What Is Apricot preserves (jam) and How Can I Use It?

Wondering what to do with apricot preserves (jam)? This guide covers how to pick it, cook it, store it, and swap it, plus 208 recipes to put it to work.

What is apricot preserves (jam)?

Apricot preserves are cooked apricots suspended in a sweet, glossy syrup, usually with visible chunks or strips of fruit rather than a smooth spread. The label "preserves" and "jam" get used almost interchangeably on apricot jars, and for cooking they behave the same way.

What sets apricot apart from other jams is balance. Its natural tartness keeps the sugar from going cloying, and its color is a clear amber gold, which is exactly why it became the pastry world's default glaze.

How Apricot Preserves Differ From Jam and Jelly

Strictly, jelly is made from strained juice and sets clear with no fruit pieces. Jam is crushed fruit cooked to a soft, spreadable set. Preserves hold the largest pieces of fruit in a looser syrup.

On a jar of apricot you will see all three terms, but the differences are small. Jelly gives the smoothest glaze, while preserves carry the most fruit flavor. For most recipes any apricot spread works; just strain it if you need a clean finish.

Ways to Use Apricot Preserves

The single most useful trick is the glaze. Warm a few spoonfuls with a splash of water, brush it over a fruit tart, and the surface turns glossy and seals against drying out, as in this Basic Apricot Glaze.

That same warmed-and-strained glaze gives a Pear Almond Tart its bakery finish. It is also the classic filling between cake layers, and a thin layer brushed under the chocolate is what defines a real Sacher Torte.

Spoon it into thumbprint and rolled cookies, where it bakes to a jewel-like center, as in these Apricot Rugelah.

It earns its keep in savory cooking too. Whisked with mustard and a splash of vinegar it becomes a sticky glaze for pork, chicken, or lamb, like these Apricot Lamb Chops.

Pairing and Common Mistakes

Apricot leans into almond, vanilla, brown butter, and warm baking spice on the sweet side. For savory glazes it loves Dijon, soy, ginger, and a hit of vinegar to keep it from being one-note sweet.

The most common mistake with a tart glaze is brushing it on cold. Cold preserves are stiff and drag fruit out of place; always warm them until pourable first.

The second is skipping the strain. For a mirror-smooth glaze, push the warmed preserves through a fine sieve to catch the fruit chunks, or you get a lumpy, dull finish instead of a clear gloss.

Substitutes

Peach preserves are the closest match in both color and flavor, with a touch more sweetness and less tang. Use them one for one.

For a glaze where you only need gloss and sweetness, a marmalade or even a light jelly such as quince or apple will do, though the flavor shifts. Red jams like raspberry or strawberry work as a tart filling but give a darker, more assertive result.

In a pinch, simmer chopped dried apricots with a little water and sugar until soft and jammy. It is not a true preserve, but it stands in for a filling or sauce.

Buying and Storage

Read the label for fruit content. The best jars list apricots first and have a short ingredient list; cheaper ones lean on corn syrup and pectin and taste flatter. "Preserves" or "fruit spread" usually means more actual fruit than a generic "jam."

An unopened jar keeps in the pantry for a year or more, well past the best-by date, since sugar is a preservative. Store it somewhere cool and dark.

Once opened, refrigerate it and use within about a month for best flavor, though it stays safe longer. Always dip with a clean spoon, since a buttery or crumb-laden spoon introduces mold.

See fuzzy mold or smell something fermented? Throw the whole jar out rather than scooping around it. The visible spot is only part of what has grown.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find apricot preserves (jam): Apricot preserves (jam) is usually found in the condiments section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Apricot preserves (jam) is a member of the Sweets US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

杏蜜饯（果酱）

British (UK) term

Apricot preserves (jam)

en français

conserves d'abricots

en español

conservas de albaricoque

How much does apricot preserves (jam) weigh?

Related

Sweets

Recipes using apricot preserves (jam)

There are 208 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Turkey with Apricot Chardonnay Glaze

A delicious recipe for the perfect Thanksgiving dinner.

Open Face Apple Tart

Open face apple tart with overlapping Golden Delicious slices, apricot glaze, and a buttery pastry shell. The classic French tarte aux pommes done simply at home.

Fourth of July Flag Apple Tart

Instead of using cake mix to make a cake, we use whole wheat pastry flour to make a tart, and we fill up the tart with sliced apples, sprinkling with some sugar, after making this delicious and healthy apple tart, we decorate with fresh blueberries and strawberries. Definitely will impress everyone, and enjoy this delicious flag apple tart without guilt.

Fourth of July Flag Apple Tart

Instead of using cake mix to make a cake, we use whole wheat pastry flour to make a tart, and we fill up the tart with sliced apples, sprinkling with some sugar, after making this delicious and healthy apple tart, we decorate with fresh blueberries and strawberries. Definitely will impress everyone, and enjoy this delicious flag apple tart without guilt.

Rustic Pear Galette with Apricot Glaze

A super juicy and tasty pear galette and it's also very easy to make. This delicious and rustic galette is not too rich, not too sweet and just the right balance. An ideal dessert for fall, especially it's best served while it's warm.

Pear Almond Tart

This delightful dessert is so good, the crust is buttery and flakey, and the pear-almond filling is scrumptious and juicy.

Apple Tart-Low Fat & Low Calorie

Whole wheat flour and walnuts make the crust nutty and tasty, instead of all butter, use some butter and some canola oil to reduce the saturated fat without reducing the yummy flavor and texture. Granny smith and some delicious apricot jam are enough to make this tart shine.

Plum & Strawberry Galette

No sophisticated baking skills are required to make this super fruity and delicious galette. Slice up the plums and strawberries, roughly roll the dough into a round, placed the fruits over the dough, rustically fold the edges around the fruits. How simple is that, and it tastes absolutely delicious!

Blueberry-Peach Galettes

No sophisticated baking skills required, surprisingly delicious and super easy to make. Feel free to use other berries or fruits, fresh or frozen both work.

Moist Walnut & Raisin Strudel

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Baklava (Rolled Variety)

Rolled baklava: walnut, sugar, and cinnamon spiraled inside crisp phyllo, sliced into bite-size pinwheels, baked, and soaked in honey syrup. An easier take on classic baklava, finished with sesame and an apricot glaze.

Fresh Peach & Plum Tart

Inspired by the fresh peach tart recipe I made a few days ago, yesterday came out this fresh peach and plum tart recipe. This time I used a lot both freshly seasonal peaches and plums, and also made a 11-inch tart to satisfy my fruit tart craving. It came out beautiful and delicious, definitely the kind of dessert that I love to have in summer!

Pineapple Empanaditas (Mini-Pineapple Pockets)

Pineapple stuffed empanadas. A delicate pastry style dough with a filling of pineapple and apricot jam. Perfect for afternoon tea or healthy snacks for the kids or guests.

Chocolate Thumbprint Jam Cookies

In this recipe, we use whole wheat pastry flour and all purpose flour, reduce the amount of the sugar, let the cookies appear much more healthy.

French Apple Tart

This dedicate French apple tart also tastes delicious. It's loaded with apples, so you don't have to feel too guilty about enjoying one or two slices of this tart.

Biscota Thipla Me Marmelada (Sandwich Cookies with Marmalade)

Biscota thipla me marmelada are Greek sandwich cookies: tender pastry rounds glazed with egg white and baked, then filled with apricot preserves between each pair.

Thanksgiving Spiced Apple Cake

This beautiful spiced apple cake, not only satisfy the eyes but also satisfy your taste. Rich seasonal spices and lovely presentation make this a holiday treat. It's also high in fiber and low in fat! No guilt decadence.

Almond Apricot & Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

These beautiful sandwich cookies are very tasty too, they can be a great gift for holidays. Feel free to use any your favorite fruit jam to replace apricot jam.

Palatschinken (Apricot Crêpes)

Quick, easy pantry ingredients that come together for a delicious breakfast. Apricot and brandy filled crêpes, yummy has never been so simple.

Easy Sticky Chicken

With only 4 ingredients, you'll enjoy licking your fingers with this easy chicken dish that adds some fruity fun to dinner.

Apricot Granola

Apricot granola sweetened with apricot preserves and honey, no oil added. Five-ingredient homemade granola with chewy clusters and bright fruit flavor.

Sweet & Sour Dipping Sauce

A sweet and sour dipping sauce that's perfect for chicken nuggets or chicken fingers.

Strawberry-Kiwi Pie

This deliciously fruity strawberry-kiwi pie is made with fresh strawberries and kiwi fruit. It melts in your mouth...

Zesty Apricot Cream Filling

Zesty apricot cream filling combines apricot jam with sherry, lemon zest, and orange juice for a bright pastry cream. Egg yolks thicken it into a silken filling for tarts, eclairs, or layer cakes.

Pineapple-Apricot Empanaditas

Pineapple-apricot empanaditas: flaky cream cheese pastry folded around a fresh pineapple-apricot jam spiked with Triple Sec, baked golden and sugar-dusted. Sweet little hand pies for any party.

No-Fuss Chicken

This recipe could hardly be simpler to prepare. The chicken gets a wonderful tangy taste, and no one will know you used convenient ingredients like a bottle of salad dressing and onion soup mix unless you tell them.

Pear Tart with Fragipane

French pear tart with almond frangipane, kirsch-soaked apricot glaze, and vanilla-poached pears. Crushed macaroons fold into the pastry cream for chewy depth, finished with green pistachios.

Jam Filled Spice Cookie

Jam-filled spice cookies with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves sandwiched with apricot or raspberry preserves. Buttery shortbread-style cutout cookies with a stained-glass window center.

Nutcracker Apricot Muffins

Apricot muffins made with a whole jar of apricot preserves blended right into the batter with brown sugar, butter, and chopped nuts. The preserves keep every muffin incredibly moist with intense fruit flavor.

Individual Fruit Tarts

Individual rustic fruit tarts with shortcrust pastry, apricot jam glaze, and thinly sliced apples or pears. A French-bistro dessert that bakes in 15 minutes and looks gorgeous.

Apricot Raisin Spread

Sweet cream cheese spread blended with apricot preserves and golden raisins, garnished with walnuts for crackers or bagels.

Sweet 'N' Spicy Onion Glaze

Three-ingredient grilling glaze made from onion soup mix, apricot preserves, and salad dressing. Brush it on chicken, spareribs, kabobs, or burgers during the last few minutes for a sticky, sweet-spicy finish.

Christmas Tree Bread

Containing candied fruit and topped off with frosting, this bread is perfect as a small snack after dinner.

Almond & Honey Cakes

These sweet and delicious cakes are filled with slivered almonds, honey and mixed candied fruit.

Apricot Mustard

Apricot mustard combines prepared sweet-hot mustard with apricot preserves and dry mustard for an aged condiment with serious bite. A three-ingredient project that mellows beautifully over weeks.

Silky Apricot Cheese Dip

Silky apricot cheese dip with cream cheese, sour cream, apricot preserves, brandy, and almonds. A sweet, creamy no-cook dip for vanilla wafers and pound cake cubes.

Pistachio Chicken

Pistachio chicken stuffs pounded chicken breasts with pistachios, mushrooms, and ham, then bakes them under an apricot-chutney glaze. An elegant dinner-party main with sweet, savory, and nutty in every bite.

Smoked Sausage

Smoked sausage kebabs grilled with green bell peppers, pineapple, peaches, and scallions, brushed with a tangy apricot-Dijon glaze. A sweet-and-savory backyard skewer ready in 30 minutes.

Grilled Pork Tenderloin & Apricot Salad

Grilled pork tenderloin glazed with apricot preserves, served over peppery arugula with fire-kissed stone fruit and a shallot vinaigrette. A bright summer main that balances smoky, sweet, and sharp in every forkful.

Fruity Yogurt Cheesecake

Fruity yogurt cheesecake strains vanilla yogurt into thick "cheese" for a no-bake filling. Graham cracker crust topped with peaches, apricot glaze, and fresh raspberries.

French Apple Pie-Pat

French apple pie with a thick applesauce and honey filling topped with concentric rings of sliced Granny Smith apples and a glossy apricot glaze. An elegant, low-fat tart-style pie.

Mother's Day Seared Chicken with Apricot Sauce

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Free-Form Apple Tart

Free-form apple tart made with store-bought pie crust, thinly sliced Golden Delicious apples, cinnamon sugar, and a warm apricot jam glaze. Rustic, simple, and gorgeous.

Blueberry Parfaits

Low-calorie blueberry parfaits layered with vanilla frozen yogurt, warm blueberry-apricot sauce, and slivered almonds. Four ingredients, 15 minutes, and gorgeous in a glass.

Plunder Flechten

Plunder Flechten, a traditional German twisted pastry filled with candied fruit and cinnamon sugar, brushed with apricot preserves. Made from Plunderteig, an enriched laminated dough.

Apricot Kolachky Filling #2

Quick apricot kolachky filling with apricot preserves, shredded coconut, and chopped pecans or walnuts. Three ingredients, five minutes, refrigerate until ready to fill your pastry dough.

Mother's Filled Butter Rings

Filled butter ring cookies sandwich apricot preserves between two shortbread rounds, the top one cut with a thimble window, dusted with powdered sugar. Linzer-style holiday classic.

Decadent Walnut Cake

Walnut cake is a traditional European-style flourless nut torte made with ground walnuts, crushed biscuits, and 8 separated eggs. Layered with apricot jam and frosted with vanilla whipped cream.

Fruits Afire

Fruits afire is a flambe dessert with canned pears, apricots, and bing cherries in a reduced cinnamon-apricot syrup, finished tableside with flaming rum. A dramatic, retro showstopper.

Crunchy Almond Apple Pie

Crunchy almond apple pie layers an apricot-glazed crust with a buttery almond frangipane filling, fresh apple slices, and a crisp sliced-almond meringue topping. Like a Bakewell tart that met an apple pie.

All 208 recipes