Maple Apricot Bars

Ingredients

• 2 cups dried apricots
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• water
• 3/4 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 2 tablespoons soymilk or milk

TOPPING

• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons soymilk or milk

Directions

1. 1

   Place the apricots and maple syrup in a small saucepan, add water just to cover.

2. 2

   Cook until tender then remove from heat; cool briefly before blending to a paste.

3. 3

   Mix the oats, flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder in a stainless bowl.

4. 4

   Using a fork, mix in the soymilk and OJ into the dry ingredients, be careful not to over mix.

5. 5

   Make the topping by cutting the butter into the flour and sugar and then using a fork to just mix in the soymilk.

6. 6

   Spray a (given as 7x11 Pyrex from website, I used a 8" square) pan with nonstick spray and press in the oat mixture evenly with your fingertips.

7. 7

   Spread the apricot mixture over it evenly and smoothly.

8. 8

   Cover with the topping and bake in a preheated oven until golden brown on top and bubbling (temp no indicated on website, I baked at 375F for about 35-40mins).

9. 9

   Cool completely before cutting into squares.