Moist and sponge like this canned apricot cake is easy to make from scratch. With juicy apricots layered inside a buttery dessert style cake, every bite you take is bursting with flavour. This cake uses simple ingredients and is quick to make. It can be eaten warm or cold making it perfect for any time of the year.
🍳 Step By Step Instructions
Beat together the butter, sugar, and lemon zest until light and fluffy. Gradually add the eggs, one at a time mixing well. Stir in the sifted flour, and spoon half of the cake batter into the base of the cake tin. Layer on the drained apricots, cover with the remaining batter and bake.
💭 Recipe Tips
Drain and Check Apricots
Drain the apricots in a sieve and give it a shake to remove as much of the liquid as possible. By doing this you are not introducing excess moisture to the cake which can prevent the cake from cooking properly. Also, remove any stems that may have been left on the apricots.
Room Temperature Ingredients
This is a thick cake batter and having the eggs and butter at room temperature will make it softer and easier to spread.
Beat The Butter
Beating the butter and sugar for at least 3-5 minutes or until it is light and fluffy, will also help make the batter softer and easier to spread.
Dividing The Batter
The apricots are layered between the cake batter and the finished look of the cake will vary depending on how it is divided.
The first time I made this cake I divided the cake mix with equal portions of batter on the bottom and top. I was not happy with the look of the finished cake, with large hollows on the top. (See image 1 below)
I now make this cake with less than half of the cake batter on the bottom layer, I find that this gives a better coverage and a look that I like. (See image 2 below)
🥗 Serving Suggestions
The cake can be eaten warm or at room temperature, served plain or with cream or ice cream. Decorate with a light dusting sugar before serving.
I do hope you try this apricot cake recipe. If you do make it! Please come back and leave a comment below because I would love to know how it went.
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📋 Recipe Card
Apricot Cake Recipe
INGREDIENTS
- 185 grams (6.5 oz) salted butter at room temperature
- 160 grams (5.6 oz) caster sugar
- 3 teaspoons grated lemon zest
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten and at room temperature
- 125 grams (1 cup) plain flour
- 60 grams (½ cup) self-raising flour
- 400 gram (14 oz) can of apricots halves drained
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F) Lightly grease and line a 18 x 28 cm (7 x 11 inch) shallow baking tray with baking paper, having the paper overhanging on the two longest sides.
- Use an electric mixer beat the butter, sugar and lemon zest until light and creamy, this will take about 3 – 5 minutes.
- Mix in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Sift the flour and fold into the butter mixture with a wooden spoon.
- Spread a little less than half of the mixture into the tin and place the apricot halves with the cut sides facing down on top.
- Drop spoonful’s of the remaining mixture over the top of the apricots. Then use the back of a metal spoon to carefully spread the mixture evenly over the top.
- Bake for 35 – 45 minutes or until lightly golden and cooked. Cover loosely with a sheet of foil if it’s browning too quickly.
- Remove from the oven and allow the cake to stand in the tin for 15 minutes before transferring to cake rack.
- Lightly dust with icing sugar.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
Main Meal Ideas You Might Like To Try
Keri says
Very nice easy recipe. I just added some of the juice off the apricots to the batter. Also used more apricots but that's personal as I rather like apricots! Thanks ,
Keri
Judy W says
This is really lovely. I made this to share with elderly friends and almost had to make a second one it was so good. Will definitely be making it again and soon.
Thank you for this little gem.
Harriet Britto says
Thank you, I am so glad you enjoyed the cake.
Dianne says
Beautiful cake
Harriet Britto says
Thank you for taking the time to come back and leave a comment! I'm so glad you like.
Kirsten says
Lovely cake. I found the batter very stiff to work with, and almost impossible to smooth the top or bottom layers. I didn't think it was going to stretch the length of the 7x11" pan so I chickened out and used a circular tin. The result was a much deeper cake than the pictures but still delicious. Maybe the batter was so stiff bc it's winter and the butter was cold? I needed much more apricots than a 400gm tin - I'd say I used at least 3/4 of a 820gm tin. I'll definitely try this again.
Harriet Britto says
Thank you for trying my recipe. I'm sorry you found it difficult to work with. I will revisit the recipe and make improvements and update it.
Kirsten says
Thanks for your reply Harriet. It was such a delicious cake that I wanted to try again to get it right - I haven't even waited a week! My tip is to make sure the mixture is *soft* - my 'room temperature' in winter still makes it too stiff. A last-minute zap in the microwave made it easier to work with the mixture. I used a 7x11 pan this time, and still used most of an 820gm can of apricots, but they are laid side-by-side - no skimping on fruit here. We love this cake - nice and fruity, surrounded by a simple cake with a nice dessert-appropriate crumb. Recommended!
Harriet Britto says
Thank you!