Best Apricot Butter Cake Recipes

APRICOT BUTTER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Butter a 23cm-deep cake tin (preferably not loose-based, see tip below) and line the base with silicone or baking parchment. Mix the topping ingredients and spread over the base of the tin.
• Mix the milk and vanilla together. Put the sugar and eggs into a large bowl and whisk with a tabletop or hand electric mixer until the mixture is thick, pale and increased in volume, about 5 mins. Test it is ready by lifting the whisk blades - if the mixture briefly leaves a trail, you are ready to proceed.
• Add one-third of the flour and whisk slowly to incorporate, then one-third of the milk and mix again. Repeat twice more until all the flour and milk is added. Slowly whisk in the melted butter.
• Halve and stone the apricots. Place, cut-side down, in the base of the tin. Pour the cake batter over the top and slide into the oven. Bake for 1-1¼ hrs until the cake is firm to the touch and springs back when lightly pressed.
• Cool the cake in the tin for 20 mins, then carefully remove from the tin, peel off the lining paper and serve warm or cold.

APRICOT AND RAISIN BUTTER CAKE

Steps:

• Soak raisins and chopped apricots in brandy for 2 hours (preferably overnight in the fridge) - See TIPS above
• Prepare crumb mixture by mixing all ingredients by hand/food processor until crumbly; set aside
• Sift flour, baking powder and salt together, set aside
• Whip egg whites with 1 TB sugar until they form stiff peaks (but not dry); set aside
• Cream butter and 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy
• Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition
• Next, add the soaked fruits with the brandy and stir gently
• Using LOW speed on your mixer, add the sifted flour mixture, alternating with the yogurt according to this sequence - flour-yogurt-flour-yogurt-flour, until well combined
• Now gently fold the whipped egg whites into the creamed mixture
• Pour half of the batter into greased and floured pan (bundt/square/round), followed by the crumb mixture, then finally all the remaining batter
• Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C / 350°F for 55 mins for Bundt pan, 25-30 mins for square/round pan, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean
• Remove from oven, cool in the pan for 10-15mins, then cool completely on wire racks
• For a very moist cake, sprinkle brandy syrup on warm cake (I poke some holes using toothpick all over the cake before sprinkling)
• To make brandy syrup - combine 2 TB brandy, 2 TB hot water and 2 tsp sugar; stir to dissolve sugar
• The cake is best made 1 day ahead

DUTCH BUTTER CAKE WITH APRICOT TWIST (BOTERKOEK)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees celcius (400F).
• Mix flour, sugar and salt.
• Cut the butter into pieces and mix into the flour.
• Knead the butter and the flour together with one hand until you have a firm dough ball.
• Cut the apricots in small pieces and mix them with the almonds and ginger syrup.
• Press half the dough into a 24cm/10 in round pie dish.
• Spread the apricot mixture over the top.
• Roll out the other half on a lightly floured work surface until it is the same size as the dish.
• Place over apricot filling, firmly pressing the pastry edges together.
• Now use the blunt side of a knife and decorate the dough with cross-hatching markings.
• Brush with milk.
• Bake the butter cake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.
• Allow to cool and just before serving slice cake into wedges.

APRICOT BUTTER CAKE

Steps:

• Drain apricot halves. Mash apricots to make 1/2 cup and reserve the juice.
• Cream butter and gradually add sugar until creamed well together.
• Add 3 unbeaten eggs, one at a time, and beat well after each.
• Combine 1/2 cup of water with apricots and 1/2 cup of apricot juice.
• Add alternately with flour to the creamed mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients and blend well after each.
• Pour into 2 9-inch round layer pans, well greased and lightly floured on the bottom.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes.
• Cool and frost with your favorite cream cheese icing *optional*.

COOKIE BUTTER AND APRICOT ICEBOX CAKE

Steps:

• Line an 8-by-8-inch baking dish with plastic wrap, leaving about 2 inches of overhang on all sides. Stir together the apricot preserves and 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Combine the cookie butter, sugar and cream cheese in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the cream and continue to beat, starting on medium speed until the cream and cookie butter mixture are combined and then increasing the speed to medium high, until very stiff peaks form, about 3 minutes.
• Spread a quarter of the cookie butter-cream on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Evenly dollop with 3 tablespoons of preserves. Arrange 10 cookies on top of the preserves, breaking some up into little pieces to fill in the gaps. Repeat this layering process 2 more times, each time with a quarter of the cookie-butter cream, 3 tablespoons of the preserves and 10 cookies. Make a final cookie butter-cream layer with the remaining mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 12. Refrigerate the remaining preserves.
• Once completely chilled, remove the plastic wrap from the top of the icebox cake and invert onto a platter. Remove the rest of the plastic wrap. Lightly crush the reserved cookies and sprinkle on top of the cake. Drizzle the remaining preserves over the cookie crumbles.

APRICOT-FILLED PUMPKIN CAKE WITH BROWNED BUTTER FROSTING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Grease 12-cup fluted tube cake pan with shortening or cooking spray; lightly flour. (Do not use dark or nonstick pan.)
• In small bowl, mix all filling ingredients except apricots with fork until fine crumbs. Stir in 1/2 cup chopped apricots; set aside.
• In medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger and salt; set aside.
• In large bowl, beat 1 cup butter and granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally, until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in pumpkin. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until blended.
• Spread 3 cups of the batter in pan. With back of spoon, make 1/2-inch-deep tunnel in middle of batter. Spoon filling into tunnel, making sure filling does not touch side of pan. Top with remaining batter, making sure batter layer touches side of pan.
• Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in cake comes out clean and top is golden brown. Cool 15 minutes. Remove cake from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• In 2-quart saucepan, heat 1/3 cup butter over medium heat, stirring constantly, until light golden brown; cool slightly. Stir in powdered sugar. Stir in 3 tablespoons of the milk until smooth. Add additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until desired consistency. Spoon frosting over cake, letting some run down sides of cake. Garnish with 1/4 cup chopped apricots.