What Are Apricots, dried and How Can I Use Them?

Wondering what to do with apricots, dried? This guide covers how to pick them, cook them, store them, and swap them, plus 146 recipes to put them to work.

What is apricots, dried?

Dried apricots are fresh apricots with most of their water pulled out, leaving a chewy, concentrated fruit that tastes both sweet and tart. They keep for months in the cupboard and turn up everywhere from breakfast bars to slow-cooked tagines.

You will find two main styles. Turkish apricots are dried whole, so they stay soft and round with a mild, honeyed sweetness. California apricots are halved before drying, which gives them a tarter, brighter flavor and a firmer chew.

The deep orange color of many supermarket apricots comes from sulfur dioxide, which preserves it. Unsulfured apricots turn brown but taste just as good.

Ways to Cook With Dried Apricots

The simplest use is straight from the bag as a snack, often alongside almonds or walnuts.

In baking they bring chewy pockets of fruit to granola bars, scones, and quick breads. Almond, Peanut Butter & Dried Fruits Granola Bars and Apricot-Walnut Cereal Bars both lean on that pairing of apricot and nut.

Chopped apricots also belong in savory cooking. They melt into Moroccan-style tagines and stud rice pilafs with sweet flecks, and they balance heat in a curried grain salad like Toasted Quinoa Salad with Dried Apricots, Cherry Tomato & Baby Spinach.

Simmered with sugar and a splash of water, they cook down into a quick compote or jam, the trick behind Apricot Marmalade. For most baking, chop them first and toss the pieces in a little of the recipe's flour so they don't sink or clump.

What They Pair With

Apricot loves nuts, especially almond and pistachio. Its acidity cuts through rich meat, so it suits chicken thighs as much as pork or lamb, while warm spices like cinnamon and ginger play up its sweetness.

A handful tossed into Fruit Granola or a breakfast barley bowl wakes up an otherwise plain grain.

The common mistake is adding hard, leathery apricots straight to a dish and expecting them to soften. They won't fully rehydrate in a quick sauté.

Plump them first by soaking 10 to 15 minutes in warm water or juice, then drain. In a long braise this matters less, since hours of simmering does the soaking for you.

Substitutes

Other dried stone and vine fruit swap in cleanly. Dried peaches or nectarines are the closest match in flavor and texture.

Golden raisins or chopped dried figs work in baking and grain dishes, though figs add tiny crunchy seeds and raisins run sweeter with less tang. Prunes bring a similar chew but a darker, deeper flavor that shifts the whole dish.

For a savory braise where you want sweet-tart fruit, dried cherries or cranberries fill the same role. In any swap, match the cut size to what the recipe expects so the fruit distributes evenly.

Buying and Storing Dried Apricots

Look for apricots that are still pliable and slightly moist, not rock hard, which signals they have dried out too far. Sulfured ones stay bright orange. Unsulfured ones are brown and often a touch chewier, a fine choice if you avoid sulfites.

Keep an opened bag in an airtight container in a cool, dark cupboard, where it holds quality for about 6 months. For longer storage, refrigerate up to a year or freeze, since cold air slows the sugars from crystallizing and the fruit from hardening.

If apricots have gone stiff, a short soak in warm water revives them enough to cook with. A dusting of natural sugar on the surface is harmless, not spoilage.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find apricots, dried: Apricots, dried is usually found in the baking supplies section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Apricots, dried is a member of the Fruits and Fruit Juices US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

杏子，干

British (UK) term

Apricots, dried

en français

abricots secs

en español

albaricoques secos

How much does apricots, dried weigh?

Related

Fruits and Fruit Juices

Recipes using apricots, dried

There are 146 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Simple Baklava Bites

Simple baklava bites: buttery phyllo cups twisted into little sachets around a honey-sweetened almond, walnut, and apricot filling. All the baklava flavor, none of the fuss.

Quick & Easy "Energy" Bars

Just a yummy treat if you want something sweet.

Balsamic Cranberry Chutney

Balsamic cranberry chutney simmers fresh cranberries with port wine, orange, dried apricots, and cherries, then warms it with cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. A sophisticated, tangy-sweet upgrade on the canned stuff.

Nutty Almond, Raspberry Jam & Apricot Granola Bars

These delicious and nutritious granola bars are ideal for breakfast, snack or anytime when you feel hungry. Very easy to make, and they provide lots of great values to your body.

Apricot Lite Jam

Apricot lite jam combines dried apricots with crushed pineapple and fresh orange for a tropical twist on a classic preserve. Less sugar than traditional jam, with citrus brightening the flavor.

Apricot Ice Cream

Apricot ice cream with low-fat yogurt and fromage frais instead of cream. A lighter frozen dessert built on dried apricot puree, perfect for hot afternoons without the heaviness of dairy ice cream.

Christmas Pudding With Vanilla-Bean Custard

This Christmas pudding has plenty of delicious fruit and nuts, but it's really simple to make - just plan ahead and then make the warm vanilla-bean custard on the day.

Alex's Oatmeal

A good start for school day. My granddaughter loves oatmeal, found this recipe, and added a few things of my own.

Almond, Cashew & Dried Fruits Granola

I made this granola last night, it was so simple and easy. The granola turned out golden brown, and nuts were deliciously toasted, nutty and crunchy.

Fruity-Nutty Banana, Chocolate Granola Bars

Making your own granola bars is always the best. It tastes delicious and it's packed with you favorite ingredients. After I tried making my first bunch, there is no turning back to store-bought ones any more. Just made these bars a while ago, still cooling, and smells divine :-)

Buttermilk Apricot/Rhubarb Scones

Buttermilk apricot scones with chopped dried apricots and apricot nectar baked right into the dough for double-fruit flavor. Rhubarb works just as well when in season.

Chocolate Honey Energy Bars

Not only kids love these delicious energy bars, but also grown-ups can't get their hands off these goodness.

Apricot Ginger Scones

Apricot ginger scones with chewy dried apricots, sweet-hot crystallized ginger, and bright lemon zest. A buttermilk-based scone with rustic break-apart triangles and layered flavor.

Herbed Turkey & Dressing

Bring a new look to the holiday with this succulent dish that rounds out any family tradition.

Applesauce Granola

Granola is great for breakfast, packed with nutrition and very filling. Making your own is always better, lots of nuts, dried fruits and real maple syrup with some yogurt or milk give you all the energies you need to start a beautiful day.

Apple Breakfast Bar

You can use any dried fruits, they will come out as delicious as these bars. Perfect for grap-go breakfast or snack.

Apricot Chicken Thighs

Add a new fruity taste to dinner with this scrumptious dish that gets its amazing flavor from apricot nectar and dry sherry.

Applesauce Peanut Butter, Chocolate & Dried Fruit Coffee Cake

This moist yet delicious coffe cake is made with whole wheat flour, oat bran, applesauce, peanut butter, chocolate chips and several kinds of dried fruits. It's great for breakfast or a healthy yet tasty snack with a cup of coffee or tea.

Toasted Quinoa Salad with Dried Apricots, Cherry Tomato & Baby Spinach

The quinoa salad can be prepared in advance. Toasted quinoa is cooked with garlic and chopped apricots, tossed with this Moroccan Spiced Lemon Dressing. A delicious yet nutritious salad that can be served as a side or a main course.

Almond, Peanut Butter & Dried Fruits Granola Bars

Pieces of almonds, dried apricots, cranberries, prunes and chocolate chips are tossed with creamy peanut butter, oats, a bit honey and ground flax seeds. These delicious granola bars are perfect for grap-go breakfast.

Apricot Marmalade

Apricot marmalade made from dried apricots soaked overnight, simmered to a smooth pulp, then cooked with sugar and cinnamon. A four-ingredient classic preserve with a deep amber color.

Curried Cauliflower Salad

A veggie hating friend was over dinner and declared "wow, if my mom made vegetables like this!" as he went for seconds. The maple coated cashews are excellent in this recipe and the gentle touch of sweetness balanced with the curry is great.

Dried Fruits, Chocolate Chips & Flaxseed Cookies

These delicious cookies are made with a mixture of dried fruits, chocolate chips, ground flax seeds, whole wheat flour, oats, and walnuts. They are packed with goodness and yumminess. A quick grab-and-go breakfast, or a wholesome snack whenever you feel hungry before the meal time.

Amazing Chewy Crispy Apricot Walnut Energy Bars

We can always find different kinds of bars in stores, why not make your own crispy and chewy bars, this is a easy homemade bar, tasty and handy.

Breakfast Energy Bars

Puffed whole grain cereal, creamy almond butter and several kinds of dried fruits, no need baking, crunchy and crispy.

Dried Fruit & Nut Granola Bar

It's easy to make your own delicious granola bar! This recipe is so flexible, you can use whatever nuts or dried fruits you have.

Breakfast Barley

The barley gains flavor from orange juice combined with apricots and nuts. A healthy breakfast loaded with complex carbohydrates that tastes great too.

Fruit Granola

Crunchy clusters of toasted oats, nuts, and seeds glazed with honey, then tossed with chewy dried fruit for a homemade granola that beats any store-bought version.

Apricot-Walnut Cereal Bars

Loaded with fruit, protein, grains and nuts. Yummy and chock full of nutrients. Grab n' go power bars.

Apricot Wine

Traditional homemade wine fermenting dried apricots with raisins, citrus slices, ginger, and yeast for 30 days before bottling.

Apricot Fingers

Wholesome bars packed with oats, dried apricots, raisins, and sunflower seeds, sweetened with molasses and bound with orange juice.

Moroccan Chicken with Pistachios, Apricots, Roses, & Marigolds

Moroccan chicken with pistachios, dried apricots, pine nuts, and cinnamon over rice, finished with rosewater and edible flower petals. An aromatic, jewel-toned one-dish dinner.

Lite Apricot Stuffing

An apricot stuff for roasting whole chicken or turkey, perfect for the holidays. From a church LIFE cookbook. Bake outside the bird for a low fat alternative.

Apricot Bread

Whole wheat apricot bread sweetened with maple syrup and laced with orange liqueur. Dried apricots and chopped pecans give every slice chewy fruit and satisfying crunch.

Tayleea Cheecha-Savory & Sweet Stew

Sweet and savory beef stew simmered in apple cider with dried apricots, raisins, mushrooms, and a lemon slice. A North African-inspired one-pot meal served over rice or potatoes.

Apricot-Honey Butter

Silky homemade apricot honey butter with fresh lemon, lemon zest, and crystallized ginger. No added sugar, no pectin, and keeps frozen for up to 6 months.

Turkey with Fruit Stuffing

Turkey breast stuffed with a warm spiced fruit filling of dates, dried apricots, and walnuts with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. An elegant holiday roast.

Banana Cream

3-ingredient Banana Cream blends ripe bananas with low-fat yogurt and serves over chopped dried apricots. A no-cook dessert or quick breakfast ready in 10 minutes with no added sugar.

Chocolate Chunk, Apricot & Walnut Cookies

The fruitiness and the nuttiness from apricot and walnut make these yummy treats taste even more delicious.

Apricot Dressing For Turkey

Classic bread dressing studded with dried apricots, walnuts, and celery for a sweet-savory stuffing that pairs beautifully with roasted turkey.

Sunny Apricot Marbles

No-bake apricot energy balls with pecans, coconut, barley, honey, and lemon juice rolled in chopped nuts. A naturally sweetened, wholesome snack that comes together in one blender.

Apricot Kolachky Filling #1

Thick apricot filling made by simmering dried fruit with cornstarch until it reaches the perfect consistency for kolachky pastries.

Grilled Venison Chop with Chestnut Twice Baked Potato

Grilled Venison Chop with Chestnut Twice Baked Potato recipe

Fruity Breakfast Chimichangas

Crisp baked tortillas stuffed with a mixture of apricot and orange kissed cream cheese and ricotta enveloped with an apricot basting sauce. This breakfast fruit chimichanga recipe is a hit.

Pear & Raisin Charoses

Pear and raisin charoset with dried apricots, honey, cinnamon, lemon juice, and sweet red wine. A lighter Passover charoset that's no-cook and Weight Watchers friendly.

Apricot Almond Buns

Apricot almond buns rolled with chopped dried apricots, slivered almonds, and brown sugar, then sliced and fanned for a bakery-style sweet bread. A yeasted breakfast pastry that makes 14 fanned buns.

Apricot-Cardamon Bars & Apricot Icing

Apricot and cardamom bars with dried apricot, apricot nectar, and unsweetened applesauce in the batter, finished with a sweet apricot glaze drizzle. Low-fat and done in 45 minutes.

Gluten Free Apricot & Cucumber Soup

Gluten free apricot cucumber soup blends dried apricots with curried cucumber and orange for a chilled or warm vegan starter. Pumpkin seeds on top add bite to a smooth, naturally sweet bowl.

Apricot Whip

Silky apricot whip made with overnight-soaked dried apricots, honey, and low-fat yogurt. Four ingredients, a blender, and just 54 calories per serving.

Apricot Bars

Dense apricot bars sweetened with maple syrup and loaded with dried apricots, walnuts, and cashews. No eggs, no butter, finished with powdered sugar icing and optional chocolate drizzle.

All 146 recipes