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Mary Berry Apricot Cake

Mary Berry Apricot Cake recipe
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Mary Berry Apricot Cake is a classic-style sponge cake enriched with apricots. Depending on the recipe variation, apricots may be used fresh or dried, often soaked to keep them plump and tender. The result is a fruit-studded loaf or round cake with a soft, moist texture and gentle sweetness.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 200g dried apricots (or 300g fresh/tinned apricots, chopped)

  • 175g unsalted butter, softened

  • 175g caster sugar

  • 3 large eggs

  • 175g self-raising flour

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • 75g ground almonds

  • 2 tablespoons milk

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • Zest of 1 lemon or orange (optional)

If using dried apricots

  • 100ml warm water or orange juice for soaking

Instructions

Step 1 — Prep the apricots

If using dried apricots, soak them in warm water or juice for 10–15 minutes to make them soft and plump. Drain and chop into small pieces. Fresh or tinned apricots should be chopped and patted dry.

Step 2 — Prepare the cake tin

Grease and line your cake tin with baking parchment. Preheat the oven to 160°C (140°C fan).

Step 3 — Cream butter and sugar

Beat the softened butter and caster sugar together until pale and fluffy. This step gives the cake its light crumb.

Step 4 — Add the eggs

Beat in the eggs one at a time, adding a spoonful of flour if the mixture starts to curdle.

Step 5 — Fold in dry ingredients

Add the self-raising flour, baking powder, and ground almonds. Fold gently to keep the mixture airy.

Step 6 — Add milk, flavouring, and apricots

Stir in the milk, vanilla extract, and lemon or orange zest. Fold in the chopped apricots gently to distribute them evenly.

Step 7 — Fill the tin

Spoon the batter into the prepared tin and level the top with a spatula.

Step 8 — Bake until set

Bake for 45–55 minutes, depending on your tin size, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean and the top is golden.

Step 9 — Cool and serve

Let the cake cool in the tin for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack. Slice once fully cooled.

Find it online: https://maryberrycooks.co.uk/mary-berry-apricot-cake-recip/