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Delicious Fresh Apricot and Blueberry Cake

As we head into the cooler weather of fall it's a great time to pick up the last of the season's local fresh fruits and that's what I used for this delicious and fresh apricot and blueberry cake.

Baking TraditionsApricot and Blueberry Cake ~ freshly cut and ready for serving ~ cupcakesandcrinoline.com

As it was told to me my grandmother, my father’s mother, was an amazing baker.  I never had the pleasure of having anything she baked but she was a legend in our family.  When I come across old recipes, or as I like to call them, heritage recipes, I always get excited wondering if she had baked anything similar and many times, I believe she had from stories I’d been told.  She made use of fresh fruits and vegetables grown on their small farm and was known for baking and canning those same foods.

This recipe is one of those ‘heritage’ recipes.  Since you can still shop local farmer's markets and roadside stands before the growing season is over you can find some fresh ingredients for all of your baking and cooking.

Colander of fresh apricots and blueberries ready for Apricot and Blueberry Cake - cupcakesandcrinoline.com

I chose fresh apricots and blueberries for this unique cake.  I doubled this recipe to have one for my family and another to take on a recent visit we had with some family and it was a hit!

Apricot and Blueberry Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

Crust and topping:

1 ½ cups + ⅓ cup of all-purpose flour

½ cup granulated sugar

½ tsp. vanilla extract

1 ⅜ sticks of butter, softened but not melted

Cake Mix:

1 stick + 1 tbsp. butter

⅓ cup granulated sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 egg

1 cup ricotta cheese

Colander of fresh apricots and blueberries ready for Apricot and Blueberry Cake - cupcakesandcrinoline.com

grated rind of one lemon

1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1 envelope vanilla instant pudding mix (small box)

1 pound fresh apricots

1 cup blueberries

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. and grease a 8 x 8 inch baking pan.  Use shortening or butter to grease pan.
Apricot and Blueberry Cake ~ bottom crust ready for the oven - cupcakesandcrinoline.com

  1. Crust ~ mix together the flour, granulated sugar, vanilla extract and butter in a mixing bowl.  Cut the butter into very small pieces and mix in by hand to the previously mentioned dry mix.  Be gentle with this step, and patient! You want to mix this in until it has a crumbly consistency.  Spread approximately two-thirds of this mixture into the bottom of your prepared pan pressing down firmly.  Bake for 10 minutes.  
Apricot and Blueberry Cake ~ bottom crust ready for the oven - cupcakesandcrinoline.com

Remove from oven and decrease oven temperature to 350 degrees F.

  1. Cake Mix ~ Place butter, granulated sugar and vanilla extract into a bowl and beat on medium high until fluffy.  Add the egg and beat until creamy.  
Apricot and Blueberry Cake ~ cake mix ~ cupcakesandcrinoline.com

Stir the ricotta cheese, lemon rind and juice, and pudding mix into the mixture.

Apricot and Blueberry Cake ~ batter layer ~ cupcakesandcrinoline.com

Spread the above over the crust.

Apricot and Blueberry Cake alternating rows of fruit ready for the oven ~ cupcakesandcrinoline.com

  1.  Halve and pit the apricots (no need to peel them) and arrange on top of the cream layer alternating with the blueberries in a diagonal pattern.   Apricot and Blueberry Cake with topping before being baked ~ cupcakesandcrinone.com
Apricot and Blueberry Cake fresh out of the oven ~ cupcakesandcrinoline.com

Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture on top of the fruit. 

Bake for 30 minutes testing the center for doneness adding 5 minutes to the time if it is not completely cooked through.  

Apricot and Blueberry Cake ~ freshly cut and ready for serving ~ cupcakesandcrinoline.com

Let cool thoroughly and cut into pieces.  Serve with whipped cream or ice cream if desired.

This is a great dessert to make your guests feel welcome or to serve your family for any occasion.

Fresh Apricot and Blueberry Cake from cupcakesandcrinoline.com

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2 Comments

  1. Diane | An Extraordinary Day says:

    Mary Beth, this looks absolutely delicious!! In fact, I LOVE the photo with the fruit on the diagonal before your put the crumb layer on it. Apricots are so good... I will have to see if there are any at the farmers' market when I go this week. Or maybe I could try the fresh peaches I already have. Hmmmm. Regardless... I'm pinning this to remember.

    One little thing... do you have a wire pastry blender? I usually use that for cutting in my butter with the flour for a recipe like this. Then again... this is your recipe... and I should try it the way you suggest. 😉 I bet you take after your grandmother with all your delicious recipes.

    1. Mary Beth says:

      I'll bet this would be delicious with peaches, Diane! I do have a wire pastry blender. I'm not sure why I didn't use it for this?!? LOL I'll do that next time, though. Thanks for the reminder. xo