Apricot Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Squares

Today I made another recipe for my mom and her co workers for a potluck lunch that they have tomorrow. This time around she wanted something that was a little healthier than muffins or other bread like baked goods, so I thought that oatmeal bars would be a good alternative. My mom requested chocolate chips to be included so I decided to use some apricot jam that I had in the fridge as the fruit component and add chocolate chips to the base of the bars to create a nice balance between fruit and chocolate. 

Apricot Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Squares 

1 cup light brown sugar 

1 1/2 stick butter - softened 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1 egg 

1/4 cup milk 

1 cup flour 

1 teaspoon baking powder 

1/2 teaspoon salt 

2 cups rolled oats 

1 cup mini chocolate chips 

1/2 cup apricot preserves 

In a stand mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy in texture. Then add vanilla, egg and milk and mix till combined. In a separate bowl mix together the flour, baking powder and salt, then add flour mixture to the sugar mixture in small increments. Once combined gently, fold in oats and chocolate chips with a spatula. In an 8 inch square pan lined with parchment paper, spread out half of the oat mixture. Then add a thin layer of the apricot jam, and top with the remaining oat mixture. Bake in a 375 degree oven for about 30 minutes, and let cool. Once cooled cut into small squares. 

I wasn't able to cut the squares out before I went to meet up with friends for dinner, so the picture above is of before they were cut. I have made oatmeal bars similar to these before but I think that adding the chocolate chips and apricot give it a more unique flavor. Baking recipes like these are always nice to have because you can easily change the flavor profiles to fit different occasions. Tomorrow I have my second driving lesson and I am quite excited. I liked my first lesson and it's exciting to be working towards getting my drivers license. I am already a very independent person and I think that getting my drivers license, and hopefully getting my own car eventually, is going to help me grow even more, and this way maybe my friends will have one less city kid habit of mine to make fun of. So till next time, 

Keeping Cooking Brooklyn!