20 Apricot Recipes That Are Truly Amazing and Absolutely Delicious

February 13, 2011
Fresh, ripe apricots are juicy and taste both sweet and a bit tart. With a tender texture that's not to be missed, they're miles apart from the dried variety. Try these lush little beauties in pies, tarts, cobblers, and more.
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Apricot Basics

In Season: Apricot season lasts less than two months, from about mid-May to early July.

What to Look For: For the best flavor, seek out local fruit, and look for those that are deep orange, fairly plump, and soft enough to yield to gentle pressure (but not mushy).

How to Store: If unripe, place apricots in a paper bag at room temperature for one to two days. Fully ripe apricots should be used or eaten immediately; otherwise, store them in the refrigerator for up to one week.

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Lillet-Poached Apricots

Credit: Marcus Nilsson
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Poached fruit is a dessert that will never fail you (it's ideal for nonbakers) and can be made days ahead. Plus poaching transforms lackluster or not-quite-ripe specimens into tender, flavor-packed beauties -- in this case, freckled with vanilla seeds.

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Apricot Cobbler

Credit: Martyna Szczesna
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Oats add a satisfying crunch to the biscuit topping for this subtly sweet cobbler. Team the apricot filling with another summer treat, ripe strawberries, or let the stone fruit be the star.

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Apricots and Creme Fraiche

Credit: Jonathan Lovekin
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With truly ripe apricots, it's best to keep things simple. Halve and pit the fruit, then top with a dollop of creme fraiche, grind of black pepper, and sprig of cilantro for a sensational snack.

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Apricot Pistachio Tart

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This easy summer tart is a project even a baking novice can master: Simply spread pistachio paste on a rectangle of store-bought puff pastry, arrange ripe apricots on top, and bake until golden.

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Apricot Cheesecake Bars

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Fresh apricot compote is swirled with cheesecake filling in this handheld dessert. It’s easy to make pretty decorative patterns. Try shallow back-and-forth motions, figure eights, and loose spirals.

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Apricot-Raspberry Frangipane Tart

Credit: Johnny Miller
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Not familiar with frangipane? It's a rich almond filling with the texture of pastry cream. Here, it's paired with juicy apricots and sweet-tart raspberries and surrounded by a butter tart shell.

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Brown-Butter Apricots with Brioche and Ice Cream

Credit: Chris Court
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A tasty fix for the ripest of fruits is a sugary bath in brown butter. Cook butter until it's nutty brown and fragrant, then swirl in sugar-tossed fruit to create an instant sauce. Spoon onto crisped brioche slices, then let a scoop of vanilla ice cream ease its way over the top.

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Strawberry and Apricot Crisp with Pine-Nut Crumble

Credit: John Kernick
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The apricots hold their shape in this simple crisp. The strawberries, in contrast, bake down into a thick, delicious sauce.

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Apricot Salsa with Lemon Verbena

Credit: Con Poulos
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Take the sweet, just-ripe apricot into savory territory by tossing with jalapenos, scallions, fresh ginger, lemon verbena, and red onion in this party-ready summer salsa. Serve with toasted flour tortilla wedges.

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Apricot Pie with Coconut Crumble

Credit: Con Poulos
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A sweet coconut crumble offsets tart apricot filling in this out-of-the-ordinary summer pie.

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Apricot-Blueberry Cobbler

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Totally irresistible, this home-style dessert is full of lush blueberries and apricots, complemented by tender biscuits. Serve it up in a cast-iron skillet for extra homespun flair.

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Apricot-Compote Yogurt Parfaits

Credit: Petrina Tinslay
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Build your own fruit-on-the-bottom yogurts with homemade compote for a week's worth of nutritious breakfasts, ready to go.

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Almond-Apricot Tart with Whipped Cream

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Rings of fresh apricots top the creamy amaretto filling on this tart, creating a gorgeous flowerlike effect.

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Broiled Apricots with Fresh Ricotta and Pistachios

Credit: Raymond Hom
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Heat meets sweet when you caramelize apricots under the broiler, making their flavor and aroma even more complex. Top with velvety spoonfuls of fresh ricotta and a sprinkle of crunchy pistachios.

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Apricot Chiffon Pie

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Fluffy, mousse-like filling, which tastes of sweet apricots, fills a nutty, press-in cookie crust. Drizzle the pie with fruit puree, and sprinkle with pistachios just before serving.

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Apricot Sauternes Jam

Credit: JOHN KERNICK
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Fresh apricots and sweet wine such as Sauternes or Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise add up to a sophisticated treat. Try this apricot jam with a dollop of thick, creamy Greek yogurt for a wonderful dessert.

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Apricot-Blackberry Puff Pastry Tart

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Vivid fresh fruit belies the fact that this tart's buttery puff-pastry crust is store-bought, making it a treat to prepare and to eat.

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Broiled Apricots with Ginger Whipped Cream

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The broiler is one of our secret kitchen weapons. Try broiling apricots with a touch of brown sugar, it intensifies the fruit’s flavor without adding too many calories.

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Pork, Apricot, and Red-Onion Kebabs

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Apricot jam with a spark of cayenne makes a spicy-sweet glaze that becomes deliciously caramelized on the grill.

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Apricot Tart

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A blanket of ripe apricots makes this pudding-filled tart extra alluring.

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