Apricots Baked in Fig Leaves

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly butter two medium baking dishes. Sprinkle each dish with 1/2 teaspoon sugar; set aside.

Place a fig leaf, dark-side down, on a work surface. Place an apricot half, cut-side up, in center of leaf. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon sugar, and dot with 1/2 teaspoon butter. Wrap leaf around apricot to enclose. Place, seam-side down, in prepared dish. Repeat with remaining apricots, placing 4 wrapped apricots in each dish. Brush packets with remaining 3 1/2 teaspoons butter and sprinkle with remaining 2 teaspoons sugar. Sprinkle lemon zest evenly over the packets. Bake until fruit is soft when pierced with the tip of a knife, about 20 minutes. Serve topped with a scoop of ice cream.