Apricot Jumbles

A simple recipe with big results. These buttery brown sugar layer bars are packed with oats and apricot preserves. It’s an easy one-bowl recipe that everyone loves!

This Apricot Jumbles recipe is the recipe that started it all folks. This delightful fruit layer bar was the first recipe I decided to go rogue. In other words, I strayed from the instructions to create something of my very own. And guess what? It’s freaking fantastic. For the last 15+ years, this has always been one of my favorite go-to recipes. Going to a party? Jumbles. Need to bake something for a birthday? Jumbles. Want to impress that new boy you’re dating? Jumbles.  

But above all else, this one-bowl recipe is quick and easy and does not require any kind of mixer. So if you are looking for a new favorite recipe, here you go. 

Tips for Making Jumbles

1. Make sure you measure your flour correctly: Never measure flour straight from the bag or container. It always needs to be “fluffed” before you start measuring. You can use a fork to move things around. Or you can always use a scale to make sure you have the perfect amount.
2. Mix your dry ingredients first: Make sure all your dry ingredients are mixed and fully combined before adding the melted butter. Once the butter goes in, it is much harder to make sure all the ingredients are properly distributed.
3. Use melted butter: Not room temp. Not half melted. ALL the way melted. Melting the butter will create that delightful chewiness in your oatmeal layers.
4. Use parchment paper: I like to line my baking pan with parchment paper. This makes it easier to remove the final product and cut them into nice pieces. 

The Ingredients You Need for Apricot Jumbles: 

• Unsalted butter. Always use unsalted butter as it gives you complete control over the flavor of a recipe.
• Light Brown sugar. You can use dark brown sugar as well, but I prefer the taste of light brown sugar.  
• All-purpose flour. This is the most common type of flour used in the US and can be found at any grocery store. 
• Quick Cooking Oats: Make SURE they are quick cooking. That means they are cut into small thin pieces. Regular oats are too big and will NOT work in this recipe. 
• Baking soda. This is your leavening agent. There isn’t much – but we do want a little bit of puff in our top and bottom layers. 
• Apricot jam or preserves. Either one works here. I prefer using jam because preserves have more chunks of fruit in them. Jam spreads more smoothly. My favorite jam is from Bonne Moman. 

Can I make these different flavors?

Of course! You can put almost anything in the middle. Here are some of my favorites: 

• White chocolate chips and caramel sauce  you can get that recipe here
• Chocolate chips and caramel sauce 
• Butterscotch chips and caramel sauce 
• Raspberry jam 
• Raspberry jam and white chocolate chips

How to Serve and Store Your Apricot Jumbles:  

There are a few different ways you can serve these bad boys. 

Serve: The most common way to serve these jumbles is at room temperature after they have been cut into pieces. But my favorite way to serve them is warm with ice cream. I don’t bother with trying to cut perfect pieces—I simply use a large spoon and scoop some into a bowl and then add ice cream. It really is divine. 

Storage: Always store your jumbles in an airtight container for maximum freshness. If you keep them at room temperature they will last 2-4 days. In the fridge, they will last 1-2 weeks. In the freezer, they will last 3-4 months.  

These jumbles have a special place in my heart. They are so easy to make and I can’t wait for you to try them yourselves. And please let me know in the comments if you try one of the other flavor combinations!