Apricot Cheese Bread Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Soak apricots in warm water for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a bowl, cream the sugar, butter and egg. Stir in orange juice. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; stir into creamed mixture just until combined. Drain apricots well; add to batter with nuts. Pour into a greased 9x5-in. loaf pan. Bake at 350° for 55 minutes or until bread tests done. Cool 10 minutes in pan before removing to a wire rack.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first 6 ingredients. In a small bowl, beat the milk, eggs and butter; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in the cheese, apricots and pecans. Spoon into 2 greased 8x4-in. loaf pans. Combine the topping ingredients; sprinkle over batter. , Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Freeze option: Securely wrap and freeze individual cooled loaves. To use, thaw at room temperature.

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, cook the apricots in water until soft; drain.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Generously grease and lightly flour two 7x3x2-inch loaf pans.
• In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt; mix well.
• Stir in butter, milk, orange juice, and egg; mix well.
• Fold in dried apricots, nuts, and orange peel.
• Spoon into prepared pans.
• Bake 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool on rack 15 minutes.
• Remove from pan.
• Cool completely.

Steps:

• In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the dough-hook attachment, combine yeast, 3/4 cup warm water (110 degrees), and pinch of sugar. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Beat on low speed while adding 2 tablespoons oil, salt, and 1 teaspoon sugar. Slowly add flour while beating until mixture just comes together. Increase speed to medium-high; beat until dough is soft and elastic, 3 minutes.
• Coat a 9-by-13-inch metal baking pan with 3 tablespoons oil. Transfer dough to pan; press to edges with your hands (being careful not to tear). Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees with a rack in lower third. Press dimple-like indentations all over dough with your fingers. Stir together cream cheese and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar; dot all over dough. Arrange 12 apricot halves on top in a 3-by-4 grid formation. Drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until puffed, 30 minutes.
• Bake until golden brown on top, 23 to 25 minutes. Let cool in pan 10 minutes, then transfer with two large spatulas to a wire rack. Drizzle with honey and oil; let cool completely. Cut into squares and serve.

Steps:

• Tip the bread mix into a food processor, add the walnuts and whizz until fully incorporated. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the apricots and most of the poppy seeds. Warm the milk to hand temperature, then stir into the flour mix with a wooden spoon. Knead in the bowl until smooth. Cover with oiled cling film and leave somewhere warm-ish to rise for 1 hr.
• Find a heatproof dish the same size or a bit bigger than your cheese box. Sit it in the middle of a big baking tray.
• Shape the risen dough into a long, thin log that will wrap around the dish on the sheet, like a wreath. Press the ends together, loosely cover with oiled cling film and leave to rise for 20-30 mins.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Brush the egg all over the loaf, then sprinkle with the remaining poppy seeds. Using kitchen scissors, randomly snip into the dough, to give a spiky finish. Bake for 35-40 mins until golden and crusty, and the bottom sounds hollow when you tap it. Remove the dish from the middle.
• To serve, unwrap the cheese and put it back into the box. Stab a few times, add the wine and tie kitchen string around the box to secure it in case the glue comes undone. Sit the cheese in the middle of the bread, without its lid, and bake for 10-15 mins until molten. Serve straight away and, if you like, pop another cheese in the oven so you can finish off the bread when the first cheese box is wiped clean.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugars, baking powder and salt. Set aside 1 tablespoon baby food for glaze. In another bowl, beat the egg, 3/4 cup milk, oil, 1 teaspoon almond extract and remaining baby food. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in almonds and apricots. , Pour into a greased 9x5-in. loaf pan. Bake at 350° for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pan to a wire rack to cool completely. , For glaze, combine the confectioners' sugar, reserved baby food, and remaining milk and extract until smooth. Drizzle over bread.