Apricot Pastry Bars

Ingredients

• 4 cups flour
• 1 cup + 2 Tbsp. sugar, divided
• 3 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1 cup shortening
• 3 eggs, separated
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 4 cans apricot pie filling
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the flour, 1 cup sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolks, 2 egg whites, milk and vanilla; gradually add to crumb mixture, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. Divide in half, making one portion slightly larger. Roll out larger portion of dough between two large sheets of waxed paper into a 17x12 inch rectangle.

Transfer to an ungreased 15x10 inch baking pan. Press pastry onto the bottom and up the sides of pan; trim pastry even with top edges. Spread apricot filling over dough; sprinkle with walnuts. Roll out remaining pastry to fit top of pan; place over filling. Trim, seal and flute edges. Cut slits in top.

Whisk remaining egg white; brush over pastry. Sprinkle with remaining sugar. Bake at 350 degrees F for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

Source: Taste of Home