Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x9-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir until well mixed.
3. Add the cold cubed butter to the dry ingredients. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to cut the butter into the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs, ensuring there are no large chunks of butter remaining.
4. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the oat mixture for the topping. Press the remaining mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form an even crust.
5. Spread the apricot preserves evenly over the crust, ensuring it reaches all corners for maximum flavor.
6. Sprinkle the reserved oat mixture generously over the apricot layer, creating a crunchy topping.
7. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the apricot filling is bubbly.
8. Allow the bars to cool completely in the baking dish on a wire rack before cutting into squares. This will help them set and make slicing easier.
9. Serve and enjoy! These bars are great on their own, or paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra indulgent treat.