

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More about me →

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