Apricot Pastry Bars

By miss5elements

Perfect for a casual gathering or fancier event, this recipe from field editor Nancy Foust of Stoneboro, Pennsylvania is a crowd-pleaser. "These special bars were among 40 kinds of cookies and bars I made for my niece's wedding reception," she says.


Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (1 each) equals 125 calories, 6 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 13 mg cholesterol, 63 mg sodium, 16 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 2 g protein.


Apricot Pastry Bars published in Taste of Home August/September 2007, p11

Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup shortening
• 3 eggs, separated
• 1/4 cup 2% milk
• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 cans (12 ounces each) apricot filling
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Details

Servings 50
Preparation time 45mins
Cooking time 80mins
Adapted from tasteofhome.com

Preparation

Step 1

In a large bowl, combine the flour, 1 cup sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolks, 2 egg whites, milk and vanilla; gradually add to crumb mixture, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. Divide in half, making one portion slightly larger.
Roll out larger portion of dough between two large sheets of waxed paper into a 17-in. x 12-in. rectangle. Transfer to an ungreased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Press pastry onto the bottom and up the sides of pan; trim pastry even with top edges. Spread apricot filling over dough; sprinkle with walnuts.
Roll out remaining pastry to fit top of pan; place over filling. Trim, seal and flute edges. Cut slits in top. Whisk remaining egg white; brush over pastry. Sprinkle with remaining sugar.
Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.