Apricot Caramel Brunch Cake Recipes

UPSIDE-DOWN APRICOT CARAMEL CRUNCH CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Line a 13x9 inch baking pan with foil and grease foil. Set aside.
• Drain apricot halves, reserving juice in a 2-cup glass measuring cup. Add enough apricot nectar to the reserved juice to equal the amount of water called for on the boxed mix (probably around 1 1/4 cups - if you don't have enough, add water to make up the difference). Set liquid aside.
• Cut apricot halves into 1/2-inch-thick slices; set aside.
• Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over bottom of the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle almonds over brown sugar. Arrange apricot slices on top of almonds; set aside.
• Prepare cake mix according to package directions, using the eggs and oil as instructed on the box, except add 1/2 cup oats into dry cake mix and substitute apricot juice mixture for the water called for in directions.
• Pour batter evenly over apricot slices and almonds in pan, being careful not to disturb apricots and almonds.
• Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
• Cool in pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Carefully invert onto a large serving platter; remove foil.
• Drizzle warm cake with caramel ice cream topping. If desired, top each serving with sweetened whipped cream or ice cream.

APRICOT CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• In a dry heavy saucepan (about 3-quart capacity) cook sugar over moderate heat, stirring with a fork until melted and then swirling pan, until sugar is a golden caramel. Remove pan from heat and carefully add 3 cups water down side of pan (it will bubble up and steam). Return pan to heat and simmer, stirring, until caramel is dissolved.
• Add apricots and simmer, covered, until soft, about 10 minutes. Cool mixture 10 minutes and in a blender purée with remaining 1 cup water and vanilla until very smooth. Sauce may be made 3 days ahead and chilled, covered. Reheat sauce to warm.

CARAMEL CRUNCH CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Mix cake flour and sugar together; add egg yolks, water, lemon juice and vanilla and beat until smooth.
• In a large bowl beat egg whites, cream of tartar and salt until a fine foam forms through.
• Gradually add sugar and continue beating until meringue is firm and stands in peaks.
• Fold batter gently into meringue until just blended; do not stir.
• Gently spoon batter into ungreased tube pan.
• Cut through batter with a knife to break up bubbles and level mixture.
• Bake in preheated oven for 50-55 minutes or until top springs back when touched.
• Remove from oven; immediately turn over and place tube over neck of funnel or bottle to cool.
• Let stand until cool, then loosen with spatula and place on plate.
• Split cake into four layers.
• While cake is baking, combine sugar, coffee and syrup in a deep saucepan; stir and bring to a boil and cook until hard crack stage or 310 degrees on a candy thermometer.
• Remove from heat and immediately add soda and stir vigorously just until topping thickens and pulls away from sides of pan.
• Immediately pour into ungreased shallow metal pan.
• Do not stir or spread; let cool without moving.
• Knock out of pan and crush into coarse crumbs between sheets of waxed paper with rolling pin.
• Whip cream, sugar and vanilla until stiff.
• Spread half of cream between layers and remainder on top and sides.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Just before serving, cover cake with crushed caramel candy.

APRICOT CARAMEL BRUNCH CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 13 x 9-inch baking pan lightly with no-stick cooking spray.
• Stir cake mix, oil, water and eggs in a large bowl by hand until moistened. Spread evenly in prepared pan.
• Bake 20 to 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven. Turn oven to broil setting and place oven rack about 6 inches from top heating unit.
• Combine preserves, topping, coconut and pecans in a medium bowl. Spread evenly on top of warm cake. Place cake under broiler. Broil 6 to 8 minutes or until topping just begins to bubble. Cool.