Delicious Apricot Bars

Ingredients

All-purpose flour

2 cups

Granulated sugar

3/4 cup

Unsalted butter

1 cup, softened

Salt

1/4 teaspoon

Lemon juice

1 tablespoon

Vanilla extract

1 teaspoon

Apricot preserves

1 cup

Powdered sugar

for dusting before serving

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x9-inch baking dish.
2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, softened butter, and salt. Use a pastry cutter or your hands to mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the crumb mixture for the topping, and press the remaining mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form the crust.
4. In a separate bowl, mix together the apricot preserves, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until well combined. Spread the apricot mixture evenly over the crust in the baking dish.
5. Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture over the apricot layer, ensuring an even distribution.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
7. Allow the bars to cool completely in the baking dish before cutting into squares.
8. Before serving, dust the top with powdered sugar for an elegant finish.