Fruit and Oat Squares

I made these mixes as Christmas gifts a couple of years ago. They were really pretty good! I had several people ask for the recipe.

Fruit & Oat Squares
(From "Gifts from a Jar: Cookies, Brownies and Bars" Cookbook)

Mix (makes a 1 1/2 qt jar):

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups uncooked quick oats
1½ cups packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Layer ingredients in any order into 1 1/2 quart food storage jar with tight-fitting lid. Pack ingredients down slightly before adding another layer. Cover top of jar with fabric; attach gift tag with raffia or ribbon.

Recipe:

1 jar Fruit & Oat Squares Mix
2/3 cup butter, softened
1½ cups apricot, cherry or other fruit flavor preserves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease 13x9 inch baking pan. Place bar cookie mix in large bowl; mix well. Add butter; stir with fork until mixture is crumbly. Reserve 1 cup crumb mixture for topping. Press remaining crumb mixture onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake 7 to 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Spread preserves over crust; sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Bake 23 to 25 minutes or until topping is golden brown. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Makes 2 dozen bars.