Brandied Apricot Bars

• 1 cup (1/2 lb.) butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1 tablespoon grated orange peel
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 cups chopped dried apricots
• 1 cup golden raisins
• 1/4 cup apricot brandy or liqueur, or orange juice
• 1 tablespoon plus 4 teaspoons lemon juice
• 2/3 cup powdered sugar

1. In a bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and the brown sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs, vanilla, and orange peel until well blended.
2. In another bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Stir or beat into butter mixture until well blended. Stir in apricots and raisins.
3. Spread batter evenly in a buttered and floured 10- by 15-inch baking pan. Bake in a 350u0b0 oven until center springs back when pressed and bar is no longer wet in the center (cut to test), 20 to 25 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, in a 1- to 1 1/2-quart pan, combine remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar, the apricot brandy, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Bring to a boil over high heat; remove syrup from heat and let stand. In a bowl, stir remaining 4 teaspoons lemon juice and the powdered sugar until smooth.
5. Spoon apricot syrup evenly over warm bar. Let cool completely, then cut into 36 bars. Drizzle lemon icing over bars in pan.
6. Note: Nutritional analysis is per bar.

butter, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, apricots, golden raisins, apricot brandy, lemon juice, powdered sugar

Taken from www.myrecipes.com/recipe/brandied-apricot-bars (may not work)