Caramelized Apricots With Almond Cream Recipes

GRILLED APRICOTS WITH ALMOND CREAM AND FREGOLOTTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Toast almonds on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing once, until golden brown and fragrant, 6-8 minutes. Let cool; pulse in a food processor until mostly finely ground but there are still bits of almond.
• Mix almonds, flour, sugar, cornmeal, and salt in a large bowl, then add butter and vanilla and almond extracts and work in with your fingers or the handle of a sturdy wooden spoon. Scatter crumble, trying not to break it up too much, on a rimmed baking sheet and bake, tossing halfway through, until golden brown, 20-25 minutes. Let cool.
• Prepare a grill for medium heat. Brush the cut side of each apricot half with oil and grill apricots, cut side down, until lightly charred and juices start to seep out of fruit, 6-8 minutes. Using a metal spatula, carefully turn apricots and grill a minute or so until the other side is lightly charred. Transfer to a plate.
• Using an electric mixer, beat cream in a medium bowl until medium peaks form. Fold in almond extract, if using.
• Divide warm apricots among plates. Spoon some whipped cream on top. Drizzle with honey and scatter fregolotta crumble over.

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.

ALMOND APRICOT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. In a microwave, melt 1 cup chips; stir until smooth. Set aside. , In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in melted chips and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour. Spread half of the batter into a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Spread with jam., Stir remaining chips into remaining batter. Drop by tablespoonfuls over jam; carefully spread over top. Sprinkle with almonds. Bake 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into squares; cut squares in half.

UPSIDE-DOWN CARAMELIZED APRICOT TART

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 425°F. Combine 1/2 cup sugar if using canned apricots (or 3/4 cup sugar if using fresh apricots) and 2 tablespoons water in heavy small saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil without stirring until syrup is deep amber, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with pastry brush dipped into water and swirling pan, about 8 minutes. Add butter and cream (mixture will bubble vigorously). Stir over low heat until any caramel bits are dissolved. Immediately pour caramel into nonstick 10-inch-diameter ovenproof skillet; swirl to cover bottom of skillet. Carefully place apricot halves, rounded side down, tightly together atop caramel.
• Roll out puff pastry sheet on lightly floured surface to 12 1/2-inch square. Using 12-inch tart pan bottom or platter as guide, cut pastry into 12-inch round. Place puff pastry round atop apricots in skillet. Gently press down pastry around apricots at edge of skillet. Bake tart until pastry is puffed and deep golden, about 25 minutes. Remove from oven; cool 1 minute. Cut around edge of pastry to loosen. Place large rimmed platter atop skillet. Using oven mitts as aid, hold skillet and platter tightly together and invert, allowing tart and syrup to fall onto platter. Carefully lift off skillet. Rearrange any apricots that may have become dislodged. Serve warm.