Apricot and Date Bars

A hearty cobbler, loaded with dried fruits and nuts - in bar form. Betty Crocker® snickerdoodle cookie mix makes this wonderful dessert easy to make.

Prep Time

Minutes

Total Time

2:10

Hrs:Mins

Makes

servings

cups orange juice

3/4

cup chopped pitted dates

3/4

cup chopped dried apricots

1/2

cup dried cherries

1/3

cup apricot jam

pouch Betty Crocker® snickerdoodle cookie mix

1/2

cup cold butter, cut into pieces

3/4

cup chopped pecans

In 2-quart saucepan, mix orange juice, dates, apricots and cherries. Heat to boiling over medium heat. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 30 minutes. Drain. In small bowl, mix dried fruit and apricot jam.
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, place cookie mix and cinnamon-sugar packet. Cut in butter, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through mix in opposite directions), until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the crumb mixture. Press remaining mixture in bottom of pan. Bake 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool.
Top partially baked crust with fruit mixture. Mix reserved 1 1/2 cups crumb mixture and the pecans. Sprinkle over fruit mixture.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely in pan on cooling rack, about 1 hour. Cut into 6 rows by 4 rows.

Makes 24 servings (1 bar)

Technique Tip

Use kitchen scissors to cut up sticky dried fruit like dates and apricots.

Nutrition Information:

1 Serving (1 Serving)

Percent Daily Value*:

Exchanges:

Carbohydrate Choices:

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.