Cranberry Apricot Delight Bars Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 9-inch square pan. Place bread mix in large bowl. With pastry blender or fork, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add egg; mix well. Reserve 1 cup mixture for topping. Press remaining mixture evenly in bottom of greased pan.
• In small bowl, combine all filling ingredients; stir gently to mix (do not break up cream cheese). Spread filling evenly over base. With fingers, crumble reserved mixture and sprinkle evenly over filling; press lightly.
• Bake at 350°F. for 30 to 35 minutes or until top is golden brown. Cool 1 hour or until completely cooled. Cut into bars. Store in refrigerator.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350. Line an 8 inch square pan with foil, spray with cooking spray.
• In large bowl beat crust ingredients with electric mixer on low speed until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Press in pan.
• Bake 28 to 30 minutes or until light golden brown. Meanwhile, in medium bowl, mix filling ingredients.
• Remove partially baked crust from oven. Reduce oven temperature to 325. Spread filling over crust.
• Bake 9 to 12 minutes longer or until mixture is set and appears glossy. Cool completely, about 45 minutes.
• For bars, cut into 4 rows by 4 rows.

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with a sheet of waxed paper.
• Place chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes.
• Combine cranberries, almonds, and apricots in a bowl. Add to melted chocolate and mix until well combined.
• Spread chocolate onto the prepared baking sheet to a thickness of about 1/4 inch. Place baking sheet in the refrigerator until chocolate has completely hardened, about 1 hour. Break into pieces.

Steps:

• Start preparing the cranberry layer: Combine the cranberries, sugar and 3 tablespoons water in a medium saucepan. Zest 2 of the lemons directly into the saucepan; reserve the lemons. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Continue boiling, stirring occasionally, until the berries burst and the mixture is jammy, 7 to 9 minutes. Remove from the heat and reserve.
• Make the crust: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with one large sheet of heavy aluminum foil, making sure there are no gaps or holes, then generously coat with cooking spray.
• Whisk the flour, sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk the vanilla into the butter, then pour over the flour mixture. Stir until the dough comes together in a mass. Press into an even layer in the prepared pan. Bake until golden brown around the edges and dry and golden on top, 17 to 20 minutes.
• While the crust bakes, begin preparing the lemon layer: Squeeze the juice from the 2 reserved zested lemons. You should have 1/2 cup. Squeeze the juice from another lemon, if needed.
• Whisk the sugar, flour and salt in a medium bowl. Add the eggs and whisk gently just until incorporated. Add the lemon juice and stir gently with the whisk just until smooth.
• Let the crust cool for 5 minutes, then spread the cranberry mixture evenly over the crust. Carefully and slowly pour the lemon mixture on top to create two distinct layers.
• Return the pan to the oven and bake until the filling is set, 18 to 22 minutes. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, then refrigerate until cold and firm, at least 2 hours. Using the foil, slide the bars out of the pan and onto a cutting board. Cut into 24 squares, wiping your knife between cuts for clean slices. If desired, sift confectioners' sugar over the tops just before serving.