Nutty Oatmeal Apricot Squares

01Method

1. 1

   Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Coat the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray.

2. 2

   Place the pecans in a food processor and pulse until roughly chopped, about 3 to 5 pulses. Add the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt; pulse another 3 to 4 times to combine.

3. 3

   Scatter the cold butter pieces over the oat-flour mixture and pulse until the butter breaks down to small pea-sized pieces, 3 to 5 pulses.

4. 4

   Press half of the oat mixture evenly into the base of the prepared dish. Spoon the apricot preserves over the top, leaving a quarter-inch border around the edges. Distribute the remaining oat mixture on top and press down gently.

5. 5

   Bake until the top is golden, 35 to 40 minutes. Allow to cool completely before slicing into squares.