Oat Flour Apricot Bars with Almond Crumble

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups oat flour
• 1/2 cup almond flour
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups apricot preserves
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Method

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on the long sides.

2. 2

   In a large bowl, whisk together the oat flour, almond flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.

3. 3

   Pour in the melted butter and vanilla extract, then stir with a spatula until the mixture forms a crumbly dough that clumps when pressed.

4. 4

   Set aside 1 1/2 cups of the mixture for the crumble topping, then press the remaining dough firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.

5. 5

   Bake the crust until just set and lightly golden at the edges.

   15:00 · Bake crust
6. 6

   While the crust bakes, stir the apricot preserves with the lemon juice in a small bowl until smooth and pourable.

7. 7

   Add the sliced almonds and almond extract to the reserved crumble mixture and toss with your fingers until the almonds are distributed and the mixture is clumpy.

8. 8

   Remove the crust from the oven and spread the apricot mixture evenly over the hot crust, leaving a thin border around the edges.

9. 9

   Scatter the almond crumble topping evenly over the apricot layer, breaking up any large clumps as you sprinkle.

10. 10

    Bake until the crumble topping is golden brown and the apricot filling is bubbling at the edges.

    30:00 · Bake bars
11. 11

    Cool the bars completely in the pan on a wire rack before lifting out using the parchment overhang.

12. 12

    Transfer to a cutting board and slice into 16 bars.