Apricot And Raisin Fruit Bars

Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins Preparation Time: 35 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, chilled
• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 pinch salt
• 18 -20 dried apricot halves, soaked in water and drained (20-30 minutes)
• 1/2 cup raisins, soaked in water and drained (i soak both the raisins and the apricots in the same water)
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice, divided
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted cashew halves or 1/2 cup cashew pieces

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350°f.
• 2 cut butter in pieces and place in the food processor bowl (fitted with the steel knife) with flour, powdered sugar and a pinch of salt.
• 3 process until blended using on/off turns (5-10 seconds).
• 4 press into a 9 x 9-inch pan.
• 5 bake for 15-20 minutes.
• 6 while crust is baking, make the topping.
• 7 place drained apricots, raisins, one tablespoon lemon juice and 1/2 cup sugar in the processor bowl and process until chopped finely (5-10 seconds).
• 8 pour into a seperate bowl and set aside.
• 9 add eggs to processor bowl and mix using on/off turns for 5-10 seconds.
• 10 add 2 tablespoons lemon juice, baking powder, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and apricots/raisin mixture.
• 11 process using 3 on/off turns.
• 12 fold in cashews, using one on/off turn.
• 13 spoon mixture over baked crust, spreading evenly and covering whole crust.
• 14 return to oven for 30-35 minutes or until done.
• 15 cool on rack and sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.
• 16 cut into squares.