Apricot Cobbler Bars

Ingredients

All-purpose flour

2 cups

Granulated sugar

3/4 cup

Salt

1/4 teaspoon

Unsalted butter

1/2 cup, cold and cubed

Chopped walnuts

1/2 cup

Ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon

Vanilla extract

1 teaspoon

Lemon juice

1 tablespoon

Apricot preserves

1 cup

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9x9-inch baking dish with parchment paper, allowing some overhang for easy removal.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter and cut it into the dry mixture using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the crumb mixture for the streusel topping. Press the remaining mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to create an even crust.
4. In a separate bowl, mix together the apricot preserves, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until smooth. Spread the apricot mixture evenly over the crust.
5. In a small bowl, combine the reserved crumb mixture with the ground cinnamon and chopped walnuts. Sprinkle the streusel topping generously over the apricot layer.
6. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. Keep an eye on it to prevent over-browning.
7. Allow the bars to cool completely in the baking dish for at least 1 hour before using the parchment overhang to lift them out and cut into squares.
8. Serve and enjoy your delightful Apricot Cobbler Bars!