Yes I did say no bake bars!
These little bursts of flavour goodness are great and you can throw them together in no time, then store them in the fridge until you’re ready to eat them. So EASY.
Semi healthy with the cranberries and apricots, spices and eggs. They look SO Christmassy your family and friends will love them and you don’t have to spend long making them which is perfect for satisfying a sweet tooth at this busy time of year!
I like these Apricot & Cranberry No Bake Bars on their own, but they’re also great as a dessert served with ice cream or custard. They would be a great addition to any tea table right about now, or even a cheeky little afternoon snacky snack.
I love the apricots in these because they give the bars a real sour note which I LOVE. And the cranberries and Marie Biscuits balance that out with a little sweetness, but not too much – these really aren’t very sweet as I didn’t add any sugar to them. Just a little syrup to bind them and I’m SO happy with the flavours. The biscuits add a little crunch which is unexpected and delightful.
Christmas on a tea tray is what these little bars are! So simple and yet so yummy. Made 100% on the stove top in just 15 minutes. They do need a couple of hours in the fridge to set, or you can leave them in the fridge overnight if that suits you.
You can also make these with cake mix, or a combination of other dried fruit. Get creative and let me know how it goes!
Need more Christmas time treat inspiration? Take a look at this ginger treacle loaf with yoghurt raspberry frosting, my butternut bundt cake with orange glaze & toasted nuts or my baked vanilla cheesecake with cherry coulis and these christmas fruit mince pies with light pastry.
- 1 packet Marie Biscuits crushed into roughly 1cm pieces
- 1 tbsp syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- 100 g butter
- 1 cup dried apricots
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp mixed spice
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ginger
- 2 eggs
- dash of orange juice
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Melt butter and sugar in a large pan, chop up apricots and add with the cranberries and spices to the butter, boil for 3 minutes.
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Remove from heat and add vanilla essence.
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Stir in crushed Marie biscuits. Now add the lightly beaten eggs and the dash of orange juice and cook again for 2 minutes, stirring until the mixture thickens and starts to stick together.
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Press the mixture into a baking tray, cover and leave to set in the fridge for about 3 hours.
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Cut into squares or oblongs. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
These bars are also great as a pudding with ice cream or custard.