Apricot Layer Cake Recipes

APRICOT LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients; beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on high for 2 minutes. Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. , Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely. , For frosting, in a small heavy saucepan, cook butter over medium heat for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown. Pour into a large bowl; beat in confectioners' sugar and orange juice. , Cut each cake horizontally into two layers. Place bottom layer on a serving plate; spread with half of the apricot preserves. Top with a second layer; spread with 1/2 cup frosting. Top with a third layer; spread with remaining apricot preserves. Top with the remaining layer. Frost top and sides of cake with remaining frosting., Sprinkle with nuts. Store in the refrigerator.

APRICOT ALMOND LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Prepare two 9-inch or three 8-inch cake pans with baking spray that contains flour. You may also just grease the pans lightly and then add flour, tapping the pan and dumping all the loose flour.
• In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. Set aside.
• In mixing bowl, beat butter and shortening until smooth.
• Add sugar and beat about 4 minutes. Scrape sides with a spatula a couple of times during this process. The mixture will be white and fluffy.
• Add the eggs, one and a time.
• Add flavorings to the measured buttermilk.
• Alternate adding the flour mixture with the milk mixture. Always begin with dry and end with dry. Don't overmix. Just beat until incorporated.
• Pour evenly among pans. Bake 30 minutes. Touch top lightly. If it springs back, the cake is done.
• Cool 5 minutes and then turn onto a cooling rack. Cool completely.
• In a small bowl, add water to the jelly or jam and stir well so that it will be easier to spread onto the layers.
• Spread a generous layer onto two of the layers.
• Cream the butter until smooth.
• Add sugar one cup at a time, beating until well blended.
• Add flavoring and milk until you get a spreadable consistency.
• To assemble, you spread the jam on the bottom layer, then icing over the top of the jam and continue. Decorate with almonds. You can even add some to the sides.

CARROT CAKE WITH APRICOT FILLING

Steps:

• Pre-heat an oven to 350° F.
• Whisk the frosting ingredients with an electric mixer until thick and creamy, scraping the sides often. Set in the refrigerator to chill.
• Grease and flour two 9-inch spring form pans. Set aside.
• Combine the flour, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda in a bowl and whisk to blend. Set aside.
• Whisk together the sour cream, sugars, and vanilla extract until combined, then add the eggs one at a time. When well blended, add the dry ingredients a bit at a time, scraping the sides often. Continue mixing until a smooth batter forms. Then fold in the shredded carrots with a spatula until everything is well distributed.
• Pour the batter equally into the two prepared pans and bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
• Allow the cakes to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then remove from the pans and allow the cakes to completely cool directly on the racks.
• Spread one cake with the apricot preserves, top with the second cake, then cover both with frosting.
• Decorate the cake with chopped pecans, if desired.

APRICOT ALMOND LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Make macaroon layers:
• Trace 2 (8-inch) circles on 1 sheet of parchment paper and a third circle on second sheet. Turn sheets over and put on 2 baking sheets.
• Pulse almonds with 1 1/3 cups confectioners sugar in a food processor until very finely ground (mixture will resemble sand), 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and sift in remaining 2 cups confectioners sugar, then stir until combined well.
• Beat egg whites with salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until they just hold soft peaks. Add granulated sugar a little at a time, beating, then increase speed to high and continue to beat until whites hold stiff, glossy peaks, about 3 minutes.
• Stir whites into almond mixture until completely incorporated (batter will be thick), then divide batter evenly among traced circles on baking sheets (about 1 2/3 cups per circle), smoothing into 1/2-inch-thick rounds.Let rounds stand, uncovered, at room temperature until tops are no longer sticky and a light crust forms, about 30 minutes.
• Put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 300°F. Bake macaroon layers, switching position of baking sheets halfway through cooking, until macaroons are crisp and edges are just barely pale golden, about 25 minutes. Turn off oven and let macaroons stand in oven 10 minutes. Cool completely on baking sheets on racks, about 1 hour.
• Make compote while macaroon layers bake:
• Simmer dried apricots in water in a 2- to 3-quart heavy saucepan, uncovered, over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until apricots are very soft and most of liquid is evaporated, about 15 minutes. Stir in preserves, then cool completely.
• Make praline almonds:
• Heat almonds in a 12-inch dry heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until almonds are hot but not yet colored, about 2 minutes. Add confectioners sugar and continue cooking, stirring and tossing, until almonds are lightly toasted and sugar glaze is caramelized, about 3 minutes. Immediately transfer almonds to a large sheet of foil and spread into 1 layer with a fork. Cool completely.
• Make mascarpone cream:
• Just before serving, beat together mascarpone, heavy cream, and Amaretto with cleaned beaters at medium speed until thick and smooth, about 2 minutes. Reserve 1/4 cup praline almonds, then fold remainder into cream.
• Put 1 macaroon layer on a platter and spread with one third of compote (about 1/2 cup), then spread one fourth of mascarpone cream (about 3/4 cup) on top. Make another layer with second macaroon in same manner. Top with remaining macaroon, remaining compote, and remaining cream (1 1/2 cups), then sprinkle with reserved praline almonds.

HEAVENLY ALMOND-APRICOT LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 2 (8-inch) round pans with shortening; lightly flour. In large bowl, combine all cake ingredients. Beat with electric mixer on low speed until blended. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes. Spread batter in pans.
• Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until cake springs back when touched lightly in center. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Wrap each cake layer in plastic wrap; freeze 15 minutes or refrigerate 30 minutes. With long, sharp serrated knife, cut each cake layer horizontally into 2 layers.
• Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat powdered sugar, 2/3 cup butter and 1/4 cup milk with electric mixer on low speed until blended. Beat in vanilla, almond extract and enough additional milk to make frosting smooth and spreadable.
• In small bowl, stir preserves until softened. Cut up any large pieces of fruit. On serving plate, place 1 cake layer, cut side up. Frost with 3/4 cup frosting; spread 1/3 cup preserves to within 1/4 inch of edge. Repeat with second and third cake layers, frosting and preserves. Top with remaining cake layer, cut side down; frost top and side with remaining frosting. Press sliced almonds generously onto side of cake.

CHOCOLATE-APRICOT COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. In a small bowl, combine first seven ingredients; set aside., In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with yogurt, beating well after each addition., Transfer half the batter to a greased and floured 10-in. fluted tube pan. Sprinkle filling over batter. Top with remaining batter. Bake 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. , Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

CHOCOLATE APRICOT LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• HEAT oven to 325 degrees.
• Coat two 8 inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray.
• Line bottoms of pans with waxed paper, coat paper with spray.
• CAKE LAYERS: Prepare cake mix following package directions, using egg,water and oil.
• Add in chopped apricots and chopped almonds.
• Divide batter evenly between the 2 pans.
• Bake in 325 degrees, about 45 minutes.
• Let cool in pans for 15 minutes.
• Then turn out layers onto rack, carefully removing waxed paper.
• Let cool completely.
• FROSTING: In small saucepan heat heavy cream over medium- high heat until simmering.
• Place chopped chocolate in medium-size bowl.
• POUR heavy cream over the chocolate and stir it.
• Put in refrigator for at least 45 minutes.
• FILLING AND GARNISH: Place 1 cake layer on dish.
• Spread top layer with apricot preserves.
• Place 2nd cake layer on top of it.
• Frost sides and on top with frosting.
• Put sliced almonds on sides of cake.
• Refrigerate for at least 35 minutes.

APRICOT BUTTER CAKE

Steps:

• Drain apricot halves. Mash apricots to make 1/2 cup and reserve the juice.
• Cream butter and gradually add sugar until creamed well together.
• Add 3 unbeaten eggs, one at a time, and beat well after each.
• Combine 1/2 cup of water with apricots and 1/2 cup of apricot juice.
• Add alternately with flour to the creamed mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients and blend well after each.
• Pour into 2 9-inch round layer pans, well greased and lightly floured on the bottom.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes.
• Cool and frost with your favorite cream cheese icing *optional*.

GOLDEN PUMPKIN AND APRICOT LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• For Cake:
• Preheat oven to 350° F. Butter three 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Dust pans with flour. Sift first 6 ingredients into medium bowl. Blend Apricot Puree, pumpkin and buttermilk in small bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Gradually add sugar, beating until well blended. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla. Mix in dry ingredients alternately with pumpkin mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Smooth tops. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes (cakes will not rise to tops of pans).
• For Frosting:
• Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar in medium bowl until fluffy. Add Apricot Puree, pumpkin and spices and beat until blended. Cut around pan sides to loosen cakes. Turn out cakes. Place 1 cake layer on platter. Spread 1 cup frosting over. Top with second cake layer. Spread 1 cup frosting over. Top with third cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over sides and top of cake. Garnish with dried apricot cutouts, if desired. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.)