Apricot Caramel Brunch Cake Recipes

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.

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine apricots and tapioca; let stand for 15 minutes. Add the brown sugar, butter and lemon juice. Cook and stir until mixture comes to a full boil. Reduce heat to low; keep warm. , For dumplings, in a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar and baking powder; cut in butter until crumbly. Add milk; mix just until combined. Pour warm fruit mixture into an ungreased 9- or 10-in. cast-iron skillet. Drop the batter in 6 mounds onto fruit mixture. , Bake, uncovered, at 425° until a toothpick inserted into a dumpling comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Stir together brown sugar and water; microwave until sugar is dissolved, stirring frequently, about 30 seconds. Spoon over dumplings; bake 5 minutes longer. Serve with cream if desired.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare the topping: Lightly grease and flour a 9-inch cake pan or an 8-inch square baking pan. In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Spread the brown sugary mix in an even layer on the bottom of the pan.
• Cut the apricots in half and remove the pits. Arrange the apricots, flesh-side down, evenly over the bottom of the pan.
• Prepare the cake batter: Add the flour to a medium bowl. Sift in the almond flour, then use your fingertips to break up any clumps that don't fit through the sieve. Add the baking powder and salt to the bowl and whisk to combine.
• In a large bowl with an electric hand mixer, or in a stand mixer with the paddle attached, beat the butter and granulated sugar on medium until combined and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the vanilla extract, then the eggs, one at a time, mixing until smooth. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl.
• Add 1/3 of the flour mixture, then 1/2 of the milk, mixing to combine. Continue alternating the additions of flour and milk and mixing, scraping down the sides of the bowl, just until all is combined. (Make sure not to overmix during this step.)
• Spread the batter in an even layer over the apricot halves. Bake until the cake is set and doesn't jiggle when shaken, is golden brown on top, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes.
• Remove pan from the oven, and place on a cooling rack for 5 minutes. With the cake still in the pan, turn the pan over onto a serving platter. Wait 1 minute, then remove the pan. This cake is excellent warm, but it's also delicious at room temperature.

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.

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.

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.