Fresh Apricot Praline Butter Food

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.

CROCKPOT APRICOT BUTTER

Steps:

• 1. Wash, peel, pit fruit. Puree in small batches using blender or food processor. Pour pureed apricots into crock pot as you work. Add sugar to fruit. Add spices and lemon juice. Mix well. Cover and cook on High for 8 to 10 hours. Remove cover about half way through cooking. Stir occasionally. Store in refrigerator, can, or freeze.
• 2. IF CANNING: Fill hot, sterilized jars to 1/4 inch headspace; remove air bubbles, wipe rims, affix lids and process for 10 minutes in a boiling water bath. IF FREEZING: Pour into sterilized cans or boxes, leaving 1/4-inch headspace and freeze. TO USE: Use in any recipe that calls for apple butter. Great on warm biscuits, fresh home made bread, and breakfast toast!

BAKED APRICOTS (FRANCE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F & generously butter a large baking dish.
• Put apricot halves, cut side up & in one layer, in the prepared baking dish.
• Sprinkle with sugar, dot with butter & bake until tender, about 15 minutes, or until the apricots are caramelized with the sugar but still retain their shape.
• Serve hot with creme fraiche or vanilla ice cream.

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.

PRALINE BUTTER

Steps:

• In a heavy 6-inch skillet evenly spread out the sugar.
• Heat over medium-high heat until sugar begins to melt, shaking skillet occasionally to heat sugar evenly.
• Carefully add pecan and 1 tbl butter or margarine.
• Reduce heat to low; cook until sugar melts and turns golden brown, stirring constantly.
• Remove skillet from the heat; spread candied nuts on a buttered baking sheet or piece of foil.
• Cool. Break into small clusters.
• Place clusters in a plastic bag and, using a rolling pin, crush the candied nuts.
• In a mixing bowl, stir together remaining butter, vanilla extract and candied nuts.
• If not serving immediately, cover and chill.
• Let the butter stand at room temperature for about 1 hour before serving.

ALMOND-APRICOT FOOD PROCESSOR CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter cake pan, then line bottom with parchment paper. Butter parchment, then sprinkle evenly with 1/4 cup almonds.
• Pit and coarsely chop 6 oz. apricots. Pulse salt, 1 1/2 cups sugar, and remaining 2 1/4 cups almonds in a food processor until finely ground. Add eggs, vanilla, 6 Tbsp. butter, and half of the chopped apricots; process until very smooth. Add flour and baking powder; pulse until combined, then fold in remaining chopped apricots. Transfer to prepared pan.
• Bake cake until golden brown and the center no longer jiggles when shaken, 60-70 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cake cool completely.
• Meanwhile, pit and slice remaining 10 oz. apricots. Toss apricots, amaretto, if using, and remaining 2 Tbsp. sugar in a medium bowl. Let sit at least 10 minutes or up to 1 hour. Using a whisk or an electric mixer on medium-high speed, whip cream to soft peaks in a large bowl.
• Run a knife around edges of cooled cake and invert onto a platter.
• Serve with macerated apricots and whipped cream alongside.
• Do Ahead
• Cake can be baked 3 days ahead. Cover and chill. Let come to room temperature before serving.

FRESH APRICOT PRALINE BUTTER

Steps:

• Melt butter in a saute pan over medium heat. Add apricots and cook, stirring occasionally until softened about 5 minutes.
• Stir preserves and brown sugar into apricots and butter until melted; add vanilla and cinnamon.
• Bring mixture to a boil, and boil without stirring 3-5 minutes.
• Off heat, whisk in cream (the mixture will sputter) and rum, then add pecans.
• Serve butter warm with biscuits or store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 week. (Youy may substitute 3/4 cup chopped dried aqpricots for fresh).