Recipe - Apricot Oatmeal Linzer Bars

2 cup Quaker oats (quick or old
fashioned); uncooked)
2 cup Ground almonds or pecans;
divided
1 cup Allpurpose flour
One half teaspoon Salt; (optional)
1 One half Cups; (3 sticks) butter,
softened
1 One half cup Plus 1 tablespoon powdered
sugar; divided
4 Egg yolks or 2 eggs; lightly
beaten
2 teaspoon Vanilla
One half teaspoon Almond extract
1 Jar; (18oz) apricot
preserves
1 cup Finely chopped dried
apricots
2 tablespoon Orangeflavored liqueur;
(optional)

1.Heat oven to 350øF. Lightly grease 13 x 9inch baking pan.

2.In medium bowl, combine oats, 1One half cups ground almonds, flour and salt;
mix well. Set aside. In large bowl, beat butter and 1One half cups powdered
sugar until creamy. Add egg yolks, vanilla and almond extract; beat well.
Stir in oat mixture; mix well. Reserve 11/3 cups; put in small bowl and
set aside. Spread remaining oat mixture into prepared pan.

3.Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 10 minutes on
wire rack.

4.In small bowl, combine preserves, apricots and liqueur; mix well. Spread
evenly over partially baked crust. Add remaining One half cup ground almonds to
reserved oat mixture; mix well. Drop by One fourth teaspoonfuls evenly over
apricot mixture.

5.Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely in pan
on wire rack. Sprinkle evenly with remaining 1 tablespoon powdered sugar.
Cut into bars. Store tightly covered.

Cook's Tips:

Packaged ground almonds and pecans are available in the baking section of
many grocery stores. Almonds and pecans can be ground in a food processor.
Place steel blade in work bowl; add up to 1 cup nuts. Process until very
finely chopped. (Do not over process)

Notes: 8th Annual Quaker Oatmeal "Bake It Better With Oats" Recipe Contest
First Prize Winner Cookies Jaye Allison Norris Jupiter, Florida

Recipe by: Quaker ® Oats

Posted to brandnamerecipes by Barbrabarbra@pipeline.com on Feb 03, 1998