Mascarpone And Apricot Dessert Food

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.

SHORTCAKE WITH MASCARPONE AND BRANDIED APRICOTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk mascarpone cheese to loosen. Add half of a container of whipped topping, almond extract, salt and lemon zest. Stir to combine.
• Fill each sponge cake with cheese mixture. In a small saucepan over high heat, combine reserved apricot syrup and brandy, reduce until thick. Add apricot halves. Spoon apricot mixture over each sponge cake. Garnish with remaining whipped topping and toasted almond slivers.
• NOTE: If sponge cakes are not available, use sliced pound cake.

ITALIAN APRICOT FOOL

Steps:

• Put the apricot halves in a saucepan with the lemon zest and juice and the sugar. Shake the pan to combine, then simmer, uncovered, over a medium heat until the apricots are soft. This should take about 10-15 minutes.
• Tip the contents of the pan into a blender or food processor and whizz to a purée. Decant into a bowl, stir in the liqueur and leave to cool - about 20-30 minutes.
• Soften the mascarpone in its tub by whisking it vigorously with a fork. Whip the cream in a bowl - you want it softly whipped not stiff. Fold in the mascarpone with a large metal spoon, then lightly swirl in the apricot purée to make a pattern.
• Spoon the mixture into six wine glasses. (At this point, they'll keep in the fridge for up to a day.) To serve, crumble over the amaretti, with a few on the side for dunking.

APRICOT GOOSEBERRY LAYERED TRIFLE DESSERT WITH MASCARPONE CREAM

Steps:

• Spread most of the gooseberry jam on the insides of the split ladyfingers and sandwich them together. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the remaining jam with the limoncello, lemon zest, finely minced lemon verbena, the vanilla, granulated sugar, mascarpone cheese and creme fraiche. Combine well.
• In each dessert glass, arrange 2 or 3 ladyfingers upright around the edges, then place a few gooseberries and apricot chunks into the bottom of the glass.
• Spoon the mascarpone cream into the dessert glasses, forming a slight mound.
• Top each trifle with the remaining apricot chunks and gooseberries, pressing the fruit gently into the cream.
• Chill until serving time (may be assembled up to 24 hours in advance, cover with cling wrap if not serving within a few hours).

MASCARPONE-FILLED FIGS OR APRICOTS WITH AMARETTO

Steps:

• Blend mascarpone, sour cream and confectioners' sugar in food processor until smooth.
• Cut deep slit in each fig; squeeze gently to open; spoon cheese mixture into each fig or mound on each apricot half; sprinkle with nuts, then cinnamon; drizzle amaretto over and serve.