Apricot Nut Bread | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

Apricot Nut Bread

Teresa Ambra

Apricot Nut Bread is one of the most spectacular sweet breads you’ll ever taste! 🙂 I love this fabulous apricot bread. It’s filled with lots of delicious apricots and walnuts, but you can also use pecans. The first time this bread was served to me it was served with cream cheese on top, but butter would work just as well. It’s a very tasty and satisfying sweet bread that you can make for breakfast, brunch, snacks, or as a dessert bread.

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I got this wonderful recipe back in 1997  when Shirley Lotts brought a tray of cookies and sweet breads into our office during the Christmas holidays. Everything she made that day was delicious including this amazing bread. I begged her for so many recipes that day and Shirley was so obliging as to give me four! This was one of them. I would have loved to have had Shirley’s recipe box. Wow, could she cook!

If you are looking for a great sweet bread, especially one with apricots and nuts, this is a great recipe to try. It’s easy and delicious and so tasty. If you love apricots you will love this excellent nut bread. In this recipe the apricots are reconstituted in water before draining and adding to the ingredients. They puff up nice and plump that way.

When I first posted this recipe in January 2013 I was still using an iPhone for a camera. While iPhones are certainly easy for non-photographers to take pictures with, they don’t have the clearest, highest quality pictures. 🙂 As a result, I’ve been remaking all my first year blog recipes and this one came up for remake in January 2016. I made it and promptly stored it in my freezer to give to friends in a couple of weeks when I take them a meal.

Apricot Nut Bread | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | one of the best #apricot #breads you'll ever taste. Quick, easy & great for #holidays or whenever you want to satisfy your sweet tooth! #breakfast

Apricot Nut Bread is delicious served with Philadelphia Cream Cheese Caramel Indulgence, plain cream cheese or butter.

Apricot Nut Bread | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | one of the best #apricot #breads you'll ever taste. Quick, easy & great for #holidays or whenever you want to satisfy your sweet tooth! #breakfast

Here are a few slices after I cut them off the loaf.

Apricot Nut Bread | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | one of the best #apricot #breads you'll ever taste. Quick, easy & great for #holidays or whenever you want to satisfy your sweet tooth! #breakfast

There are lots of apricots and walnuts or pecans in every bite. Your family and your company will love this great tasting sweet bread. 

Here’s what I did.

Apricot Nut Bread | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | one of the best #apricot #breads you'll ever taste. Quick, easy & great for #holidays or whenever you want to satisfy your sweet tooth! #breakfast

I used these ingredients.

Apricot Nut Bread | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | one of the best #apricot #breads you'll ever taste. Quick, easy & great for #holidays or whenever you want to satisfy your sweet tooth! #breakfast

Dice up dried apricots. Measure out a cup. I used a full 6-oz. bag. Place the chopped dried apricots in a bowl or cup of water to soak for 20 minutes to rehydrate them.

Apricot Nut Bread | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | one of the best #apricot #breads you'll ever taste. Quick, easy & great for #holidays or whenever you want to satisfy your sweet tooth! #breakfast

Place sugar in a mixing bowl. Add butter, an egg and orange juice. This works better if the butter is softened.

Apricot Nut Bread | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | one of the best #apricot #breads you'll ever taste. Quick, easy & great for #holidays or whenever you want to satisfy your sweet tooth! #breakfast

Add baking powder, baking soda, and salt and whisk to combine. My butter was not quite soft enough so there are small pieces not quite incorporated. 

Apricot Nut Bread | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | one of the best #apricot #breads you'll ever taste. Quick, easy & great for #holidays or whenever you want to satisfy your sweet tooth! #breakfast

Add UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour. Bleached flour toughens baked goods. Add chopped nuts. I used walnuts this time, but I’ve also used pecans. Drain apricots. Add to other ingredients. 

Apricot Nut Bread | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | one of the best #apricot #breads you'll ever taste. Quick, easy & great for #holidays or whenever you want to satisfy your sweet tooth! #breakfast

Stir with a wooden spoon until combined.

Apricot Nut Bread | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | one of the best #apricot #breads you'll ever taste. Quick, easy & great for #holidays or whenever you want to satisfy your sweet tooth! #breakfast

Grease and flour 3 small miniature baking pans or one large loaf pan. Spread dough into baking pan(s).

Apricot Nut Bread | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | one of the best #apricot #breads you'll ever taste. Quick, easy & great for #holidays or whenever you want to satisfy your sweet tooth! #breakfast

Bake at 350 for 60-65 minutes in a large baking pan and about 45-50 minutes in miniature baking pans, or until a knife inserted to the bottom of the pan comes out clean. 

Apricot Nut Bread | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | one of the best #apricot #breads you'll ever taste. Quick, easy & great for #holidays or whenever you want to satisfy your sweet tooth! #breakfast

After bread cools about a half hour, remove from pans and cool completely on wire rack.

Apricot Nut Bread | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | one of the best #apricot #breads you'll ever taste. Quick, easy & great for #holidays or whenever you want to satisfy your sweet tooth! #breakfast

Slice bread down and serve.

Apricot Nut Bread | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | one of the best #apricot #breads you'll ever taste. Quick, easy & great for #holidays or whenever you want to satisfy your sweet tooth! #breakfast

If you like apricots you will enjoy this tasty sweet bread.

Apricot Nut Bread | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | one of the best #apricot #breads you'll ever taste. Quick, easy & great for #holidays or whenever you want to satisfy your sweet tooth! #breakfast

Apricot Nut Bread is great for breakfasts or brunches. Everyone loves this bread. It’s really tasty with cream cheese or butter spread over the top.

Here’s the recipe.

APRICOT NUT BREAD

(Recipe given to me by Shirley Lotts, when I worked at First Presbyterian Church, Duncanville, TX)

Apricot Nut Bread | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

Apricot Nut Bread

Teresa Ambra
Apricot Nut Bread is sensational. This fantastic sweet bread includes apricots and walnuts. It's particularly delicious served with cream cheese on top. Excellent for holiday parties and fall baking.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Course Breads, Rolls and Muffins, Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 10
Calories 352 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 9x5" loaf pan
  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 whisk
  • 1 wooden spoon
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 nut chopper if your nuts are not already chopped

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup dried apricots, cut into small pieces 6-oz. pkg.
  • 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp. unsalted butter softened
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1 cup chopped nuts I used walnuts
  • 2 1/2 cups UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour bleached flour toughens baked goods
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. salt

Instructions
 

  • Soak apricots in water for 20 minutes.
  • Drain off water.
  • Whisk sugar, butter, egg and orange juice.
  • Add baking powder, baking soda and salt and whisk to combine.
  • Add flour, nuts and the drained, reconstituted apricots and stir with a wooden spoon to combine.
  • Pour into a 9x5” greased and floured loaf pan.
  • Bake at 350° for 65 minutes or until a knife or bamboo skewer inserted in center comes out clean.
  • Spread with cream cheese to serve.

Notes

NOTE: You can also use three small miniature bread pans and bake about 60 minutes at 350. Test for doneness by inserting a knife or bamboo skewer to the bottom of the pan. When the knife comes out clean the bread is baked.
 
NOTE: The original recipe used Crisco shortening. I’ve changed that to butter.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 352kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 6gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 373mgPotassium: 269mgFiber: 3gSugar: 33gVitamin A: 597IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 86mgIron: 2mg
Keyword apricot, bread, breakfast, brunch, walnuts
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

[b]Apricot Nut Bread[/b]
 
Recipe Type: Breads, Rolls and Muffins
Cuisine: American
Author: Teresa Ambra adapted from Shirley Lotts, when I worked at First Presbyterian Church, Duncanville, TX
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 10
Delicious sweet bread with apricots and nuts. This bread is great served with cream cheese on top.
Ingredients
  • 1 cup dried apricots, cut into small pieces (6-oz. pkg.)
  • 1 ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 tbsp. Land O’ Lakes unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup orange juice
  • 1 cup chopped nuts (I used walnuts)
  • 2 ½ cups Gold Medal UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour (bleached flour toughens baked goods)
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • ½ tsp. soda
  • 1 tsp. salt
Instructions
  1. Soak apricots in water for 20 minutes.
  2. Drain off water.
  3. Whisk sugar, butter, egg and orange juice.
  4. Add baking powder, baking soda and salt and whisk to combine.
  5. Add flour, nuts and [u]drained[/u], reconstituted apricots and stir with a wooden spoon to combine.
  6. Pour into a 9×5” greased and floured loaf pan.
  7. Bake at 350° for 65 minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean.
  8. Spread with cream cheese to serve.
 
Notes
You can also use three small bread pans and bake about 60 minutes at 350. Test for doneness by inserting a knife to the bottom of the pan. When the knife comes out clean the bread is baked.[br][br]The original recipe used Crisco shortening. I’ve changed that to butter.
Apricot Nut Bread | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | one of the best #apricot #breads you'll ever taste. Quick, easy & great for #holidays or whenever you want to satisfy your sweet tooth! #breakfast

It’s time to take a bite out of this fabulous bread.

Apricot Nut Bread | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | one of the best #apricot #breads you'll ever taste. Quick, easy & great for #holidays or whenever you want to satisfy your sweet tooth! #breakfast

Caramel cream cheese is a great choice for a topping for Apricot Nut Bread. This is a great bread to serve with hot tea.

Apricot Nut Bread | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | one of the best #apricot #breads you'll ever taste. Quick, easy & great for #holidays or whenever you want to satisfy your sweet tooth! #breakfast

This recipe is great for holiday baking, too. Take Apricot Nut Bread along to your next potluck. You won’t have any left.

You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!

Banana Apricot Nut Bread

Banana Apricot Nut Bread | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fabulous sweet #bread is filled with #apricots #bananas #walnuts and #coconut & is absolutely heavenly. Great for #breakfast or to serve alongside your favorite soup. We spread it with cream cheese.

Healthy Blueberry Banana Nut Bread

Healthy Blueberry Banana Nut Bread | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this healthier version of #BananaBread uses #WholeWheatFlour, honey & #Flaxseeds. It's absolutely delicious. It's the perfect #recipe for a company or #holiday #breakfast. Everyone loves it! #bread #BlueberryBread #bananas #Healthy ##HealthyBlueberryBananaNutBread #pecans

Apricot Pie Crust Cinnamon Rolls

Apricot Pie Crust Cinnamon Rolls | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #CinnamonRolls are made with #PieCrust & #ApricotJam. They're really spectacular for a weekend, company or #holiday #breakfast. Every bite will have you drooling! #cinnamon #HolidayBreakfast #Christmas #NewYearsDay #ApricotPieCrustCinnamonRolls
Apricot Nut Bread | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

Apricot Nut Bread

Teresa Ambra
Apricot Nut Bread is sensational. This fantastic sweet bread includes apricots and walnuts. It's particularly delicious served with cream cheese on top. Excellent for holiday parties and fall baking.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Course Breads, Rolls and Muffins, Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 10
Calories 352 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 9×5" loaf pan
  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 whisk
  • 1 wooden spoon
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 nut chopper if your nuts are not already chopped

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup dried apricots, cut into small pieces 6-oz. pkg.
  • 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp. unsalted butter softened
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1 cup chopped nuts I used walnuts
  • 2 1/2 cups UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour bleached flour toughens baked goods
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. salt

Instructions
 

  • Soak apricots in water for 20 minutes.
  • Drain off water.
  • Whisk sugar, butter, egg and orange juice.
  • Add baking powder, baking soda and salt and whisk to combine.
  • Add flour, nuts and the drained, reconstituted apricots and stir with a wooden spoon to combine.
  • Pour into a 9×5” greased and floured loaf pan.
  • Bake at 350° for 65 minutes or until a knife or bamboo skewer inserted in center comes out clean.
  • Spread with cream cheese to serve.

Notes

NOTE: You can also use three small miniature bread pans and bake about 60 minutes at 350. Test for doneness by inserting a knife or bamboo skewer to the bottom of the pan. When the knife comes out clean the bread is baked.
 
NOTE: The original recipe used Crisco shortening. I’ve changed that to butter.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 352kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 6gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 373mgPotassium: 269mgFiber: 3gSugar: 33gVitamin A: 597IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 86mgIron: 2mg
Keyword apricot, bread, breakfast, brunch, walnuts
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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