Silky Apricot Butter Recipes

APRICOT BUTTER

Steps:

• Combine the butter, apricot preserves, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Serve at room temperature.

SILKY APRICOT BUTTER

Steps:

• In a large stainless steel saucepan, combine apricots and water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and boil gently, stirring occasionally, until apricots are soft, about 20 minutes.
• Working in batches, transfer apricot mixture to a food mill or food processor fitted with a metal blade and puree just until a uniform texture is achieved. Do not liquify. Measure 6 cups of apricot puree.
• In a clean large stainless steel saucepan, combine apricot puree and sugar. Stir until sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Reduce heat and boil gently, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens and holds its shape on a spoon.
• Prepare canner, jars and lids.
• Ladle hot butter into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles, wipe rim and place lids.
• Place jars in canner, ensuring they are completely covered with water. Bring to boil and process for 10 minutes. Remove canner lid. Wait 5 minutes then remove jars, cool and store.

SMALL BATCH SPIRITED APRICOT-CHERRY BUTTER

Steps:

• Chop the apricots.
• Place in a large pot with the cherries and cook over low heat until soft, adding small amounts of water if necessary to prevent scorching.
• Puree fruit in a blender or food processor or using an immersion blender.
• Measure puree.
• Return puree to pot - you should have about 4 ½ cups of puree. Add sugar and Grand Marnier.
• Cook over medium-low heat, stirring often until mixture has thickened.
• Ladle into hot, clean jars leaving about ¼ inch head space. Top with the two-piece lids and rings, and process in a water bath for 10 minutes.

APRICOT HONEY BUTTER

Steps:

• Grate rind and squeeze juice from lemons; you'll need 2 tablespoons grated rind and 1/2 cup lemon juice.
• Combine apricots, lemon rind, water, lemon juice in a medium saucepan. Don't use aluminum; stainless steel is good.
• Bring to a boil over high heat, cover, reduce heat to low and STIRRING FREQUENTLY, keep at a low boil for 35 - 40 minutes or until apricots are tender.
• CAREFULLY pour into blender or food processor and process until smooth. Return to saucepan.
• Add honey; stir and return to boil. Again reduce heat and cook, UNCOVERED, at a low boil until very thick. STIR FREQUENTLY.
• Ladle into hot sterilized jars. Remove air bubbles, wipe rims, add hot lids and rings.
• Process in boiling water bath for 5 minutes OR refrigerate and use within 1 month.