Our Best Apricot Recipes (2024)

If apricot is your favorite fruit, then you probably know how valuable it is in your kitchen. It’s not only healthy, as it’s packed with potassium and vitamins, but it also tastes incredible.

If sweet apricot isn’t your top 1, you may want to redefine your relationship with this flavorful and versatile ingredient, as it offers a variety of uses and unforgettable sensations for your taste buds.

Whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch, or dinner recipes with apricots, we’re here to help. We’ve collected 8 apricot recipes for both sweet and savory dishes that involve fresh and dried apricots, as well as apricot preserves. Get ready for a big cooking spree!

1. Apricot Jam

One of the all-time favorite fresh apricot recipes is obviously homemade apricot jam. There’s no better way to get the most out of apricot season than turning those tasty fruits into a flavorful conserve.

All you need to make your own apricot jam is lots of apricots (obviously), apple juice, lemon juice, and preserving sugar.

You can spread your homemade jam over toast, pancakes, or eat it straight from the jar if you like!

2. Apricot Almond Baked Oatmeal

Is there a particular meal that reminds you of your childhood home? A portion of this hot and filling baked oatmeal can surely bring back the memories of slow Sunday mornings spent by the fireplace on a winter day.

If your favorite meal of the day is breakfast, this delicious apricot oatmeal is something you need to include in your menu for good. It’s packed with dried apricots, almonds, and the best combo of sweeteners and warm spices – honey, brown sugar, vanilla, ground ginger, and cinnamon.

Those flavorful oats covered with a creamy mixture made of heavy cream, butter, milk, and eggs will leave you with soft and mushy interiors and a delicate crust on top. It will surely become your favorite way to make oatmeal.

Once baked, pair it with a cup of hot tea or coffee, and you’re good to start your day off just right.

3. Arugula Salad With Quinoa, Apricot, and Avocado

This colorful and nutritious salad is a perfect lunch idea as it takes very little time to prepare and will fill you up for hours, thanks to the high amounts of protein in quinoa and chickpeas, as well as the healthy fats in avocado and nuts.

You can find here a mixture of diverse flavors and textures. Peppery arugula, sweet and chewy dried apricots, and crunchy, toasted almonds create just a perfect unity.

Most importantly, this recipe calls for a good dressing, and you can have it by mixing some Arbequina olive oil (it has a delicate, fruity flavor), honey, cumin, garlic, and lemon juice. If you’re vegan, you can swap the honey for maple syrup.

This salad recipe is undoubtedly one to note down!

4. Baked Apricot Chicken

Apricots are incredibly versatile and taste excellent in both sweet and savory dishes. Their combination with chicken offers fantastic taste sensations, and this brilliant apricot recipe is excellent proof.

To prepare the dish, you will only need 5 ingredients – chicken breasts, apricot preserves, some Dijon mustard, dried onion soup mix, and some Catalina salad dressing.

You can bake your chicken in the oven, slow cooker, pressure cooker, or on the grill – it’s totally up to you. It tastes great prepared in any possible way.

This nutritious dish goes well with rice, fresh salad, or veggies, such as roasted asparagus. It’s an easy way to whip up a delicious and filling dinner with sweet apricots.

5. Apricot Cake with Coconut

This vegan-friendly dessert is super easy and quick to make and involves juicy fresh apricots that provide a moist and tender texture. Crunchy coconut topping breaks through the softness of the cake, offering the most enjoyable eating experience.

For the recipe, you will need regular cake ingredients like flour, baking powder, and sugar, as well as dairy-free milk and yogurt, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Once you mix the ingredients together and pour the mixture into the baking pan, spread your sliced apricots on top and bake for about 50 minutes.

This apricot cake is not overly sweet, so it will taste even better when served with some delicious additions. As fresh apricots have a tart and sweet flavor, they will make a perfect combination with sweet ice cream or whipped cream.

The good thing about this dessert is that you can use any juicy stone fruit you like. Feel free to experiment with it and have a go with plums, peaches, or cherries. You won’t regret it!

6. Chicken Salad With Apricots, Almonds, and Tarragon

Another excellent lunch idea that goes perfectly with apricots is this nutritious chicken salad. It’s low-carb, gluten-free, and has a delicious creamy dressing.

All you need to prepare this flavorful salad is some cooked shredded chicken, dried apricots, and fresh tarragon, as well as some mayo and mustard for the dressing. You can serve it on a bed of fresh greens for additional color and vitamins.

To make your salad even more enjoyable, you can also use it as a sandwich filling with your favorite bread!

7. Broiled Stone Fruit with Rosemary Honey Mascarpone and Crushed Amaretti

This sweet treat is for true dessert lovers, especially those fancy desserts. If you love ripe apricots and Italian-inspired sweet recipes that are also super easy to make, this is the one you need to try.

The main hero of this divine dessert is a fresh and juicy apricot broiled in the oven until soft and delicately charred. It’s served on a cloud of whipped Mascarpone, topped with rosemary-infused honey and crumbled amaretti cookies.

It’s like a classic Italian dessert – not overly sweet, yet overly delicious.

8. Israeli Couscous with Pistachios, Apricots, and Cranberries

A simple, express salad recipe is what we all may need in our hectic lives. If you sometimes struggle to find enough time to make something quick yet healthy for your lunch, this recipe is here to solve your problems.

This Israeli couscous salad is packed with nutritious ingredients to keep you going through the day. Pearl couscous combined with dried apricots and cranberries, as well as pistachios, makes for a wholesome meal that you can prepare in minutes.

As always, the magical addition to any salad is a good dressing – mix some olive oil, shallots, Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, honey, as well as salt and pepper. Pour the mixture over your salad, give it a good stir, and feel free to indulge in this healthy goodness.

You can serve your salad either hot or cold and eat it as a side dish or main meal. You can be sure you’ll love it in any way!

Final Words

Apricots are extremely versatile fruits that can be eaten in-season as well as off-season.

Their sweetness yet a little tangy flavor makes for a perfect addition to a variety of sweet and savory dishes.

Fresh and juicy apricots are perfect for cakes and summer desserts, while savory salads will benefit from the taste and texture of the dried fruit.

There are plenty of breakfast, lunch, and dinner ideas you can get inspired by when you’re thinking of implementing apricots to your menu. For even more cooking inspiration, check out our collection of recipes and helpful tips, and jazz up your cooking game today!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some delicious apricot cake recipes?

One popular apricot cake recipe is Apricot Almond Cake. This cake combines the tart sweetness of apricots with the nutty flavor of almonds. You will need fresh or canned apricots, almond flour, all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, eggs, and unsalted butter. The recipe is quite simple to follow, and the result is a moist, flavorful cake perfect for any occasion.

How to make a simple apricot cobbler?

A simple apricot cobbler can be prepared using fresh or canned apricots, all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, milk, and melted butter. Start by preparing the fruit filling: combine apricots and sugar in a saucepan and cook until softened. In a separate bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and milk to create the cobbler batter. Pour the melted butter into a baking dish, then add the batter and spoon the fruit filling on top. Bake at 350°F for about 35-40 minutes until golden brown.

What are some easy recipes with canned apricots?

Canned apricots can be used in various recipes, including smoothies, tarts, and jams. One easy idea is an Apricot Glazed Chicken – simply combine the drained canned apricots with some apricot preserves, minced garlic, and soy sauce for a sweet and savory sauce. Bake or grill the chicken until cooked through, and serve with the apricot sauce on top.

Any go-to recipes for dried apricots?

Dried apricots make excellent additions to trail mixes, granola bars, and oatmeal. For a tasty treat, try making Apricot and White Chocolate Cookies. Combine dried apricots and white chocolate chips with a standard cookie dough base, and bake for 12-15 minutes. The result is a slightly chewy cookie with a great balance of sweetness and tartness.

What are some healthy desserts that include apricots?

A light and healthy apricot dessert idea is an Apricot Yogurt Parfait. Simply layer Greek yogurt, honey, and sliced fresh apricots in a glass, and sprinkle with toasted nuts, such as almonds or pistachios, for added flavor and crunch. This dessert is both delicious and nutritious, providing vitamins, minerals, and protein.

How can I make a delightful apricot crumble?

An apricot crumble is easy to make and a great way to showcase the fruit. Start by preparing the fruit filling: combine sliced fresh or canned apricots with sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice. Pour the mixture into a baking dish. For the crumble topping, mix all-purpose flour, rolled oats, sugar, salt, and cold butter until crumbly. Scatter the topping over the fruit filling and bake at 375°F for about 35-40 minutes until golden and bubbly.