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What goes with dried apricots in scones?

18 years ago

Since DH and DD want more scones, I'm going to try it with dried apricots. I want to add flavorings to the dough. What goes with apricots? I've never eaten an apricot so I'm not sure LOL.

I've got pure vanilla and lemon extracts, tons of spices, cardamon, etc. What about orange zest and juice?

Thanks!

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Comments (14)

woodie
18 years ago
Here's a recipe (just FYI to show you the different flavors) for the best biscotti I've ever had - white chocolate and almonds would be my choice for sure :)

CARRIE'S ALMOND APRICOT BISCOTTI

2 3/4 cup flour
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ginger

3 1/2 oz. white chocolate, cut into pieces
1 2/3 cup toasted almond slivers
2 large eggs
1/4 cup plus 1 TBL. apricot brandy
2 tsp. almond extract
6 oz. dried apricots, diced

Butter and flour cookie sheet. Comine first six ingredients in food processor until fine meal. Add chocolate, chop fine, then add almonds. Beat eggs, brandy and extract in large bowl. Add flour mixture and apricots, stir until moist dough. Moisten fingers. Form into three 12" x 2" logs. Refrigerate for 30 minutes, then bake on center rack at 350* for 30 minutes. Transfer sheet to cooling rack and cool completely. Reduce heat to 300* and cut logs into 3/4" slices. Arrange on sides on cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes, then turn over and bake 10 minutes more. Cool completely. Store in airtight container.
User
18 years ago
Orange would go well with Apricots and so would candied ginger. If you are going to use lemon or orange I'd use fresh orange zest or lemon zest rather than the extract.

Ann
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Cloud Swift
18 years ago
Lemon or orange would go well - possibly orange is a bit better. Ginger would be really nice - I'd use powdered or fresh grated ginger, but I'm not a great fan of the candied stuff.

Almonds or maybe walnuts if you want to put in nuts.
Daisyduckworth
18 years ago
Apricot and almond go well together. So do apricot and coconut. You could toss in a drop or two or brandy essence.
khandi
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks for all your input. Daughter tasted the dried apricot and said it tasted like wax! LOL I find it tastes like candy and really like it. I ended up making gingerbread scones but will try making the dried apricot scones with coconut and white chocolate with a little bit of almond extract. Maybe I should drizzle the white chocolate over them instead if I use the coconut too.

It's true like you all said... the possibilities of scones are endless!
centralcacyclist
18 years ago
Cranberries would be nice, too.
Cloud Swift
18 years ago
Your daughter might like the dried apricot better if it was rehydrated by soaking in hot water for a bit before putting it into the scones. I love the chewy sweet-tartness of dried apricot but your daughter might like it better when less chewy.

Were these the Mediterranean or California style dried apricots? The California ones are drier and chewier, my favorite. The Mediterranean are softer and seem more sugary to me. Someone might like one and not the other.
khandi
Original Author
18 years ago
My dried apricots are from Turkey. They're a little harder than a jujube candy.
beanthere_dunthat
18 years ago
I'd soak them a bit in something -- brandy, orange juice, something like that. Apricot and toasted coconut are the flavors in one of my favorite See's candies. :)
lindac
18 years ago
I chop dried apricots and add them to several things...like breads with cinnamon and almonds and apple cake instead of raisins, and oatmeal cookies.
I really can't believe you have never eaten an apricot. Fresh or canned....they are a lovely addition to a fruit salad. I even put chopped dried apricots into my fruitcake instead of some of the raisins in the recipe.
Lemon zest would be nice in your scones with the chopped apricots...but I'm not much for lemon or orange extract....a little too chemical tasting to me.
Linda C
jojoco
18 years ago
I love dried cherries with dark chocolate in my scones so I have to believe dark chocolate (Ghiradelli 60%) would work well also. Afterall, I've seen plenty of trays of dried fruit that includes apricots dipped in chocolate.
Jo
hawk307
18 years ago
I'll try them with some butter and a cup of coffee.
How long will they take to get here ?????
LOU
beanthere_dunthat
18 years ago
LOL! I think Lou has the right idea!

I don't think I saw a fresh apricot until I lived in CA. They were never in the groceries in NC when I was growing up, and the few times I found them in KY they were like golf balls -- no scent and hard as a rock. I was thrilled to see them here this summer at the farmers market.

The first time I bit into one at a farmers market, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.:)
sheshebop
18 years ago
Apricots and oranges are a perfect marriage. I make a french toast stuffed with cream cheese and walnuts, and the syrup is orange juice blended with apricot preserves. It is delicious!
My kids love apricots soooo much. Every year they would get a can of smoked oysters (which they all loved), a bag of dried apricots, and a can of Smokehouse almonds for Christmas. It was always the first Christmas gift they opened. I only stopped doing it when they all left home. I found out that they still buy the apricots for their own kids.

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