Apricot Cream Cheese Ring Food

BREAD MACHINE APRICOT-CREAM CHEESE RING

Steps:

• Measure carefully, placing all ingredients except cream cheese, 1 1/2 tablespoons flour, the preserves, beaten egg and almonds in bread machine pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer.
• Select Dough/Manual cycle. Do not use Delay cycle.
• Remove dough from pan, using lightly floured hands. Cover and let rest 10 minutes on lightly floured surface. Mix cream cheese and 1 1/2 tablespoons flour.
• Grease round pan, 9x1 1/2 inches. Roll dough into 15-inch circle. Place in pan, letting side of dough hang over edge of pan. Spread cream cheese mixture over dough in pan; spoon preserves over cream cheese. Make cuts along edge of dough at 1-inch intervals to about 1/2 inch above cream cheese. Twist pairs of dough strips and fold over cream cheese. Cover and let rise in warm place 40 to 50 minutes or until almost double.
• Heat oven to 375°F. Brush beaten egg over dough. Sprinkle with almonds. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool at least 30 minutes before cutting.

APRICOT CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Process shortbread cookies in the bowl of a food processor until finely ground. Press into a 9x13-inch baking pan.
• Beat eggs and sugar together in a bowl. Add ricotta cheese, cream cheese, and vanilla extract. Mix well. Stir in apricots and spread over crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven until puffed up and the edges are slightly brown, about 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine sour cream and apricot jam in a bowl. Set aside.
• Remove the cheesecake from the oven and spread jam topping on top while still hot. Chill until set, 1 to 2 hours. Cut into 24 bars.

APRICOT TEA RINGS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, yeast, salt and nutmeg. In a small saucepan, heat the milk, water and butter to 120°-130°. Add to dry ingredients; beat until moistened. Beat in eggs until smooth. Cover and refrigerate overnight., In a large saucepan, combine apricots and water. Cook over medium heat for 30 minutes or until the water is absorbed and apricots are tender. Remove from the heat; stir in the brown sugar, juice and nuts. Cool., Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half. Roll one portion into an 18x12-in. rectangle. Spread half of filling over rectangle to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam to seal., Place seam side down on a greased baking sheet; pinch ends together to form a ring. Repeat for second ring. With scissors, cut each from outside edge two-thirds toward center of ring at 1 in. intervals. Separate strips slightly: twist so filling shows, slightly overlapping with previous piece. Cover; let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Bake at 375° for 25-28 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. , In a small bowl, combine confectioner's sugar and enough milk to achieve desired consistency; drizzle over warm tea rings.

APRICOTS WITH MASCARPONE CREAM

Steps:

• Beat the cream in a chilled bowl with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Beat in the sugar and set aside. In another bowl, whip the mascarpone cheese with an electric mixer until very soft; beat in the apricot nectar, vanilla extract, and cardamom. Gently fold the mascarpone mixture into the whipped cream.
• Place the apricot preserves and honey into a microwave-safe bowl and heat in microwave oven until warm but not hot, about 30 seconds. Mix well and stir the balsamic vinegar into the honey mixture.
• Stuff each apricot half with a dollop of the mascarpone cream and place the filled apricot halves on a serving dish. Drizzle the fruit and plate with balsamic sauce and serve.

APRICOT-AND-CREAM CHEESE SQUARES

Steps:

• In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the dough-hook attachment, combine yeast, 3/4 cup warm water (110 degrees), and pinch of sugar. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Beat on low speed while adding 2 tablespoons oil, salt, and 1 teaspoon sugar. Slowly add flour while beating until mixture just comes together. Increase speed to medium-high; beat until dough is soft and elastic, 3 minutes.
• Coat a 9-by-13-inch metal baking pan with 3 tablespoons oil. Transfer dough to pan; press to edges with your hands (being careful not to tear). Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees with a rack in lower third. Press dimple-like indentations all over dough with your fingers. Stir together cream cheese and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar; dot all over dough. Arrange 12 apricot halves on top in a 3-by-4 grid formation. Drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until puffed, 30 minutes.
• Bake until golden brown on top, 23 to 25 minutes. Let cool in pan 10 minutes, then transfer with two large spatulas to a wire rack. Drizzle with honey and oil; let cool completely. Cut into squares and serve.

APRICOTS AND CREAM CHEESE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 3 (8- or 9-inch) round pans with shortening. Line pan bottoms with waxed paper or cooking parchment paper; grease again and lightly flour. In food processor bowl with metal blade, place canned apricots. Process 30 seconds or until smooth, scraping bowl after 15 seconds; set aside.
• In large bowl, beat 1 cup butter and 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; beat on low speed until mixed. Measure 1/4 cup apricot puree; set aside. Add remaining apricot puree and apricot nectar to batter; beat on low speed until mixed. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes. Spread about 2 cups batter in each pan.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 40 minutes.
• In large bowl, beat cream cheese and 1 cup butter with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla and reserved puree. Beat on low speed until mixed. Beat on medium speed until creamy. Spoon about 1 1/2 cups frosting into decorating bag fitted with medium star tip.
• Place one cake layer on cake plate, top side down. Spread about 3/4 cup frosting over top. With decorating bag, pipe a wavy ring of frosting around outside top edge of cake, extending slightly over edge. Top with second layer, top side down. Repeat frosting and piping. Top with third layer, top side up. Frost top with remaining frosting; pipe edge. (Side of cake is not frosted.)
• For garnish, separate 2 dried apricots into 4 halves. With rolling pin, roll each apricot half between 2 pieces of plastic wrap to 1 1/2-inch diameter. Set aside. Roll remaining 3 apricots between plastic wrap to about 2-inch diameters. To form rose, roll one of the apricot halves into a tight roll (center of rose). Place remaining 3 apricot halves around roll to form petals, pinching at bottom to secure. Place larger apricot circles around smaller ones, pinching together at bottom to complete rose. Sprinkle lightly with 1/4 teaspoon sugar. Place in center of cake. Place lemon leaves next to rose. Store in refrigerator.

APRICOT-CREAM CHEESE BRAID

Steps:

• To prepare dough, combine the first 4 ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat; cool. Dissolve yeast in warm water in a large bowl, let stand 5 minutes. Stir in sour cream mixture and 2 eggs. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Gradually stir flour into sour cream mixture (dough will be soft and sticky). Cover dough; chill 8 hours or overnight.
• To prepare filling; combine preserves and next 4 ingredients (preserves through 1 egg) in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended.
• Divide dough into 4 equal portions. Turn each portion out onto a lightly floured surface; knead lightly 4 or 5 times. Roll each portion into a 12x8 inch rectangle. Spread one-fourth of filling over each portion, leaving a 1/2 inch border. Starting at a long side, carefully roll up each portion "jellyroll fashion"; pinch seam and ends to seal.
• Place 2 loaves on each of 2 baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Cut 4 (1/4-inch deep) "X"s in top of each loaf with scissors. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85 degrees), free from drafts, 25 minutes or until doubled in size.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place 1 baking sheet in oven (cover remaining loaves to keep from drying). Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until lightly browned Repeat procedure for remaining loaves. Cool loaves slightly.
• To prepare glaze, combine powdered sugar , milk and 1tsp. vanilla extract, stirring with a whisk. Drizzle warm loaves with glaze.

APRICOT CREAM CHEESE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Prepare 9x11 glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Next mix rolled oats with margarine, flour, baking soda, salt, and brown sugar, using your hands. Mixture should be loose but not dry. You should be able to make a ball and have it stick without it falling apart. Press half of this mixture into the bottom of the pan. Set side the other half for topping.
• Now mix together apricots, water, white sugar, and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla. Place in saucepan on the stove on medum-high for 30 minutes until the apricots are soft and mushy.
• Next mix the cream cheese, powdered sugar, egg and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla in small mixing bowl. Mix it well. Pour it over the base.
• Pour the apricot mixture over the cream cheese mixture. Finally, crumble remaining oat mixture on top.
• Bake at 350F for 30 minutes or until top is golden brown.
• Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

APRICOT-PLUM GALETTE WITH CREAM CHEESE AND PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out the puff pastry into a 12-inch square on a lightly floured surface. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and refrigerate, 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Combine the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, 1 tablespoon flour, 1 teaspoon vanilla, the egg, lemon zest and nutmeg in a large bowl. Beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Toss the fruit in a medium bowl with the apricot preserves and the remaining 1 tablespoon flour and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.
• Spread the cream cheese mixture over the puff pastry, leaving a 3-inch border. Top with the fruit mixture. Fold the edge of the pastry over the fruit by about 2 inches, pleating as needed to make a circle. Lightly beat the egg with 1 teaspoon water. Brush the puff pastry with the egg wash. Refrigerate until firm, about 20 minutes.
• Scatter the butter over the fruit. Bake until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling, 40 to 45 minutes, sprinkling the pistachios over the fruit during the last 15 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet. Dust the crust with confectioners' sugar before serving.

APRICOT AND CREAM CHEESE SPREAD

Steps:

• Let cream cheese soften.
• In small mixing bowl, mix preserves, mustard and horseradish together.
• Pour mixture over cream cheese. Spread on your favorite crackers or rye sticks.

APRICOT BUBBLE RING

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the milk, butter, sugar, eggs and salt; mix well. Add 2 cups flour; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. , For filling, combine the sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl; set aside. Punch dough down; cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Pour 2 tablespoons melted butter into bottom of greased 10-in. fluted tube pan., On a lightly floured surface, divide dough into 20 pieces and form into balls. Dip each ball into remaining melted butter, then roll in cinnamon-sugar. Place 10 balls into prepared pan. Spoon half the apricot preserves between the balls; sprinkle with half the walnuts. Repeat. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes. , Bake at 350° until browned, 30-35 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. Serve warm.