Apricot Crumble Bars are an easy fruit dessert recipe made with jam and oats. Soft cookie bars are layered with the stone fruit apricot jam and a streusel oat topping.
Line a 9x13 inch pan with parchment paper or foil. Spray the dish with non stick spray.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, almond flour, sugar, and salt.
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup almond flour, 2/3 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt
Using a stand mixer or electric mixer, beat 16 Tablespoons (2 sticks, 1/2 pound) of butter at low speed into the flour until it is incorporated and looks like wet sand. (Alternatively, do this in a large bowl with your fingers, squishing the butter into the flour).
18 Tablespoons unsalted butter
Remove one cup of the flour mixture for the topping and set aside.
Take the remaining flour mixture and press it into an even layer across the bottom of the dish.
Bake the bottom crust in the dish until the edges just start to brown, approximately 15 minutes.
While the bottom crust is baking, combine the reserved flour mixture, oats, almonds, and brown sugar in a medium bowl. Stir to combine.
1/2 cup rolled oats, 1/2 cup almonds, 1/4 cup light brown sugar
Add the remaining 2 Tablespoons of butter to the almond mixture and pinch it to combine, making clumps of the streusel. Set aside.
In a small bowl, combine the apricot jam, diced apricots, and lemon juice. Stir to combine.
1 cup apricot jam, 4 ounces dried apricots, 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
When the bottom crust has been removed from the oven, spread the apricot jam mixture across the warm crust. Then sprinkle the streusel mixture across the top.
Bake the crumble bars for approximately 30 minutes until the top is browned and the edges of the apricot mixture are bubbling.
Let cool completely or until just slightly warm, approximately 2 hours. Use the foil or parchment to remove the bars from the dish and cut into pieces. Re-warm if desired in pieces or as a whole. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream if desired.
Notes
You can use additional all-purpose flour instead of the almond flour.