Apricot And Raisin 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

APRICOT UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare the topping: Lightly grease and flour a 9-inch cake pan or an 8-inch square baking pan. In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Spread the brown sugary mix in an even layer on the bottom of the pan.
• Cut the apricots in half and remove the pits. Arrange the apricots, flesh-side down, evenly over the bottom of the pan.
• Prepare the cake batter: Add the flour to a medium bowl. Sift in the almond flour, then use your fingertips to break up any clumps that don't fit through the sieve. Add the baking powder and salt to the bowl and whisk to combine.
• In a large bowl with an electric hand mixer, or in a stand mixer with the paddle attached, beat the butter and granulated sugar on medium until combined and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the vanilla extract, then the eggs, one at a time, mixing until smooth. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl.
• Add 1/3 of the flour mixture, then 1/2 of the milk, mixing to combine. Continue alternating the additions of flour and milk and mixing, scraping down the sides of the bowl, just until all is combined. (Make sure not to overmix during this step.)
• Spread the batter in an even layer over the apricot halves. Bake until the cake is set and doesn't jiggle when shaken, is golden brown on top, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes.
• Remove pan from the oven, and place on a cooling rack for 5 minutes. With the cake still in the pan, turn the pan over onto a serving platter. Wait 1 minute, then remove the pan. This cake is excellent warm, but it's also delicious at room temperature.

APRICOT FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the fruits, nuts, honey, water and lemon juice; set aside. , In another large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs. Fold into fruit mixture. Combine dry ingredients; gradually fold into the fruit mixture until evenly coated. Pour into two greased and waxed paper-lined 9x5-in. loaf pans. , With a shallow pan of water in the bottom of the oven, bake at 275° for 2-1/2 hours or until cake tests done. Cover with foil during the last 30 minutes. , Cool 10 minutes; remove to wire rack to cool completely. Remove waxed paper and wrap each cake in foil. Place in plastic bags and store in a cool, dry place.

APRICOT BREAKFAST CAKE

Steps:

• Brew one cup of tea and pour in small bowl over chopped apricot pieces; stir in ground coriander; allow to soak and plump for one hour; strain apricots of liquid (there will be what appears to be sediment in the liquid - not to worry, it is the coriander and we want it!), reserving liquid; there should be about ½ cup of apricot tea, if it is less, add enough water to make it equal ½ cup
• Preheat oven to 350F and butter and flour a bundt pan (I used a silicone pan - no need to butter and flour and cake slipped right out after cooling for about 25 minutes)
• Beat butter together with sugar until creamy and fluffy, about 5-6 minutes; add baking powder, extracts, milk powder and zests; alternate additions of flour with apricot tea and eggs; finally, dredge apricot pieces and golden raisins in a little flour and mix them into the batter
• Spoon batter into prepared bundt pan; bake for 50-60 minutes in preheated oven, or until a sharp knife inserted into highest part of cake comes out clean (I covered my cake loosely with a piece of aluminum foil after 30 minutes); remove from oven, cool approximately 20 minutes and turn out onto serving platter; allow to cool completely and dust with icing sugar
• Note: This cake (like most cakes incorporating dried fruit) is even better after a couple of days

APRICOT FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Grease two 9 inch tube pans.
• In a saucepan over medium heat cook apricots in the water until they are mushy. Press them through a sieve and let them cool.
• Separate the eggs. Beat the egg yolks until lemony colored. Then beat the egg whites until stiff peaks are formed. Set aside.
• Cream the butter or margarine and sugar together. Add the beaten egg yolks and the apricots, and mix thoroughly.
• Combine the raisins, candied cherries, candied pineapple, and mixed dried fruits in a bowl coated with one cup of the flour.
• Combine the remaining flour, baking soda, and salt. Add this flour mixture alternately to the creamed mixture with the apricot juice. Blend this batter into the mixed fruits. Add the chopped pecans or walnuts and fold in the beaten egg whites. Turn the batter into the prepared pans.
• Bake at 275 degrees F (135 degrees C) for 2 hours. Garnish cakes with candied pineapples and cherries. Makes about 24 servings.

UPSIDE-DOWN APRICOT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a fluted tube pan (such as Bundt®) with cooking spray.
• Mix brown sugar and melted butter in a small bowl and spread evenly over the pan.
• Pat the apricot slices with a paper towel to soak up any excess liquid. Line them on the bottom of the pan.
• Sift flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon together in a bowl.
• Beat white sugar and softened butter in a bowl using an electric mixer until creamy and fluffy. Beat in eggs until thoroughly mixed. Add the flour mixture, sour cream, water, and vanilla extract. Beat well. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven, about 45 minutes.