A favorite is the apricot "brandy" that we make. It's simple and you don't have to wait until apricot season for it uses dried apricots! 
Once sufficiently aged, into one of the Waterford decanters it goes. To be put on the living room sideboard, awaiting being poured into the wee cordial glasses that we collect.
And the "boozy" apricots? They get dipped into chocolate for gift giving at Christmastime or to serve at an Open House or party that we might give during the holidays.
The liqueur of the apricot brandy is a beautiful golden color and the liqueur is syrupy sweet with a flavor of apricots. Husband Jim always pronounces it superb!APRICOT BRANDY
4 cups sugar
1/2 gallon Vodka (I use Barton)
2 pounds apricots (Sam's is a good source)
Put all of the ingredients into a jar. Stir together. Add a palmful of allspice and a couple of cinnamon sticks. Let sit for about 4 months before decanting.
It's Friday and time to join Michael at Designs by Gollum to see what other goodies have been cooked up this week.
30 comments:
What a delicious idea! Thank you for sharing. As soon as it stops snowing, I'm going to shop for apricots, vodka and chocolate. I think we are headed for a Valentine's treat.
Thanks for the recipe! Sounds delightful.
What a great idea. I love how you use every bit of the apricot.
- The Tablescaper
Unfortunately, you can't do that with the peach and orange liqueur I make -- but the apricot -- and they are so much better being "boozy" than just being plain apricots!
Martha, do you think you could also do this with brandy rather than the vodka?
Francie
Francie -- I've always done it with vodka -- so it's a clear liqueur. I'd give it a try -- at first do it with 1/4 of the recipe. If it doesn't work you didn't loose much (hate to have to throw out 1/2 gallon of brandy!). I would say that brandy would give it a depth that the vodka doesn't have and assume it would be okay -- but I do think I would test it first in smaller quantities.
It is good! And there is nothing like serving your own homemade liqueur after a dinner party!
I love this idea! What a great idea for gift giving too. I'm just wondering do you dip the same apricots in chocolate? Can't wait to try this. --Delores
Thank you very much, Martha. Your homemade apricot liqueur looks very tempting on a cold winter night.
Francie
Delores -- I take them out of the liqueur, let them dry a bit and then pat them with paper towels before I dip those same boozy apricots in the chocolate!
Wonderful,wonderful recipe. And a great idea for keeping or gift giving! Thanks for this great post.
Yvonne
Martha-My husband has a couple of good apricot brandy stories from his younger duck hunting days! Fortunately he drinks his liquers after dinner and INSIDE now :) I am sure yours is much better than any bought version. Love those glasses!
I love making liquors for gift giving. I have never made brandy. Into the idea book this goes. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for sharing this Martha. I think I need to try this very soon. I love the idea of making ones own Liquer. What a conversation piece.
Carolyn
Hi, Martha! Thanks for stopping by my blog. Although I've had one for a while, I haven't been actively updating it with new posts. I plan to try and spend more time on it this year, but we'll see. That apricot brandy sounds yummy!
WOW!!! THANKS!!! for the AWESOME!!! recipe using apricots.
Geri
I love this! I have never tried apricot brandy. I've done vanilla brandy (and vanilla sugar), though. I wish I lived nearby so I could take your cooking class.
I think The Great Dane will be making this one day soon - we have a big bag of dried apricots. Thanks for posting this great idea!
OOOH thank you. I really want to make this liqueur.
In the summmer I made the rubarb liqueur I found in a Foody Friday blog. It was very succesful. Maybe I will try this one for the next holiday season.
The rubarb liqueur got a bit cloudy and I had to strain it. How long will this liqueur keep do you think?
Sounds wonderful and easy. Do you start making it in the summer so it's ready for the Christmas season?
Martha.....This looks good I always have those Turkish dried apricots on hand and Vodka is always stocked at my home so I guess I know what my new project will be. Plus I've never had Apricot Brandy before. Thanks for sharing. :-)
Happy New Year!
I have been catching up with you and have enjoyed my visit very much. I love your Apricot Brandy, I am going to try this, it sounds so yummy!
May all your dreams come true this year.
Big Hugs,
Elizabeth
I'm imagining how great this must be. We do blackberry, limoncello and orange. I never had thought to try apricot. Have a great day, Martha.
Oh Martha, what a great idea. I like this idea for Valentine's also. Do you have to do anything special, before you dip the apricots in chocolate?
I have missed reading your blog. It is wonderful as always.
Blessings in 2010!
Making liqueurs from our garden harvests is one of our traditions, but your idea of using the plump and perked up alcohol infused apricots dipped in chocolate is GREAT!
Have you ever made limoncello or loquatcello? Fabulous.
Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island
mysterymeatloaf.blogspot.com/
Goodness my beloved would be in deep conversation with you right now..for he too seems to just enamored with doing just that...
I am just the Taste Tester.
Sounds good to me!
What a great idea and the crystal is gorgeous.
Sam
Now this is my kind of recipe! I bet a few sips of that brandy really takes the chill out of your bones! And the soaked apricots must be heavenly!
Oh that sounds marvelous.
I love apricots and chocolate
so add some vodka and woohoo
Have you made Lemoncello?
I'm sure I would love this recipe and will be sure to try it one day!
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