Apricot-Date Bars Recipe

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Mix oats flour 1 cup brown sugar baking soda and salt together in a large bowl. Stir in butter until mixture is crumbly.

Press a little over half of the crumbly mixture into the bottom of a 10x15-inch baking pan.

Bake in the preheated oven until starting to brown 10 to 15 minutes.

Combine remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar dates apricots and orange juice in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook and stir until thickened breaking up any clumps about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Cool filling slightly about 5 minutes.

Drop spoonfuls of warm filling over the crust. Spread evenly with an offset spatula. Sprinkle remaining crumbly mixture evenly over the filling; press gently into the filling.

Bake in the preheated oven until top is lightly browned about 25 minutes. Cut into 1-1/4x2-inch bars with a pastry cutter while still hot. Cool bars in the pan about 20 minutes.