Apricot And Raisin Butter Cake Recipes

APRICOT RAISIN LOAF

Steps:

• Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in apricots, raisins, nuts, and rind.
• In a large bowl, beat together butter or margarine, sugar, and 1 egg until smooth. Beat in second egg. Blend in orange juice. Pour in flour mixture all at once, and stir just to moisten. Scrape into greased 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour, or until it tests done. Let stand 10 minutes, and then remove loaf from pan.
• Stir apricot jam and water together, and heat. Put through strainer. Spoon glaze over hot loaf. Cool on wire rack.

CREAM CHEESE -APRICOT CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE ICING

Steps:

• 1. HEAT OVEN TO 325 DEGREE'S IN A SAUCEPAN COMBINE 1/4 CUP OF SUGAR WITH THE CHOPPED APRICOTS AND GOLDEN RAISINS. BOIL REDUCE HEAT TO SIMMER FOR 20 MINUTES.WHILE SIMMERING WORK ON THE REST OF CAKE.
• 2. IN A LARGE BOWL BEAT THE CREAM CHEESE,BUTTER,AND VANILLA UNTIL LIGHT AND FLUFFY. ADD 1 1/2 CUPS OF SUGAR AND CONTINUE TO BEAT UNTIL LIGHT. ADD EGGS 1 AT A TIME.BEAT IN WELL BEFORE EACH EGG IS PUT IN.
• 3. DRAIN THE APRICOTS AND RAISINS AND LET COOL.
• 4. SIFT IN THE FLOUR AND BAKING POWDER,AND REMAINING 1/4 CUP OF SUGAR.ADD GRADUALLY TO THE CREAM MIXTURE. COMBINE WELL.
• 5. FOLD IN THE COOLED APRICOTS,RAISINS,AND NUTS.PUT IN A GREASED AND FLOURED BUNDT PAN AND BAKE 60-70 MINUTES,OR UNTIL PICK COMES OUT CLEAN.COOL AT LEAST 20 MINUTES BEFORE REMOVING FROM PAN.TURN OUT TO A WIRE RACK TO FINISH COOLING.
• 6. Make Cream cheese icing. Combine all ingredients until smooth. Drizzle over cake. Let icing set.Cut,and serve.

APRICOT FLAPJACKS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180c fan assisted
• Grease and line the base and sides of a shallow traybake 10.5 inch (27cm) x 7 inch (17.5cm) about 1 inch deep with baking parchment. The baking parchment will also make it easier to lift the flapjacks out of the tin when they have cooled.
• Melt the butter, sugar, and syrup in a large pan over a very gentle heat until all the sugar and butter have melted. DO NOT BOIL THE MIXTURE. This will make the flapjacks as hard as toffee.
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the Dried Apricots, raisins and Flaked Almonds. Mix thoroughly.
• Add the flour, salt and oats
• Mix thoroughly until everything is covered in the syrup mixture.
• Spread the mixture evenly and firmly into the prepared tin. Pressing the mixture down firmly will help prevent the flapjacks turning out crumbly.
• Bake in the centre of the oven for 25 - 30 minutes or until baked and golden brown in colour.
• Remove from the oven. Leave to cool a little before partially slicing the top into bars. DO NOT CUT ALL THE WAY THROUGH. This will make them crumble.
• Leave to cool completely, before slicing into bars.
• Keep in an airtight container.

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