Raisin Apricot Quarkcake Food

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 CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper.
• Combine almond flour, brown sugar, and almonds in a bowl. Add melted butter; stir with a fork until the mixture resembles wet sand. Spread on the bottom of the parchment-lined pan.
• Combine apricots and water in a saucepan; bring to a boil and simmer until very soft, about 10 minutes. Drain; mash apricots into a pulp. Add amaretto; mix well. Sweeten with 1 teaspoon white sugar.
• Beat cream cheese, 3/4 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup sour cream, cornstarch, and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract in a bowl using an electric mixer on low speed. Add eggs one at a time; mix well. Fold in 2 tablespoons of apricot pulp; reserve remainder for topping. Pour cheesecake batter into the pan, covering the crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven until edges are puffed and surface of cheesecake is firm except for a small spot in the center that will jiggle when the pan is gently shaken, about 45 minutes.
• Beat 1 1/2 cups sour cream, 3 tablespoons white sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract together until combined. Remove cheesecake from the hot oven; spoon topping over the surface and return cake to the oven for 8 minutes more.
• Cool to room temperature, about 1 hour. Refrigerate for 6 to 8 hours. Top with remaining apricot pulp.

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 RAISIN COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• I used my bread machine on the dough cycle but you may make your dough the traditional way if you prefer.
• Put water, eggs and oil in bottom of bread machine pan.
• Mix together the whole wheat flour, bread flour, and 4 teaspoons of the grated lemon rind, and add on top of your wet ingredients.
• On top of the flour mixture, add powdered milk, sugar, salt and yeast.
• Set bread machine to dough cycle.
• Meanwhile, using kitchen shears or a knife, cut up apricots to about the same size as your raisins, then measure them and mix together with the raisins.
• When dough cycle is complete, take out your dough and divide it into two pieces, one slightly larger than the other.
• Using your fingers or a dough roller, spread the larger piece of dough over the bottom of a well-greased 7"x11" or 9" square baking dish.
• Sprinkle approximately half of the brown sugar over the dough, then top with raisin-apricot mixture.
• Divide the other piece of dough into 24 small balls, then flatten each ball between your hands.
• Place the dough disks on top, distributing them evenly around the dish.
• Sprinkle with the remaining brown sugar, then the remaining 4 teaspoons grated lemon rind (I was able to get the whole 8 teaspoons rind from one lemon).
• Let rise in a very warm place for 30 to 45 minutes then bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until lightly browned on top.
• Cut, eat and enjoy!

BAKED APPLES WITH CRANBERRIES, RAISINS, AND APRICOTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Remove stems from apples.Using melon baller, scoop out core of each apple, making 1-inch-wide hollow center but leaving bottom of apple intact. Make 1/8-inch-deep cut in skin around center of each apple. Arrange apples, hollowed side up, in 8x8x2-inch glass baking dish.
• Mix raisins, cranberries, sugar, apricots, and 1/2 teaspoon allspice in small bowl. Pack fruit mixture into hollows of apples. Sprinkle any remaining fruit mixture around apples in dish. Drizzle butter into filling and around apples in dish. Pour sparkling juice and cranberry concentrate into dish. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 teaspoon allspice into dish. Bake apples uncovered until tender, occasionally basting with cranberry juice mixture, about 1 hour 10 minutes.
• Transfer apples to 4 bowls. Pour juices from dish into medium saucepan and boil until thick enough to coat spoon, about 4 minutes. Spoon sauce over apples.

RAISIN APRICOT QUARKCAKE

Steps:

• The night before, in a nonreactive container (glass or plastic), dissolve dry milk in warm water
• stir in buttermilk and rennet
• Cover and allow to stand overnight (5 to 10 hours) in a warm place
• Drain liquid (called whey) from the curds
• Wrap curds in cheesecloth and squeeze as much liquid from the cheese as possible
• Chill well
• Soak raisins in white wine for 30 minutes
• Beat egg yolks, butter and sugar together until smooth
• Add cheese, flour, and sour cream
• Drain raisins and stir into cheese mixture
• In a separate bowl, Beat eggs whites with cream of tartar and pinch of salt until it forms soft peaks
• Fold cheese mixture into egg whites
• Line a springform pan with phyllo, brushing layers with melted butter; trim edges
• Spoon filling into pastry
• Top with apricot slices
• Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/4 hours
• Let cool before serving

APRICOTS IN RUM-RAISIN SAUCE

Steps:

• Boil apricot syrup in heavy small saucepan until reduced to 2/3 cup, about 15 minutes. Mix in 3 tablespoons raisins, 2 tablespoons rum and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 1 minute. Transfer to medium bowl and mix in 3 tablespoons honey. Refrigerate sauce until cold, at least 1 hour. Mix in apricots. (Rum-raisin sauce can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.) Scoop ice cream into bowls; top with apricots and sauce.

APRICOT RAISIN JAM

Steps:

• Blend the ingredients and store covered in the refrigerator.

APRICOT RAISIN RUGELACH

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese until well blended. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to butter mixture and mix well. Shape into four 5-in. logs; cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight., On a lightly floured surface, roll 1 log into a 12x8-in. rectangle. Spread with about 1/4 cup spreadable fruit; sprinkle with 5 tablespoons walnuts and 1/4 cup raisins. Combine 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle 2 tablespoons over the top. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side. Repeat with remaining logs. Chill., Place rolls, seam side down, 4 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Brush with cream; sprinkle with remaining sugar. With a serrated knife, make 1/2-in.-deep cuts 1 in. apart on roll-ups. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to a cutting board; cut each roll into 12 slices. Cool on wire racks.

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.