Thursday, September 30, 2010

Apricot And Coconut Squares

Apricot and Coconut Squares. I did not plan on making this.  I wanted to make something else which I had planned to bake for the last couple of days.  Took out my flour, sugar, etc.. and,  my recipe book, "Brownies and Bars", which happens to be my favourite, at the moment. But somehow, I found myself turned to another page, and that's it, I'm making this now!  So another unexpected recipe came to see the light of day, and the other one being shoved away until later!  Has this happened to you before?  Well, this is not the first time for me! 

This is a sweet delightful treat. The addition of desiccated coconut gives it a soft chewy texture.  Of course there is the delicious tanginess from the apricots and the walnuts gave an added slight crunch. As usual, the sugar is reduced, which turned out perfect.  







I'm linking this recipe to Recipe Swap Thursday #5 at Prairie Story. Check out other yummies at Prairie Story and link yours too!

Apricot and Coconut Squares
(adapted from "brownies & bars" by Liz Franklin)
Makes 15
Preparation time : 45 minutes
You will need a lightly buttered deep roasting tin or cake tin measuring 20x30 cm/8x12 inches
Base
100 gm/3-1/2 oz self-raising flour
100 gm/3-1/2 oz desiccated coconut
100 gm/3-1/2 oz caster sugar (I use 80gm)
100 gm/3-1/2 oz butter, melted

Topping
200 gm/7 oz dried apricots, chopped
150 gm/5 oz caster sugar (I use 110gm)
50 gm/1-3/4 oz desiccated coconut
100 gm/3-1/2 oz walnuts, roughly chopped
2 eggs, beaten

50 gm/1-3/4 oz dark chocolate, melted

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C/350 degrees F/gas mark 4.  To make the base, sift the flour into a bowl and add the coconut and caster sugar.  Stir in the melted butter and spoon the mixture into the prepared tin.

To make the topping, mix the apricots, sugar, coconut and walnuts together in a large bowl and stir in the eggs.  Spread over the base and then bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden and springy.  Leave to cool.

Drizzle the cold cake with the melted chocolate to decorate and then cut into squares or bars.  Store them in an airtight container.


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Ever seen this flower?  Can you name the plant of this flower?



32 comments:

  1. Your apricot and coconut squares sound lovely. I often find it works to reduce the sugar in recipes and they still taste delicious. I love the photograph of the flower - it's very pretty but I have no idea what it is!

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  2. Hi! Those are great looking slices with some of my favorite ingredients - apricots, coconut, and walnuts.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting. Glad to follow you back :)

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  3. Wow! I would definitely pick this if available in the bakery.

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  4. These look so delicious, I am always on the look out for a dried apricot recipe. I have these bookmarked! Thanks so much for sharing.

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  5. Love this recipe and the combination of the apricots, coconut, and walnuts, w/ chocolate drizzle is fab! Thanks for sharing!

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  6. mouthwatering squares...love this combination of apricot n coconut ..thanks for sharing

    Satya
    http://www.superyummyrecipes.com

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  7. I totally agree with you reducing the sugar. I do it most of the time. We LOVE dried apricots and coconut. This is a perfect recipe to try. Thanks for sharing.

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  8. Wow..this looks gorgeous. I love all the ingredients. I am having a cup of tea now. Wish I have a slice to go with it!

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  9. These are some of my favourite ingredients too, especially the coconut! And I'm ALWAYS changing my mind last minute about what to make. I often have a recipe in mind and then I see a different one online or in a magazine or cookbook and I have to make that instead. Happens all the time.

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  10. These look so delicious. I'll be trying them very soon!

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  11. Oh, they look delicious! I love, love coconut and you made a perfect treat! I'm so glad you turned the page. Just wish I could drizzle chocolate as neatly as you do! Whatever that flower is, it's very pretty!

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  12. These cars look wonderful! I love the combination of flavors with the coconut. Yum!

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  13. Your apricot squares look lovely! So scrumptious. And yes I change my mind all the time about what I'm going to bake. I don't know - what is the flower?

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  14. Wah...i also still have a lot of dried apricots left! Good tea time treats, for sure!!

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  15. So tempting and droolworthy squares, looks wonderful..

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  16. Hi April,
    Yes, too much sugar will dominate the flavour of the cake! Watch out for the plant of the flowers in my next posting! Thanks for stopping. Have a nice weekend.

    Hi Biren,
    Thank you for stopping and following too! Hope to see you again. Have a lovely weekend!

    Hi One,
    How many would you pick??? Have a nice day!

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  17. Hi Melynda,
    Hi Marguerite,
    Hi Satya,
    Hi My Kitchen in the Rockies,
    Thank you friends! Have a lovely weekend!

    Hi Mary Moh,
    Nice of you to stop by and thank you for following! Thank you for your lovely comment! Hope to see you again, have a great weekend!

    Hi Brenda,
    These sounds all too familiar! But most of the times they are the right 'last-minute-change' decisions! Have a lovely weekend!

    Hi Danelle,
    Nice to see you here. Hope you enjoy this lovely squares! Have a great weekend!

    Hi Pam,
    I'm glad I turned the page too! The plant of the lovely flowers will be revealed in my next post! Have a good weekend!

    Hi Karen,
    Thank you for visiting and your kind words! Hope to see you again. Have a good weekend!

    Hi Reeni,
    Thank you! The name of the plant will be on my next post! Have a great weekend!

    Hi petite nyonya,
    Weekend is here! Let's whip up something with that apricots of yours! We can help you eat afterwards!!

    Hi Priya,
    Thank you. Enjoy your weekend!

    Hi eatgreek.net
    Thank you for visiting. Have a lovely weekend!

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  18. I love baked bars too. Apricot and coconut is a nice flavor combination. This would be really good with a cup of coffee.

    I am thinking the photo of the flowers is a type of jasmine, yes?

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  19. These bars are lovely- they sound so good with the apricots and coconut. (and I love the chocolate on top!) I don't know the flower but it sure is pretty!

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  20. Great idea for Sunday dessert.
    I think I have all the ingredients.

    Have a nice weekend!
    Zambia

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  21. What a wonderful sweet treat! I love the combination of flavours.
    I don't know about the flower.....

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  22. It look so delicious! Will go well with my coffee. Can I have it for breakfast?

    It that the onion flower or some kind of garlic or chives?

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  23. Pass me some please! Just loved those bars..;)

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  24. Hi Velva,
    Hi scrambledhenfruit,
    Hi kitchenStories,
    Hi Angie,
    Hi Autumn Belle,
    Hi Love2Cook,
    Thank you, everyone! Watch out for my next posting for the name of the plant of the lovely flowers!

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  25. Glad you made it because these look fantastic my friend! I think apricot and coconut works fantastically.

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  26. Hi Brittany,
    Thank you. Thanks for visiting.

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  27. These are just gorgeous...and love the combinations of flavors :) I call this a productive last minute call :)

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  28. Hi Magic of Spice,
    Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a nice day!

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  29. Yummy! These look great, and I really love your chocolate decoration on top. Thank you so much for sharing! ~Prairie Story

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  30. Oh yum - this looks like mike kind of treat. Love apricots and coconut, and anything that seems moist, dense and chewy. Thanks for visiting my blog - it's nice to meet you and I've just joined your group of followers.
    Sue :-)

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  31. Yummy! I put this on my to do list of this month: Jan 2017! I have a bag of shredded coconut and wasn't sure what to do with it. Now I know ;)

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