Apricots In Caramel Cognac Sauce Recipes

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.

COGNAC CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Spread the sugar in an even layer in a medium heavy-bottomed skillet or saucepan. Pour the 1/3 cup (80 ml) water over the sugar to dampen it, but don't stir. Cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves and add the cream of tartar or lemon juice. Continue to cook without stirring, but swirling the pan if the sugar clumps or begins to brown unevenly. When the caramel turns dark amber in color and begins to foam a bit, remove from the heat and immediately add the remaining 1/2 cup (125 ml) water. The caramel will bubble up vigorously, then the bubbling will subside. Stir with a heatproof utensil until any hardened bits of caramel completely dissolve. Let cool completely, then stir in the Cognac. Serve at room temperature.
• This sauce can be stored at room temperature or refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

CARAMELIZED APRICOTS WITH ALMOND CREAM

Steps:

• Whip cream with confectioners' sugar until soft peaks form. Whisk in amaretto or almond extract. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Melt butter in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add sugar; stir to dissolve. Swirl occasionally until mixture is light brown, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add apricots, cut side down. Increase heat to medium high, and cook until sugar has turned a deep amber and apricots are well caramelized, no more than 5 minutes. Shake pan a few times.
• Remove pan from heat and transfer apricots to a plate, cut side up. Whisk milk into sugar mixture to make caramel sauce. Simmer over low heat until thick, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Arrange apricots on 4 plates and pour sauce over each one. Spoon almond cream on the side and garnish with sliced almonds.

CARAMEL-COGNAC FONDUE

Steps:

• Combine sugar and 2 tablespoons water in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat; boil without stirring until mixture is deep amber color, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan, about 3 minutes.
• Add warm cream to caramel. Stir over medium-high heat until sauce is smooth and reduced to 1 1/4 cups, about 5 minutes. Add Cognac and cook 1 minute longer. Remove from heat. Add butter and stir until melted. (Can be prepared 8 hours ahead. Cover and chill. Rewarm over medium-low heat before serving.)
• Transfer sauce to small fondue pot or flameproof ceramic bowl. Set pot over candle or canned heat burner. Serve with strawberries, apples or pears, bananas, tangerine segments and star fruit.

APRICOT BREAD PUDDING WITH CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Simmer Grand Marnier and 1/4 cup water in heavy medium saucepan 5 minutes. Cool mixture completely. Whisk Grand Marnier-water mixture, cream, eggs, sugar, vanilla and nutmeg in large bowl to blend. Place croissant pieces in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish; add apricots and toss to combine. Pour custard over croissant-apricot mixture, pressing down gently with rubber spatula so that croissant and apricot pieces are evenly covered. Let stand 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Cover baking dish with aluminum foil. Place dish in larger roasting pan. Add enough hot water to roasting pan to come 1 inch up sides of baking dish. Bake 1 hour.
• Remove aluminum foil and continue baking until bread pudding is golden brown on top and firm to touch, about 30 minutes longer. Carefully remove bread pudding from oven and from water bath; cool slightly. Drizzle bread pudding with Caramel Sauce, if desired, and serve warm.