Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare an 8x8 or 9x9-inch baking dish by spraying it with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large mixing bowl, combine softened butter, brown sugar, baking soda, rolled oats, and flour. Mix until crumbly.

Set aside 2 cups of the oat mixture for the topping. Press the remaining mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.

Spread the apricot preserves evenly over the crust, leaving about a 1/4 inch around the edges.

Crumble the reserved oat mixture evenly over the apricot preserves.

Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling slightly.

Remove from the oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack before slicing into bars.